Automotive News - March 17, 2008 - (Page 24)

24 • MARCH 17, 2008 Inventory – U.S. car and light-truck, on March 1 Days supply Inventory Mar. 1 units 2008 Days supply Feb. 1 2008 Days supply Inventory Mar. 1 units 2008 Days supply Feb. 1 2008 Vehicles are domestic unless noted. Days supply Inventory Mar. 1 units 2008 Days supply Feb. 1 2008 U.S. sales per franchise, February Make Car Truck Feb. Feb. 2008 2008 Total Feb. 2008 Total Jan. 2008 can Q “How with we compete the low prices of the dealership down the street?” First, realize you are not competing with the dealership down the street. Why? Think about it – since most customers will only speak to a salesperson there, you’re only competing with the salesperson they’ll talk to at that dealership, which means it’s your salesperson’s skill level vs. their salesperson’s skill level that determines who makes the sale. If this was all about price, then everyone would buy the cheapest car, period! But it isn’t all about price and it never has been. It’s all about value. And value is determined by the skills of the person who is presenting themselves, their product and their dealership (service). And when you look at it that way, competing is easy – just do a better job of following the Basics and of selling and handling objections than the other salespeople do! This isn’t a new thought because you’ve done it in the past. You’ve had a customer on your lot who could have bought their vehicle down the street and they could have paid less money for it there, but you still made the sale – how? You did it by building more value than the other dealership. Tip: Just assume that everyone who says “I’ve been down the street” will do business with you and will pay you more than they’re willing to pay down the street if you’re willing to stop talking price and just do a better job of selling and building value. Get to class and we’ll show you how to beat the competition every time and how to increase your unit sales, proﬁt and CSI. Another tip: quit saying you don’t have time or that you can’t afford to come to class. In sales and sales management, you can’t afford not to learn how to control your future! Get Joe’s Newest Book “How To Sell A Car Today” Learn to sell your way out of a down market! MANAGEMENT & SALES TRAINING, INC. JOE VERDE P.O. Box 267 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693-0267 www.joeverde.com/an Need Salespeople, Tech’s, Managers & Other Employees? The Auto Industry’s #1 Recruiting, Training & Marketing Company Salespeople~BDC~Detailer~Porter~Technician Body Tech~Service Advisor~Service Manager Parts Counter~Parts Manager~Sales Manager Finance Manager~Office Staff~GSM~GM 800-421-4550 www.clickhereforadvice.com Brian C. Hall, President & CEO BMW div. car (D/I) BMW div. trk. (D/I) Total BMW division (D/I) Mini Cooper car (I) BMW† 300 Crossfire (I) PT Cruiser Sebring Chrysler Div. car (D) Chrysler Div. car (I) Total Chrysler Div. car. Aspen Pacifica Town & Country Total Chrysler Div. trk. Total Chrysler Division.. Avenger Caliber Charger Magnum Viper Total Dodge car Caravan Dakota Durango Journey Nitro Ram Sprinter Total Dodge trk. Total Dodge Commander Compass Grand Cherokee Liberty Patriot Wrangler Total Jeep trk. Chrysler LLC car (D) Chrysler LLC car (I) Chrysler LLC car Chrysler LLC trk. CHRYSLER LLC Crown Victoria Focus Fusion Mustang Taurus (new) Total Ford div. car E series/Club Wagon E series van Edge Escape Expedition Explorer F series Ranger Taurus X Total Ford div. trk. Total Ford division Jaguar car (I) Land Rover trk. (I) Town Car MKZ/Zephyr Total Lincoln car Mark LT MKX Navigator Total Lincoln trk. Total Lincoln Grand Marquis Milan Sable (new) Total Mercury car Mariner Mountaineer Total Mercury trk. Total Mercury 30 series (I) 40 series (I) 50 series (I) 60 series (I) 70 series (I) 80 series (I) Total Volvo car (I) Volvo trk. XC90 (I) Total Volvo (I) Ford Motor Co. car (D) Ford Motor Co. car (I) . Ford Motor Co. car Ford Motor Co. trk. (D) Ford Motor Co. trk. (I) . Ford Motor Co. trk. FORD MOTOR CO.