Talking Business with Mark and John

Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to David Kain from Kain Automotive. David provides a masterclass of knowledge about automotive and how to make money and sell cars. David provides a historical perspective on the lead up to Covid19 and the state of play for the new and used vehicle market in the USA and delves into the challenges of dealer profitability. He explores the challenges and opportunities under Covid19 and the outcomes for automotive dealers between lockdown and non lockdown states. He talks about buyer behaviour and the changing digital trends and how dealers need to adapt to these changes. He gets into detail about the need to keep it simple and the importance of response time. He shares his experience on how to run retail campaigns and what works and does not work from their research. Branding is a key topic and David explains how dealers should approach branding and the difference between manufacturer branding, regional branding and dealer branding. If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows.

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In Talking Automotive with Mark and John Ep 17, Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to David Kain from Kain Automotive. David provides a masterclass of knowledge about automotive and how to make money and sell cars. David provides a historical perspective on the lead up to Covid19 and the state of play for the new and used vehicle market in the USA and delves into the challenges of dealer profitability. He explores the challenges and opportunities under Covid19 and the outcomes for automotive dealers between lockdown and non lockdown states. He talks about buyer behaviour and the changing digital trends and how dealers need to adapt to these changes. He gets into detail about the need to keep it simple and the importance of response time. He shares his experience on how to run retail campaigns and what works and does not work from their research. Branding is a key topic and David explains how dealers should approach branding and the difference between manufacturer branding, regional branding and dealer branding. If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows or get more information on different topics feel free to contact us.

In Talking Automotive with Mark and John Ep 16, Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to Anton van der Walt, author, keynote speaker, HR expert and mentor. Having written two books “Leadership Through My Lens” and "The Transformational Leader” leads to an interesting discussion on leaders using courage to motivate and manage staff from home and the new normal. He shares how people are embracing the new working from home and companies seeing advantage in the new normal. Technology playing a key role in the new way. Anton talks about the need to be curious about the future, provide hope and be empathetic and how this creates strength in a leader. He encourages leaders to self-reflect and learn from failure. He emphasises the need of leaders to provide purpose, engender acceptable behaviours and required deliverable s. He explores staff engagement in detail and emphasises that companies do have the right people but often have just lost their spark. He explores the need to engender trust, how to create collaboration. He describes the need to stay well, stay engaged and stay connected. He also describes how you cannot expect to do the same as you would in a face to face meeting in a virtual meeting to get the same outcome. Lastly, he reiterates the need to focus on outcomes rather than screen time as a measurement of performance. He delves into the main CEO fears, to be found out that they are not competent for the job, decisions could cause some calamity and fearful do not have ability to achieve the results. If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows or get more information on different topics feel free to contact us. Anton van der Walt: +61 424 376 496 antonspeaks.com [email protected] Production and editing by Ky Sinclair.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talking-business-with-mark-and-john--5696935/support.

In Talking Automotive with Mark and John Ep 16, Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to Anton van der Walt, author, keynote speaker, HR expert and mentor. Having written two books “Leadership Through My Lens” and “The Transformational Leader” leads to an interesting discussion on leaders using courage to motivate and manage staff from home and the new normal. He shares how people are embracing the new working from home and companies seeing advantage in the new normal. Technology playing a key role in the new way. Anton talks about the need to be curious about the future, provide hope and be empathetic and how this creates strength in a leader. He encourages leaders to self-reflect and learn from failure. He emphasises the need of leaders to provide purpose, engender acceptable behaviours and required deliverable s. He explores staff engagement in detail and emphasises that companies do have the right people but often have just lost their spark. He explores the need to engender trust, how to create collaboration. He describes the need to stay well, stay engaged and stay connected. He also describes how you cannot expect to do the same as you would in a face to face meeting in a virtual meeting to get the same outcome. Lastly, he reiterates the need to focus on outcomes rather than screen time as a measurement of performance. He delves into the main CEO fears, to be found out that they are not competent for the job, decisions could cause some calamity and fearful do not have ability to achieve the results. If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows or get more information on different topics feel free to contact us. Anton van der Walt: +61 424 376 496 antonspeaks.com [email protected] Production and editing by Ky Sinclair.

In Talking Automotive with Mark and John Ep 15, Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to Gavin Houghton MD, Ron Kukler Chief Technical Officer and Howard Gerwin VP Product Development from RKLAB AG. They share insight into engine development and electric vehicles and the various challenges engine manufacturers are working with to reduce emissions.
They discuss where electric vehicles can have success and solutions for large diesel engines such as marine, rail and large truck engines such as the class 8 engine.
They also share information on Euro 6 and USA emission requirements and talk about NOx and particulate emissions in detail. They delve into the current solutions to address these emissions such as catalytic converters, particulate filters, EGR, AdBlue and Diesel common rail.
They provide detailed explanations about blue flame technology, combustion efficiency, high pressure injection, quiescent vs. swirl combustion chambers, low temperature combustion, ethanol fuels and how this all relates to emissions reduction.
They share the high cost to try and deal with emissions after the combustion process and the advantage of addressing it in the chamber. They introduce us to the RK Injector and how this technology can have significant impact on emissions in large engines, retrofitted in existing engines and work as a complimentary technology to existing technologies such as electric.
Testing has shown that the RKInjector can work well with all levels of fuel lubrication. The technology is ready for the newest low sulphur fuels appearing in all transportation sectors.
They talk about the commercialisation of the technology and where they are working with PTL and SWRI and two large automotive brands. How they are setting up a research program with SWRI which will be open to academia and engine companies to get involved in testing the injector.
If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows or get more information on different topics feel free to contact us.
Production and editing by Ky Sinclair.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talking-business-with-mark-and-john--5696935/support.

