The past few weeks have featured a flurry of deals between automakers and technology companies. All are indicative of the changing nature of the transportation sector. Nay, the mobility sector.
Let’s consider one – Ford Motor Co.’s $182 million investment in cloud-based software platform firm Pivotal. The investment will allow Ford to deliver customer experiences “at the speed of Silicon Valley,” says Ford CEO Mark Fields. It will help Ford transition to both an automaker and a mobility company.
Dealerships take note. If automakers are changing, you had better be changing too. That doesn’t necessarily mean no longer selling cars. But it does mean changing many elements of the purchase process.
This week I profile a dealer who has chosen to change the environment in which the traditional dealership transactions – selling and servicing vehicles – take place. Frank DeLuca has created a destination dealership, one with amenities that go far beyond the bare necessities. Fresh lobster rolls on Friday anyone?
Also this week our regular contributor Ken Rosenfield looks at why being obsessed with the Multiple may not be the best approach to pricing a dealership. And, our Women in Automotive series continues with a profile of a Customer Care Manager who is focused on truly caring for clients, even when that means talking about grandkids rather than cars.
And in case you were worried, we haven’t forgotten our most popular, albeit somewhat dry, section – Transaction News!
Enjoy!