† LaCrosse Lucerne Total Buick car Enclave Rainier Rendezvous Terraza Total Buick trk Total Buick CTS DTS STS XLR Total Cadillac car Escalade Escalade ESV Escalade EXT SRX Total Cadillac trk. Total Cadillac 20,300 4,600 25,000 3,300 28,300 21,700 1,600 11,600 18,200 51,500 1,600 53,100 6,300 7,500 25,000 38,800 91,900 15,500 21,100 19,400 2,200 200 58,400 23,500 11,900 7,100 10,200 13,700 101,400 5,900 173,700 232,100 13,200 8,500 25,800 19,200 14,000 31,600 112,400 109,900 1,600 111,500 324,900 436,400 8,200 48,600 35,100 38,100 18,800 148,800 3,300 26,100 35,400 34,600 20,100 30,900 201,500 14,300 9,200 375,400 524,200 4,100 8,900 2,700 8,600 11,300 1,800 11,100 5,300 18,200 29,500 8,000 8,800 6,500 23,300 10,100 4,500 14,600 37,900 1,400 1,700 400 1,900 5,200 2,800 13,400 6,000 19,400 183,400 17,500 200,900 408,200 14,900 423,100 624,000 10,100 19,300 29,400 6,800 – – 400 7,200 36,600 6,300 7,300 4,600 500 18,700 10,400 5,200 2,700 5,100 23,500 42,200 32 24 30 24 29 59 273 52 41 50 273 51 55 200 52 62 55 47 48 50 30 53 47 53 114 65 344 80 112 129 96 76 129 74 90 65 68 111 87 48 273 49 87 73 53 75 59 123 98 78 29 65 76 61 80 82 96 48 107 81 80 96 79 52 61 58 124 98 85 96 77 78 86 173 97 83 65 76 88 106 46 65 36 80 55 60 79 65 78 65 77 81 79 81 80 64 100 83 44 48 17 153 46 72 31 59 81 93 48 133 138 189 92 126 73 46 32 43 26 40 73 215 67 51 63 215 63 51 233 57 69 65 50 47 53 23 40 47 77 131 46 – 61 122 99 97 77 89 75 85 56 83 117 83 54 215 54 87 75 41 104 96 142 123 103 30 67 75 78 108 108 112 80 110 95 97 138 83 206 85 93 100 74 75 76 82 103 93 175 112 93 85 90 102 101 34 72 34 84 82 58 73 62 104 66 99 94 79 93 95 63 97 81 41 32 15 109 43 70 22 59 63 94 40 115 107 156 79 105 60 Aveo (I) Cobalt Corvette HHR Impala Malibu Monte Carlo Chevrolet car (D) Chevrolet car (I) Total Chevrolet car Avalanche Colorado Equinox Express/G van Silverado Suburban Tahoe TrailBlazer Uplander Total Chevrolet trk Total Chevrolet (D) Total Chevrolet (I) Total Chevrolet Acadia Canyon Envoy Savana/G van Sierra Yukon Yukon XL Total GMC trk. H1 H2 H3 Total Hummer trk. G5 G6 Grand Prix GTO (I) Solstice Vibe Pontiac car (D) Pontiac car (I) Total Pontiac car Montana SV6 Torrent Total Pontiac trk. Total Pontiac (D) Total Pontiac (I) Total Pontiac Saab car (I) Saab truck Total Saab Astra (I) Aura Ion Sky Saturn car (D) Saturn car (I) Total Saturn car Outlook Relay Vue Total Saturn trk. Total Saturn (D) Total Saturn (I) Total Saturn GM car (D) GM car (I) GM car GM trk GENERAL MOTORS† RL (I)* TL TSX (I)* Acura car (D) Acura car (I) Total Acura car MDX RDX Total Acura trk. Total Acura Accord (D) Accord (I) Total Accord Civic (D) Civic (I) Total Civic Fit (I) S2000 (I) Honda Div. car (D) Honda Div. car (I) Total Honda Div. car CR-V (D) CR-V (I) Total CR-V Element Odyssey Pilot Ridgeline Honda Div. trk. (D) Honda Div. trk. (I) Total Honda Div. trk Total Honda Div. Am. Honda car (D) Am. Honda car (I) Am. Honda car Am. Honda trk. (D) Am. Honda trk. (I) Am. Honda trk. AMERICAN HONDA 16,500 36,000 10,500 21,100 29,000 19,700 300 116,500 16,500 133,100 18,500 23,600 21,200 27,800 227,400 23,200 42,200 22,900 2,800 409,600 526,100 16,500 542,700 16,500 7,400 7,600 8,800 85,000 22,100 14,000 161,400 – 3,300 10,600 13,900 8,200 29,100 5,900 – 8,100 9,700 61,100 – 61,100 – 8,100 8,100 69,200 – 69,200 7,800 1,400 9,100 7,500 14,700 100 3,800 18,600 7,500 26,100 9,300 100 20,700 30,100 48,700 7,500 56,200 244,300 31,800 276,100 655,200 931,300 1,500 14,000 7,500 14,000 9,000 23,000 9,000 5,000 14,000 37,000 69,000 24,000 93,000 61,000 8,000 69,000 7,000 1,000 130,000 40,000 170,000 8,000 20,000 28,000 10,000 36,000 25,000 20,000 99,000 20,000 119,000 289,000 144,000 49,000 193,000 113,000 20,000 133,000 326,000 125 53 127 72 29 39 58 45 125 49 141 122 61 79 129 142 123 56 14 105 81 125 82 70 144 61 148 141 165 158 124 231 110 101 103 110 43 169 155 284 180 70 155 70 73 92 92 72 155 72 150 78 131 345 76 31 201 87 345 111 107 46 78 85 85 345 95 55 173 60 106 87 94 85 81 85 83 84 50 73 56 71 79 104 84 73 67 72 40 98 76 75 76 42 46 45 100 77 49 142 70 46 64 71 77 76 77 68 46 63 71 79 49 118 71 43 25 35 47 79 49 148 101 64 104 153 129 136 66 22 119 89 79 88 51 125 60 142 152 164 151 119 500 96 117 112 99 61 121 150 234 81 78 150 78 141 75 75 78 150 78 129 99 123 394 66 14 170 73 394 84 138 61 74 88 82 394 86 56 102 59 113 89 112 108 88 108 92 101 57 84 64 83 81 93 83 74 80 75 39 236 78 73 77 34 32 33 119 89 87 223 95 32 74 76 80 76 79 89 32 73 76 Hyundai div. car (D/I).. 