CBT Automotive Network Podcast

As New Vehicle Prices Rise, Consumers Continue to Trend Toward Used Vehicles - Karl Brauer | Trump Threatens 25% Hike on Tariffs for China | Making Mentorship Programs that Pay Off

Today on CBTNews.com - Thursday, May 9th, 2019:

April Car Sales: As New Vehicle Prices Rise, Consumers Continue to Trend Toward Used Vehicles, But For How Long? - Karl Brauer, KBB

While U.S. auto sales softened this past April, many customers continued to flock to used car lots due to vehicle affordability issues. However, this uptick in used-car sales might not last for much longer. Here to discuss April’s winners, losers, and more of what dealers can expect in the coming months, is Karl Brauer, executive publisher for AutoTrader and Kelley Blue Book.

Trump Threatens 25% Hike on Tariffs for ChinaJust two months after deciding to hold off on implementing tariffs on China, the Trump administration has announced plans to place them on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, including cars and auto parts. For now, Japan and the European Union are immune from auto tariffs while negotiations are being made; however, the existing tariffs on China might get raised exponentially in a few days. In regard to currently-imposed tariffs, President Trump tweeted on May 5th that “these payments are partially responsible for our great economic results.”

Making Mentorship Programs that Pay Off

A mentorship program is a valuable tool for dealerships. While training gives a new hire your standards and practices, mentoring imparts nuance. Mentors deliver the more subtle aspects of your dealership culture and can cover training material with more detail and personalization than regular training programs can. That said, many dealerships see mentoring as simply pairing veteran staff with new employees. While that paradigm might occasionally have success, it underutilizes the potential of mentoring.

While U.S. auto sales softened this past April, and many customers continued to flock to used car lots due to vehicle affordability issues. However, this uptick in used-car sales might not last for much longer. Here to discuss April’s winners, losers, and more of what dealers can expect in the coming months, is Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.

While U.S. auto sales softened this past April, and many customers continued to flock to used car lots due to vehicle affordability issues. However, this uptick in used-car sales might not last for much longer. Here to discuss April’s winners, losers, and more of what dealers can expect in the coming months, is Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.

How Dealerships Can Adapt to Changes in Consumer Demand - Brian Finkelmeyer | Ford Focusing on Customers With New Rewards Program | Breaking the F&I Stereotype – Simple Steps, Powerful Results

Today on CBTNews.com - Monday, May 6th, 2019:

How Dealerships Can Adapt to Changes in Consumer Demand - Brian Finkelmeyer, vAuto

Auto sales were reported down for most manufacturers in the month of April and the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates where they are for the foreseeable future. So what does this mean for consumer demand at your dealership? We recently caught up with Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of vAuto, a Cox Automotive brand, to find out how dealerships can adapt to changing demand.

Ford Focusing on Customers With New Rewards Program

In 2016, Ford launched FordPass stating at the time that they planned “to do for car owners what iTunes did for music fans.” The platform acted as a one-stop for Ford owners who could use the FordPass app to connect and control their car, monitor its health, receive reminders and take care of general vehicle maintenance and business. Now, a little over three years from its inception, FordPass is expanding the user experience by adding a rewards program.

Breaking the F&I Stereotype – Simple Steps, Powerful Results

For decades, car buyers have walked into the F&I office with a sense of dread and many would rather have a root canal than have to deal with the fast-talking guy ‘in the box’. F&I managers were always viewed with a wary eye and unfortunately, the reputation was well deserved. Yes, times have changed. Regulatory compliance, layers of new paperwork, audits, and lawsuits have forced most F&I managers to clean up their collective act. But for the dealers that may still have some ‘bad apples’ on staff or are about to open a new store with new staff, how do you make sure you F&I manager defies the stereotype and becomes a trusted and honest professional?

How Dealerships Can Adapt to Changes in Consumer Demand - Brian Finkelmeyer | Ford Focusing on Customers With New Rewards Program | Breaking the F&I Stereotype – Simple Steps, Powerful Results

Today on CBTNews.com - Monday, May 6th, 2019:

How Dealerships Can Adapt to Changes in Consumer Demand - Brian Finkelmeyer, vAuto

Auto sales were reported down for most manufacturers in the month of April and the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates where they are for the foreseeable future. So what does this mean for consumer demand at your dealership? We recently caught up with Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of vAuto, a Cox Automotive brand, to find out how dealerships can adapt to changing demand.

Ford Focusing on Customers With New Rewards Program

In 2016, Ford launched FordPass stating at the time that they planned “to do for car owners what iTunes did for music fans.” The platform acted as a one-stop for Ford owners who could use the FordPass app to connect and control their car, monitor its health, receive reminders and take care of general vehicle maintenance and business. Now, a little over three years from its inception, FordPass is expanding the user experience by adding a rewards program.

Breaking the F&I Stereotype – Simple Steps, Powerful Results

For decades, car buyers have walked into the F&I office with a sense of dread and many would rather have a root canal than have to deal with the fast-talking guy ‘in the box’. F&I managers were always viewed with a wary eye and unfortunately, the reputation was well deserved. Yes, times have changed. Regulatory compliance, layers of new paperwork, audits, and lawsuits have forced most F&I managers to clean up their collective act. But for the dealers that may still have some ‘bad apples’ on staff or are about to open a new store with new staff, how do you make sure you F&I manager defies the stereotype and becomes a trusted and honest professional?

