Author: Automotive News n Feed

Outside the main floor at the convention, there was a dealers-only stand that was packed to capacity. The exhibit, called “The Modern Dealership Experience,” was NADA’s attempt to show dealers what the future looks like.

Auto retailers are making significant investments in technology to enable consumers to do most — and someday, all — of a vehicle purchase online.

Following decades of contentious factory/dealer relations and one of the largest scandals in automotive history, Volkswagen dealers were cheering and smiling following their make meeting Saturday.

Cadillac is modifying portions of the dealer-incentive program that starts in April to let retailers receive payments sooner and earn partial bonuses even if they fall as much as 15 percent short of monthly sales targets.

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Ford will advertise in the Super Bowl next week for the first time in three years. The automaker previewed its 90-second commercial for dealers during Saturday’s make meeting at NADA, according to sources in the room.

Ford wants to grow its U.S. retail market in 2017, telling dealers Saturday it aims to break the 13 percent barrier.

Even though U.S. light-vehicle sales are expected to remain relatively flat, there are still plenty of opportunities for conquest sales, said Erik Hjermstad, senior automotive market analyst for Experian.

Whirring car washes, hydraulic service lifts and free dongles of questionable usefulness are all standard fare for dealer conventions such as this one, but how about some cookies?

Dealerships’ parts and service departments have a talent problem. They can have the most advanced technology in the industry, but it won’t mean anything if there aren’t enough technicians who know how to use it.