All articles tagged with #dealerships
A Florida man’s experience with a faulty certified pre-owned Chevy highlights issues with warranty coverage, dealership communication, and repair delays, raising questions about the true value of CPO programs and consumer protections.
Amazon has launched Amazon Auto, an online car dealership in partnership with Hyundai, allowing customers in 48 US cities to browse, finance, and purchase Hyundai vehicles through Amazon's platform. While the end sale is still conducted by the dealer, Amazon acts as a middleman, offering a new sales channel to connect dealers with its vast customer base. The initiative includes trade-in options and a limited-time $2,300 gift card offer for purchases made through the site, aiming to simplify the car buying process and expand Amazon's e-commerce reach.
Amazon has launched Amazon Autos, allowing customers in 48 U.S. cities to purchase new Hyundai vehicles online through participating local dealers. The service offers a streamlined car buying experience with features like browsing, financing, and scheduling pick-up, all within the Amazon platform. This initiative aims to make car shopping more transparent and convenient, with plans to expand to more brands and cities in the future.
Over 5,000 new 2023 Dodge Chargers and Challengers remain unsold at dealerships across the U.S., despite the end of their production in December 2023. The cars, now two-model-years old, include a mix of trims, with some dealers still marking up performance models like the Charger Hellcat Widebody. While discounts are available on some models, the popularity of V8 engines and dealer markups make it challenging for buyers to find deals on these muscle cars.
Toyota is preparing for a massive recall involving the replacement of 100,000 engines in 2022 and 2023 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs due to metal debris contamination. The recall, one of the largest in Toyota's history, involves replacing the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engines, a process that is labor-intensive and requires significant resources. Toyota aims to streamline the process to minimize complexity for technicians and sees it as an opportunity for training junior technicians. The recall will be managed by appointment, with Toyota covering the cost of loaner vehicles.
Electric vehicle startup Fisker has initiated another round of layoffs affecting multiple teams, including User Experience, Technical Training, Human Resources, and Social Media, amid ongoing financial struggles and challenges in securing new investments. The company has also halted direct vehicle sales in states without dealership locations and discontinued roadside assistance services in the U.S. and Europe. Despite expanding its dealership network in Europe and the U.S., Fisker remains in a precarious financial position, with its future uncertain.
Amazon is piloting a program to allow a small number of Hyundai dealers to sell vehicles through its platform to employees, aiming to bring a seamless online car-buying experience to a highly regulated industry. While some dealers are skeptical, a significant portion of car buyers, especially those interested in electric vehicles, are interested in online purchasing. Amazon's entry into the market has raised concerns among dealers, but its technological sophistication and resources could potentially reshape the future of car-buying.
Fisker, an electric vehicle company, is expanding its sales strategy by incorporating dealerships into its distribution model, aiming to boost sales and delivery of its vehicles. The company plans to add up to 50 dealer partners in the US and Canada, as well as a similar number in Europe, to complement its existing direct-to-customer approach. This move comes as Fisker seeks to address distribution constraints that limited its deliveries to about 4,700 units of the Ocean SUVs, despite producing over 10,000 vehicles in 2023. The first Ocean vehicles are expected to reach new dealers by the end of the first quarter.
Fisker, an electric vehicle startup, is shifting away from its direct-to-consumer sales strategy to partner with traditional dealerships in the U.S. The move comes as the company faced challenges with the direct model, including high costs and delays in delivering cars to customers. Fisker's CEO, Henrik Fisker, aims to secure agreements with at least 50 dealers within the year to improve the distribution of their EVs.
General Motors (GM) has bought out approximately half of its Buick dealers across the U.S. as they were reluctant to sell electric vehicles (EVs). GM plans to transition to EVs and aims for the Buick brand to be 100% electric by 2030. About 1,000 Buick dealers accepted the voluntary buyout, allowing them to no longer sell Buick vehicles but continue selling other GM brands. Last year, GM informed dealers to invest at least $300,000 in EV-related initiatives or give up the Buick franchise. Despite reducing the number of dealer points by 47%, Buick sales have increased by nearly 60% this year.
Nearly half of Buick dealers in the US have chosen to take buyouts from General Motors (GM) instead of committing to selling and servicing electric vehicles (EVs). As Buick plans to go all-electric by 2030, GM offered dealers the option to invest in preparing for EV sales or voluntarily give up their franchise. The number of Buick dealerships in the US is expected to decrease by 47% by the end of 2023. Despite the drop in dealerships, Buick remains unfazed and believes that the remaining network is strong and effective.
General Motors has announced that nearly half of its Buick dealerships have opted for buyouts rather than investing in selling and servicing electric vehicles (EVs). This move comes as GM aims to transition all its brands to electric by 2030. As a result, GM will end 2023 with approximately 1,000 Buick stores nationwide, a 47% decrease from the beginning of the year. The buyout program remains voluntary, and despite the reduction in dealerships, Buick sales have increased by almost 60% this year.
Starting in January, buyers of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States will no longer have to wait until tax season to receive the federal tax credit of up to $7,500. Instead, the credit will be available as cash on the day of purchase, regardless of the customer's tax bill. Dealerships will register with the IRS to confirm vehicle eligibility, simplifying the process for buyers. The new system also allows buyers to instantly transfer the tax credit to the dealership, who will reimburse them promptly. This change aims to make EV tax credits more accessible and eliminate the need for buyers to navigate complex rules and wait for tax refunds.
As the US autoworkers strike continues, dealerships are facing the possibility of running out of cars to sell. The strike, which began on September 16, has disrupted the supply chain and halted production at General Motors (GM) plants across the country. With inventories dwindling, dealerships are concerned about meeting customer demand and potential loss of sales. The strike highlights the impact of labor disputes on the automotive industry and raises questions about the future of car manufacturing in the US.
With interest rates for new vehicle financing on the rise, experts recommend setting a budget and using auto loan calculators to estimate monthly payments. It is advised to get pre-approved for an auto loan from a bank or credit union before visiting a dealership, as they often offer higher interest rates. Additionally, expanding the search to dealerships a few hours away can lead to better inventory and deals, and obtaining quotes from multiple dealerships can aid in negotiation.