Auto sales were reported down for most manufacturers in the month of April and the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates where they are for the foreseeable future. So what does this mean for consumer demand at your dealership? We recently caught up with Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of vAuto, a Cox Automotive brand, to find out how dealerships can adapt to changing demand.

Auto sales were reported down for most manufacturers in the month of April and the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates where they are for the foreseeable future. So what does this mean for consumer demand at your dealership? We recently caught up with Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of vAuto, a Cox Automotive brand, to find out how dealerships can adapt to changing demand.

Week In Review: How the Car Buyer Journey Has Changed | Changes Your Dealership Can Make Today to Build a Lasting Sales Team | Track Your TV Advertising Data to Make Marketing Spend More Efficient

CBT News Week In Review for Friday, May 3rd, 2019:

How the Car Buyer Journey Has Changed and What it Means for Your Dealership - Isabelle Helms, Cox Automotive

On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome back Isabelle Helms, vice president of research and market intelligence for Cox Automotive. Isabelle is here to discuss Cox’s recent 2019 Car Buyer Journey Study, and what its findings mean for your dealership.

Changes Your Dealership Can Make Today to Build a Lasting Sales Team - Mark Rikess

On today’s show, we welcome back Mark Rikess, CEO of The Rikess Group, a training and consulting group focused on helping dealers implement a one-price selling method. In this segment, Mark discusses the pressures of recruiting the next generation of talented salespeople, and the changes your dealership can make today, to build a lasting sales team.

Track Your TV Advertising Data to Make Marketing Spend More Efficient – Max Steckler, Chief Product Officer, AutoChoice

Cable television's data capabilities have evolved, creating a powerful marketing channel for automotive marketers, but are these marketers taking advantage of the opportunities? Today, Jim speaks with Max Steckler, Chief Product Officer at AutoChoice. He's also a member of Comcast Spotlight's Automotive Advisory Council, which aims to represent automotive marketers' interest in relation to advanced advertising products and tools, as well as broader industry trends and insights.

How to Avoid Workplace Harassment Scandals and Appropriately Address Claims - David Druzynski, Auto/Mate

On today's show, we welcome back David Druzynski, Chief People Officer at Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. David recently wrote an article for WardsAuto Magazine called "How to Deter Dealership Workplace Harassment". This is, of course, a very important issue in today's workforce.

Week In Review: How the Car Buyer Journey Has Changed | Changes Your Dealership Can Make Today to Build a Lasting Sales Team | Track Your TV Advertising Data to Make Marketing Spend More Efficient

CBT News Week In Review for Friday, May 3rd, 2019:

How the Car Buyer Journey Has Changed and What it Means for Your Dealership - Isabelle Helms, Cox Automotive

On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome back Isabelle Helms, vice president of research and market intelligence for Cox Automotive. Isabelle is here to discuss Cox’s recent 2019 Car Buyer Journey Study, and what its findings mean for your dealership.

Changes Your Dealership Can Make Today to Build a Lasting Sales Team - Mark Rikess

On today’s show, we welcome back Mark Rikess, CEO of The Rikess Group, a training and consulting group focused on helping dealers implement a one-price selling method. In this segment, Mark discusses the pressures of recruiting the next generation of talented salespeople, and the changes your dealership can make today, to build a lasting sales team.

Track Your TV Advertising Data to Make Marketing Spend More Efficient – Max Steckler, Chief Product Officer, AutoChoice

Cable television's data capabilities have evolved, creating a powerful marketing channel for automotive marketers, but are these marketers taking advantage of the opportunities? Today, Jim speaks with Max Steckler, Chief Product Officer at AutoChoice. He's also a member of Comcast Spotlight's Automotive Advisory Council, which aims to represent automotive marketers' interest in relation to advanced advertising products and tools, as well as broader industry trends and insights.

How to Avoid Workplace Harassment Scandals and Appropriately Address Claims - David Druzynski, Auto/Mate

On today's show, we welcome back David Druzynski, Chief People Officer at Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. David recently wrote an article for WardsAuto Magazine called "How to Deter Dealership Workplace Harassment". This is, of course, a very important issue in today's workforce.

How to Avoid Workplace Harassment Scandals and Appropriately Address Claims - David Druzynski | 3 Options to Recruit Techs During the Shortage | Emerging Auto Trends and What They Mean for Dealers

Today on CBTNews.com - Thursday, May 2nd, 2019:

How to Avoid Workplace Harassment Scandals and Appropriately Address Claims - David Druzynski, Auto/Mate

On today's show, we welcome back David Druzynski, Chief People Officer at Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. David recently wrote an article for WardsAuto Magazine called "How to Deter Dealership Workplace Harassment". This is, of course, a very important issue in today's workforce.

Three Options to Recruit Techs During the Shortage

The automotive industry’s well-documented technician shortage is a serious concern. For the 76,000 technician positions that are vacated annually, whether technicians changing industries or to retire, only 39,000 new techs are coming out of vocational schools. If the shortage hasn’t affected you yet, it’s probably going to very soon.

Emerging Auto Trends in 2019 and What They Mean for Dealers

As we finish the first quarter of 2019, this year is already shaping up to be a big one for the auto industry. While many are watching to see if sales decline, there is so much more to focus on than whether we break the streak of 17 million-plus in annual vehicle sales. Consumer interests and shopping behaviors continue to change. Every automaker is adjusting as fast as they can to shift their line-ups to meet these new demands. At the same time, automotive technology is rapidly evolving to provide new options and mobility solutions.