Sunday, January 31, 2021

How a Honda store nobody wanted led to a big jackpot

A bankrupt old L.A. dealership delivered a big payday for three business partners who had the patience and vision to bring it back to life.



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Next big step for Toyota's SmartPath

The expansion of the automaker's digital suite allows customers, for the first time, to complete a new-vehicle purchase without ever having to set foot in a showroom.



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After record profits amid pandemic, dealer outlook soars for '21

Ten months ago dealers braced themselves for a financial hit as the coronavirus pandemic started to wash across the U.S. It never materialized. An Automotive News survey of dealership executives illustrates the boon.



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Online sales push may refine omnichannel retail

Fully digital auto sales may be a ways off, but the technology and digital processes that dealerships adopted during the pandemic may improve their online-to-in-store transition.



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Buick-GMC dealers excited by new products

After significant product launches and redesigns in 2020, dealers are eager for this year's wave of big-ticket vehicles: the Hummer electric pickup and redesigned Envision crossover.



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Separate showrooms boost Lincoln sales in down year

Retail sales at new brand-exclusive dealerships rose about 25 percent despite the pandemic in 2020, and 51 more standalone stores are scheduled to open by the end of next year.



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MDX takes Acura to higher ground

Among the new features on the fourth-generation crossover are soft-close windows that slow down in the final millimeters of travel. It's a small touch, but it illustrates the Japanese brand's upmarket intentions.



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BMW, Mercedes prepare to duke it out over EVs

The German rivals have been battling each other in nearly every vehicle segment for decades. Now they are about to square off for a new fight -- even as many consumers remain wary of electric vehicles.



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Lithia said to be near deal to buy Michigan's Suburban Collection

The purchase would give the nation's third-largest dealership group a big Midwest foothold as it continues an aggressive growth strategy.



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Saturday, January 30, 2021

Old-school Cadillac dealership takes offramp from EV future

Downtown Louisville's Brown Bros. Cadillac — with a showroom decked out in gold chandeliers, stained-glass windows and marble fireplace — is among the more than 175 dealerships that aren't sticking around for an all-electric future. Remaining dealers are learning what upgrades they need.



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Legal fears led Nissan exec to flip on Ghosn

In the Tokyo trial over whether Nissan executives conspired to conceal the former chairman's pay from public view, Hari Nada says he flipped on his boss partly to stop financial wrongdoing and partly to save his own skin.



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Mark Fields: With new tech arriving, revenue still looks ‘far out'

Mark Fields, senior adviser at TPG Capital, spoke with Publisher Jason Stein during AN's Shift Mobility Forum about the technological complexities and cost-intensive requirements of a variety of mobility trends.



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Nissan trims output at Miss. plant amid tight chip supplies

Frontier and Titan pickup production was idled two days this month and is also scheduled to be down on Feb. 8, a memo indicates. Altima assembly has also been reduced at the plant.



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Judge approves UAW consent decree, begins process to name monitor

The union will be placed under oversight for a period of six years following a federal corruption probe that has so far resulted in charges against 15 people, including the UAW's past two presidents.



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Judge approves UAW consent decree, begins process to name independent monitor

The union will be placed under oversight for a period of six years following a federal corruption investigation that has so far resulted in charges against 15 people, including its past two presidents.



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Ford, Trek, Bosch partner on bicycle-to-vehicle communication

It's an important collaboration considering the number of vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and scooter riders. It's also timely given the increased interest in bike and scooter ridership since the onset of the pandemic last spring.



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Friday, January 29, 2021

Ford, Trek, Bosch and others partner on bicycle-to-vehicle communication

It's an important collaboration considering the number of vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and scooter riders. It's also timely given the increased interest in bike and scooter ridership since the onset of the pandemic last spring.



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Vendors scramble to bolster digital auto retailing tools

During the coronavirus pandemic, software giants and startups alike realized dealership clients needed more from their products than they had to offer — a way for customers to completely, legally, purchase a vehicle online. They got busy.



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Honda Ridgeline moves toward the mainstream

The 2021 pickup goes on sale this week with a move toward a more mainstream look.



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Biden’s green push gives Detroit the cover to go electric

The Democrat's victory put has some wind at the auto industry’s back and makes the commitment to electric powertrains more palatable for their risk-averse corporate cultures.



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Kia will sit out Super Bowl, breaking 11-year streak

Kia’s absence will seemingly guarantee that the auto category will produce fewer Super Bowl ads than in recent years. Only GM and Toyota have confirmed spots for the game this year so far.



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Court denies N.Y. dealer's request for injunction over COVID-19 restrictions

The lawsuit filed by Plaza Motors against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and a state economic development agency continues in federal court.



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Gentex Q4 net income jumps 44% on mirror shipments, product mix

The supplier's net sales in the quarter rose 19 percent as the company said it also benefited from cost-cutting actions taken during 2020.



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Jaguar Land Rover quarterly profit up on China, cost reductions

JLR's pretax profit rose to 439 million pounds ($603 million) helped by a turnaround program and higher than expected sales of its new-generation Land Rover Defender.



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Hyundai wrestles with the risks of embracing Apple, report says

Some Hyundai executives are raising concerns about becoming a contract manufacturer for the U.S. tech giant if the automaker builds Apple's electric car.



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