July 12, 2016
Infiniti Dealerships Ranked Highest in Treatment of Car Shoppers, Study Says
Infiniti dealerships ranked the highest when it comes to the treatment of car shoppers, according to the new 2016 Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index released on Monday. Edmunds reports that the study measured the treatment of "mystery shoppers" who visited 6,157 dealerships throughout the U.S. Lexus dealerships and Mercedes-Benz dealerships tied for 2nd in the annual report. Toyota dealerships and Audi dealerships rounded out the top five in the rankings. "There is no question that the typical dealership sells more effectively today than it did ten years ago," said Fran O'Hagan, president and CEO of Pied Piper Management Company, in a statement. Porsche, Land Rover, and Mitsubishi dealerships showed the most improvement in the new study. Only two brands, Mini and Tesla, showed year-to-year declines. For more on how dealerships ranked in treatment of car shoppers, click here.
Study Finds Many Small SUVs Have Poor-Performing Headlights
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that it tested the headlights of 21 small SUVs and not one earned a “good” rating. According to ABC News, in March, the institute – known for crash-testing cars to see how well they protect occupants in a collision – tested the performance of headlights on midsize cars, calling the results “dismal.” The study measured the amount of usable light provided by low beams and high beams as vehicles travel on straightaways and various curves. The tests were conducted on a track after dark. Among the 21 vehicles, and 47 different headlight combinations, more than two-thirds rated “poor.” All vehicles tested except two, the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage, were 2016 models. When assessing the best available headlight system for each model, the 2017 Ford Escape, 2016 Hyundai Tucson, the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX-3 achieved “acceptable” ratings. Read more about the best and worst small SUV headlights here.
Mercedes Beats BMW at Half-Year Mark in Global Luxury Sales Race
Mercedes-Benz solidified its sales lead over the BMW brand in the first half of the year, moving closer to a goal of unseating its rival for the first time since 2005, according to Automotive News. BMW’s global six-month brand deliveries rose 5.8 percent from a year earlier to 986,557, compared with a 12 percent gain to just over 1 million cars for the Mercedes brand. That left BMW trailing by 20,062 vehicles for the No. 1 position. Third-placed Audi sold 902,272, a rise of 5.6 percent. Mercedes is set to deliver four years early on a target of beating BMW’s annual sales. Audi has also said it wants to become No. 1 in the luxury-auto sales. All three have stressed that growth mustn’t come at the expense of profitability. Daimler published second-quarter earnings on Monday in an unscheduled release, saying adjusted operating profit beat analysts’ expectations. For the latest on the global luxury sales race, click here.
Impact of VW Deal Depends on Diesel Fix
Can Volkswagen's noncompliant diesels be fixed? The answer to that question will largely determine the burdens that VW dealers will have to shoulder – or the bounty they will share – in coming years under the $10 billion-plus buyback program and consent decree reached with regulators and other parties June 28. According to Automotive News, many other pivotal questions remain unresolved, too, including whether and when VW can resume selling diesels in the U.S. For now, dealers are looking to a series of regional meetings planned for this week and next, where Volkswagen officials will explain how the buybacks and fixes will go down. Top of mind for dealers is whether they'll be able to use the factory-repurchased vehicles to restock their inventories. The terms of VW's consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice require the company to perform regulator-approved emissions repairs before it can resell or export any of the affected 2.0-liter diesels it buys back. For more on how VW’s deal will impact dealers, click here.
Here Are the Top 10 Most Dangerous States for Older Drivers
The graying of baby boomers – what some call the "silver tsunami" – continues to drive concerns about how they fare as drivers as they age. According to USA Today, a ranking of the most and least dangerous states for senior drivers from Caring.com holds a few surprises. For instance, the tiniest state, Rhode Island, holds the highest threat for senior drivers. And a relatively large, expansive state, New Mexico, holds the least threat. It's an important issue. Those age 65 and older expected to make up a quarter of all drivers by 2025, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study compared each state's number of residents 65 and older who were killed in car accidents with that age group's share of the state's population using 2014 car-fatality numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Census Bureau population data. For more on the most dangerous states for older drivers, click here.
How AIADA Dealers Can Get Inventory Recall Reports
In an effort to help dealers spend less time worrying about open recalls and more time selling cars, Carfax has added open recall reporting to carfaxonline.com. Now, in addition to the automated recall email Carfax Advantage Dealers will continue getting twice a week, AIADA dealer members can view, save or print a list of vehicles on their lot that have open recalls reported to Carfax from within their Carfax account. “We take recalls on our units very seriously. It’s about protecting our customers and our business,” says AIADA Board Member Howard Hakes with Puente Hills Toyota. “Carfax is doing us and all dealers an incredibly important service by constantly checking for and notifying us about recalls on our lot. It helps us focus on selling the cars with no recalls and get ones with recalls turned around fast on the fix.” With unfixed safety recalls on approximately 1/5 vehicles in the U.S., it’s never been more important for dealers to stay informed. The new online report includes VIN, Year/Make/Model, Recall Code and Description details for each affected vehicle. AIADA members who want to become a Carfax-subscribing dealer and get no-cost recall updates can call 877-606-9199 or visit carfaxfordealers.com.
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