Auto Industry in the News

Used Car Sales Continue Rising among Franchised Dealers

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News /

June 2, 2014

Used car sales are an especially hot topic among automotive dealers. More than ever before, franchised auto dealers are realizing they should be putting a special emphasis on this market. With this change in focus comes a predictable change in sales numbers, too.

The 2014 Used Car Market report, put out by Manheim, shows that franchised car dealerships in the United States sold more than 15.5 million used cars in 2013, just about the same number of new cars they sold.

Why a “Cheap” Oil Change Isn’t Cheap at All

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News /

May 27, 2014

It’s always a great idea to get routine maintenance services performed on your vehicle as recommended by its owner’s manual, such as an oil change. This is perhaps the single-most important thing you can do to extend the life of your vehicle.

It’s often the first instinct to take their car to a “quick lube” establishment when the time comes for an oil change. But there are many reasons this is not the way to go, and some are not immediately obvious to car owners.

Most Valuable Car Brand is Toyota … Again

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News /

May 22, 2014

This year’s most valuable car brand is the same as last year’s most valuable car brand. It’s none other than Toyota, according to recently released data from marketing consultant Millward Brown Optimor in their “Millward Brown Optimor BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Car Brands” list. This is quite an achievement in an industry as fickle as the automotive business!

Notably, nine of the 10 top brands from last year’s list remained the same. The one exception was the departure of Toyota’s sister company, Lexus, which was replaced by Chevrolet. This is Chevy’s first appearance on the list since 2009.

Automotive Accessories an Often Untapped Profit Source

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News /

May 21, 2014

Automotive accessories are an often overlooked opportunity for additional profit at car dealerships nationwide. No matter what vehicle brand a dealership sells, there is an incredible variety of accessories from which to choose on today’s new cars. You name it, it’s available … safety items, performance packages, comfort features … these, and a lot more, can be bought.

I’ve been in automotive advertising in one form or another a good while, and I have been at many dealership locations throughout the country. During that time it has always struck me that there is a significant difference in the emphasis (or lack thereof) placed on accessories.

Chrysler Nine Speed Transmission Plant Opens in Indiana

JKRAdvertising / Auto Industry in the News /

May 20, 2014

A Chrysler nine speed transmission is being built in a new plant in Indiana. After seven years and a couple false starts, Chrysler finally dedicated its new plant, located in Tipton, last week. The 782,000-square-foot facility is something the citizens of Tipton have impatiently waiting for.

The plant initially will be the workplace of 204 employees, many of whom were transferred there from four other plants in the nearby Kokomo area. The plant will be responsible for building the new nine speed transmission that will be shipped to several other locations for use in Chrysler vehicles. They will be found in the Jeep Cherokee; the new Chrysler 200; and various Fiat products in Italy, Turkey, China and Brazil.