Author: Automotive News n Feed

Automotive News has made changes to its editorial team and additions to its sales staff.

This week the auto retail industry will converge on New Orleans to honor and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Automobile Dealers Association. That is quite a milestone.

Bad hiring can cost a dealership plenty. Rick Evans figures his Toyota dealership lost at least $500,000 — maybe even $1 million or more — because of his hiring problems.

As automakers and suppliers eye the potential of fully connected cities, the hard realities of rolling out those technologies are quickly becoming apparent.

Mitsubishi Motors’ alliance with Nissan Motor has sparked speculation about sharing parts, vehicles or production capacity. But Mitsubishi’s No. 2 executive in North America says it also could benefit Mitsubishi dealers.

Ford Motor Credit customers will soon be able to purchase and finance new vehicles from a dealership’s website, thereby making a visit to the store optional.

Mercedes and BMW still sell a good volume of the luxury sedans known as brand flagships. But the identity builders for European luxury brands are likely to increasingly become crossovers and SUVs as the sales shift to trucks continues.

McLaren Automotive this year plans to replace the supercar that launched the British company’s on-road challenge to Ferrari nearly six years ago.

Jaguar Land Rover hopes to boost sales using virtual reality to preview upcoming vehicles. All of its global retailers, including U.S. dealers, are getting virtual-reality kits.

Cars are rapidly being transformed into connectivity centers constantly linked to the outside world as automakers, suppliers and service providers try to benefit from a multi-billion-dollar sector forecast to grow at a double-digit rate for the rest…