I am sitting in the crowded media room of the Los Angeles Auto Show as I type. A stroll through the stands at the show revealed no “green” cars though of course there were a few plug-in hybrids and the like. No, this year’s show is more about gasoline-fueled engines, big and small.
Hemi® Hellcat V8
Nonetheless, alternative fuel vehicles will be part of every dealership’s future. Another “trend” that may not seem relevant now but will surely be a part of every dealership’s future is car sharing. I talked to dealers at the NADA/J.D. Power AutoConference LA yesterday, and they are not worried. Still, market researchers and consultants see car sharing growing and impacting the future of the auto industry. In this issue I look at dealer attitudes, OE actions, and future predictions related to car sharing.
GMC Engine
New entrants in the dealership buy/sell market such as private equity investors and family offices continue to make news. One thing that hasn’t been written about, however, is how fast these new players are adapting to the initially-unfamiliar demands of the dealership buy/sell world. In turn, the OEs are becoming more comfortable with these new kinds of buyers.
This week, we re-issue a column we ran almost exactly a year ago by Rick Kotzen of Crowe Horwath. But, Rick has updated it to reflect the new realities. Much remains the same but the differences are crucial.
Then there is Transaction News.
Enjoy!