In Talking Automotive with Mark and John Ep 15, Mark Palavestra and John Sinclair talk to Gavin Houghton MD, Ron Kukler Chief Technical Officer and Howard Gerwin VP Product Development from RKLAB AG. They share insight into engine development and electric vehicles and the various challenges engine manufacturers are working with to reduce emissions.

They discuss where electric vehicles can have success and solutions for large diesel engines such as marine, rail and large truck engines such as the class 8 engine.

They also share information on Euro 6 and USA emission requirements and talk about NOx and particulate emissions in detail. They delve into the current solutions to address these emissions such as catalytic converters, particulate filters, EGR, AdBlue and Diesel common rail.

They provide detailed explanations about blue flame technology, combustion efficiency, high pressure injection, quiescent vs. swirl combustion chambers, low temperature combustion, ethanol fuels and how this all relates to emissions reduction.

They share the high cost to try and deal with emissions after the combustion process and the advantage of addressing it in the chamber. They introduce us to the RK Injector and how this technology can have significant impact on emissions in large engines, retrofitted in existing engines and work as a complimentary technology to existing technologies such as electric.

Testing has shown that the RKInjector can work well with all levels of fuel lubrication. The technology is ready for the newest low sulphur fuels appearing in all transportation sectors.

They talk about the commercialisation of the technology and where they are working with PTL and SWRI and two large automotive brands. How they are setting up a research program with SWRI which will be open to academia and engine companies to get involved in testing the injector.

If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows or get more information on different topics feel free to contact us.

Production and editing by Ky Sinclair.

We talk to Mat Prestney, Director from Plumfleet. Mat shares insight into the difference between a traditional car fleet and a grey car fleet. How customers in traditional car fleets turn their vehicles and cars over between 48 and 60 months and normally controlled by the employer, whereas with grey car fleet employees turn their vehicle on average at 7.8 years and controlled by the employee. He delves into how the market has changed and that grey car fleet is growing. He talks through some of the risks with employees working from home and what are the implications of employees driving their own vehicle and car on behalf of the company. He addresses what an employers responsibility is if an employee drives a vehicle on behalf of a company and how this falls under work safe requirements. With more than 50% of work safe accidents a result of driving a vehicle. He talks through what employers "Duty of Care" and "Chain of responsibility" when manageing a car fleet. That if an employer does not have a "duty of care" criminal charges or large fines can be brought against the directors. Directors insurance does not protect a Director from criminal charges. He details out the need for polices and procedures to be in place and acknowledged by all car allowance employees. These need to be reviewed on a regular basis. They need to cover all aspects of the vehicle including servicing, checking tyres and vehicle replacement. He also details the need to address points pertaining to the driver including valid drivers licence, demerit points, eye care etc. Mat describes some of the solutions Plumfleet offer in this space. Lastly he looks into car pool vehicles and implications under Covid including regular sanitation of vehicles to protect employees. Mat suggests that car allowance is a great opportunity for dealers/ OEM's to build programs for car allowance buyers not just novated lease.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talking-business-with-mark-and-john--5696935/support.

John and Mark chat to Mat Prestney, Director from Plumfleet, talks through some of the risks with employees working from home and what are the implications of employees driving their own vehicle on behalf of the company.

We talk to Ben Sullivan at Potentiate. Ben shares insight into a wide range of customer satisfaction surveys critical to the industry, covering customer new car purchase surveys, car ownership surveys and dealership surveys. He talks about the customer satisfaction data and the importance of understanding the customer satisfaction data for marketing and advertising. He delves into some of the key metrics in terms of new car buyer profile, and types of car buyers and what percentage of the car market they make up. He makes suggestions on some of the impacts this may have on the way dealers and OEM's should approach marketing and advertising. He also shares some of the challenges that need to be overcome by automotive companies in dealing with an older car buyers and different customer car buyer categories. He addresses the topic of vehicle service levels and vehicle quality has improved substantially, but how perception "feeling", is resulting in dealers losing customers during the customer life cycle. He delves into customer retention and how the length customers are keeping cars and the impact of this. Lastly he looks at dealer satisfaction and what impact unhappy dealers has on customer satisfaction. He emphasises the importance of dealer profitability, the need for a partnership and clear communication between dealer and OEM.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/talking-business-with-mark-and-john--5696935/support.

Mark and John talk to Ben Sullivan, head of automotive services at Potentiate.

Ben shares insight into a wide range of surveys critical to the industry, covering purchase, ownership and dealerships. He talks about the data and the importance of of understanding the data for marketing and advertising.

He delves into some of the key metrics in terms of new car buyer profile, and types of buyers and what percentage of the market they make up. He makes suggestions on some of the impacts this may have on the way dealers and OEM’s should approach marketing and advertising. He also shares some of the challenges that need to be overcome by automotive companies in dealing with an older buyers and different customer categories.

He addresses the topic of vehicle service levels and vehicle quality has improved substantially, but how perception “feeling”, is resulting in dealers losing customers during the customer life cycle. He delves into retention and how the length customers are keeping vehicles and the impact of this.

Lastly he looks at dealer satisfaction and what impact unhappy dealers has on customer satisfaction. He emphasises the importance of dealer profitability, the need for a partnership and clear communication between dealer and OEM.

If you liked what you heard subscribe to the show to receive notifications of future shows. If you would like to get more information on any of the topics reach out to Mark Palavestra or John Sinclair on LinkedIn. If you would like to get involved with the shows please feel free to contact us.

Production and editing by Ky Sinclair.