GM's top sales executive leaving
Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. sales, is leaving GM on Oct. 15 “to pursue another opportunity outside of the industry,” according to a message sent to dealers by GM CEO Fritz Henderson that was obtained by the Detroit Free Press. “Mark has contributed significantly to GM in several key positions, including transforming the Cadillac brand and leading the Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing organization during one of the most challenging periods in GM’s history,” Henderson wrote. A replacement will be named at a later date, he added. “In the interim, Jim Bunnell — executive director of sales operations — and his team will continue to follow through with gm’s dealer network plans.”
|
 ""
|
It May Be the Internet, but It’s Still Advertising
Learn how to get ahead of your competitors by really understanding and utilizing the Internet as the most effective advertising media ever invented
More info on the Digital Dealer Conference
|
Automotive Consumer Engagement Techniques for your Web Site and Social Media Platforms
Leverage online conversations to turn anonymous consumers into engaged shoppers
More on the Digital Dealer Conference
|
|
Toyota plans $1 billion marketing, more hybrids
Toyota Motor Corp is preparing a $1 billion marketing campaign to boost U.S. sales in the fourth quarter, while also planning to expand its line of hybrid models under the Prius name, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. Toyota President Akio Toyoda was among those briefing U.S. dealers at a meeting in Las Vegas where the plans were laid out, the newspaper said. The $1 billion marketing and advertising plan is 30 percent to 40 percent more than Toyota typically spends in the quarter, the report said, citing a person familiar with the matter. The plan includes subsidizing leases and loan rates, offering other customer incentives and helping pay for dealer ads, the Journal said.
|
 ""
|
U.S. wants to restrict gift giving to bloggers
The government wants to make it a little harder for bloggers to shill products online for fun and profit, the Wall Street Journal reports. New guidelines released by the Federal Trade Commission say bloggers must disclose any money or freebies they receive in exchange for writing product reviews, a fast-growing and loosely regulated way for companies to market everything from diapers to movies. The move is an effort to apply the same rules that already cover broadcast stations, newspapers and magazines to the Wild West marketplace of the World Wide Web. They are a response to complaints about bloggers writing positive reviews of freebies they have received from corporations, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft Corp., which came under scrutiny a few years ago for giving away free laptops to potential reviewers. Bloggers and others who are paid or give freebies to promote products online will be required to offer some sort of written disclosure for readers, the FTC said, or face possible fines of as much as $11,000 per violation.
|
Study: Consumers say behavioral marketing misses mark
Despite the concerns of some consumers and privacy advocates, marketers have defended behavioral targeting on the basis that Internet users would prefer to look at relevant advertisements and offers, eMarketer reports. But a study from researchers at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of California Berkeley School of Law and the Annenberg Public Policy Center reports just the opposite. “Contrary to what many marketers claim, most adult Americans (66%) do not want marketers to tailor advertisements to their interests,” according to the paper. “Moreover, when Americans are informed of three common ways that marketers gather data about people in order to tailor ads, even higher percentages— between 73% and 86%—say they would not want such advertising.”
|
New-car shoppers delay buying after 'cash for clunkers'
Kbb.com study
Since the end of "cash for clunkers", in-market car shoppers have indicated they are once again delaying the purchase of a new vehicle, according to the latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence Study. However, the price consumers are considering paying for a new car has significantly increased in the month since the program ended.
[FULL STORY]
|
.jpg?i=100809153841) Read the October issue of Dealer magazine before it comes out in print. Click Here
|
Economy will help drive 11.2 M light vehicle sales in 2010
Polk forecast
The outlook for U.S. light vehicle sales is beginning to improve, according to a recent R. L. Polk & Co. analysis. Polk estimates new light vehicle sales in 2010 will be up 9.6 percent over 2009, to 11.2 million units, with third quarter 2010 sales estimated to be the strongest, at an anticipated 28 percent of the annual total.
[FULL STORY]
|
Dealers say they've maintained sales with stimulus plan
When the government's "cash for clunkers" program ended on August 24th, many dealerships that experienced high sales with the program went through a huge withdrawal. Participating dealers in the privately funded Automotive Stimulus Program, which is ongoing, have been able to maintain this surge, according to the organizers. No sales stats were released.
[FULL STORY]
|
Ford to debut Fiesta for US market at LA show
Ford Motor Co. indicated plans to unveil its Fiesta sub-compact car for the U.S. market at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December, Dow Jones newswire reprots. This is the first time American consumers will see the vehicle; coming to showrooms in summer 2010. The car, available throughout most of Europe was introduced as a concept vehicle - known as the Verve - at the 2008 North America International Auto Show in Detroit. Ford Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally is pinning the auto maker's future to the success of Fiesta. He is betting consumers are shifting away from sport-utility vehicles to smaller cars equipped with more technologies and features. The move is a gamble because gas prices, which impact buying habits, continue to hover near $2.50 in the U.S. as motorists drive less to save money amid the ongoing economic recession.
|
Dealer Communications adds Cliff Banks to its team
Leading automotive trade publishing firm names Banks Vice-President and Editorial Director
NASHVILLE – October 6, 2009 -- Dealer Communications, the leading multi-media information source for franchised automotive dealers and managers, has named Cliff Banks as Vice-President and Editorial Director.
[FULL STORY]
|
Greasing Fixed Operations by Learning the Nuts and Bolts of e-Commerce
Six key e-Commerce elements to improve and get ahead in today’s market
|
Web 2.0: Solving the Mystery and Improving your Web Results
How to differentiate your dealership from the competition online
More info on the Digital Dealer Conference
|
web site: your inventory. In order for you to connect your shoppers to their next vehicles as quickly and painlessly as possible, it’s crucial to maintain your inventory by keeping it up-to-date and chock-full of information.There are three main focus areas within the inventory section of your site: visibility within search engines, vehicle images and the information you make available to consumers. 
