I attended “The Road Ahead,” an advanced clean car symposium held by the California Air Resources Board, this week. CARB, as we call it, is responsible for those Zero Emission Vehicle mandates automakers looking to sell vehicles in California must meet.
The keynote speaker was Britta Gross, director of advanced vehicle commercialization policy at General Motors. Gross professed that the market for electrified vehicles is “not as exciting as we want it to be.” Still, policies such as the ZEV mandate are helping drive more zero emission vehicles in the market place, she said.
Dealers are tasked with selling these vehicles even if there isn’t a lot of consumer excitement about them. But, fortunately for dealers, I predict that the excitement level at Chevrolet dealerships will rise with the arrival of the Bolt pure EV. I think people are confused by the Volt, a REEV, or is it really just a PHEV, and what do those acronyms mean anyway?
It may also help that GM is changing its dealer training regarding electric vehicles. Now, dealership employees and customers will receive the same materials. That wasn’t true in the past. “They will be able to speak hopefully the same jargon” as customers now, said Gross.
Meanwhile, the business of selling cars and selling dealerships continues and we continue to bring you insightful columns and stories to help you do both more effectively. This week, I profile a Chevrolet dealer who recognizes that recruiting a diverse staff requires diverse approaches. Eve Knudtsen, dealer principal at Knudtsen Chevrolet in Idaho, also mentors young women. She’s a great example of how women are making a difference in the industry.
Also this week, The Scali Law firm discusses the importance of having your compliance and corporate organization houses in order before you start looking for a buyer of your dealership. Especially with the new breed of buyers in the market i.e. private equity and family office, not doing so can slow a deal, and time is money.
And of course we have Transaction News.
Enjoy!