48,800 Hyundai div. trk. (D/I) . 33,600 Total Hyundai div. (D/I)† 82,400 Kia car (I) 25,500 Kia trk. (I) 13,600 Total Kia (I) 39,100 Hyundai-Kia car (D/I) 74,300 Hyundai-Kia trk. (D/I) 47,300 HYUNDAI-KIA 121,600 Ascender 1,000 Pickup i-280/i-350 2,100 ISUZU† 3,100 Mazda3 (I) 26,800 Mazda6 8,800 MX-5 Miata (I) 4,900 RX-8 (I) 1,800 Mazda car (D) 8,800 Mazda car (I) 33,500 Total Mazda car 42,300 B series 800 CX-7 (I) 10,400 CX-9 (I) 8,000 Mazda5 (I) 2,400 Tribute 4,500 Mazda trk. (D) 5,300 Mazda trk. (I) 20,800 Total Mazda trk 26,100 MAZDA† 68,400 Mercedes-Benz car (I) . 23,500 Mercedes-Benz trk. (D/I) 10,400 MERCEDES-BENZ† 33,900 Eclipse 6,800 Eclipse Spyder 2,400 Galant 5,700 Lancer (I) 7,800 Mitsubishi car (D) 14,900 Mitsubishi car (I) 7,800 Total Mitsubishi car 22,700 Endeavor 3,800 Outlander (I) 6,200 Raider 100 Mitsubishi trk. (D) 4,000 Mitsubishi trk. (I) 6,200 Total Mitsubishi trk. 10,200 MITSUBISHI 32,800 Infiniti car (I) 17,200 Infiniti trk. (D) 4,200 Infiniti trk. (I) 7,100 Total Infiniti trk. (D/I)†† 11,300 Total Infiniti (D/I)† 28,500 350Z (I) 7,700 Altima 65,900 Maxima 11,200 Sentra 28,100 Versa 19,500 Nissan Div. car (D) 124,700 Nissan Div. car (I) 7,700 Total Nissan Div. car 132,400 Armada 6,600 Frontier 19,100 Murano (I) 17,500 Pathfinder 15,000 Quest 6,800 Rogue (I) 15,700 Titan 20,500 Xterra 12,800 Nissan Div. trk. (D) 80,800 Nissan Div. trk. (I) 33,300 Total Nissan Div. trk 114,000 Total Nissan Div 246,400 Nissan N.A. car (D) 124,700 Nissan N.A. car (I) 24,900 Nissan N.A. http://www.joeverde.com/an http://www.clickhereforadvice.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 17, 2008

Leases grow as alternative to long loans Toyota dealers balk at upgrades Up for grabs: China importer Testing Chevy's Camaro Escalade first vehicle to get full LED headlamps Hoops fans take a shot at China Toyota will cut Tundra, Sequoia production F-150's risk-reward strategy: Ramp up before the revamp As UAW, American Axle talk, CEO Dauch in Fla. Ex-GM purchasing executive indicted Court allows higher Plastech credit line Saab sticker prices rise as sales fall; will U.S.-built 9-7X offset losses? VW plant capacity in U.S.: 250,000 units Bad cruise control switch haunts Ford Continental plans to bring r&d in-house Rieter expects to increase its global footprint Stadler: Audi considers U.S. plant Another General charges into electric cars Toyota sees its first checkered flag as sign NASCAR's paying off A pickup may figure in Kia's future Analysts: Lampert no threat to AutoNation More likely to be spent to keep suppliers alive in '08 2 suppliers plan Alabama plants UAW seeks job guarantees to end American Axle strike Revolving door continues to spin at Nissan GM, top marketers to share research Electric power steering is grabbing the wheel Delphi completes sale of interiors unit to Renco Mercedes again is true-luxury king How electric power steering works It's time for dealer-factory collaboration Ford must close stores but remain open to diversity The small print Here's a question for Obama, Clinton Didn't you ever hear of a halo? Hurray for affordable performance cars Politics can age a car overnight Good for planet, good for GM What 'scientific consensus'? Lutz may be right but said it wrong Lutz had the courage to tell the truth Big Apple isn't very green 23 finalists in running for PACE honors Canada sales up 14.5% in Feb. RV shipments drop 7.1% in Jan. Wagoner: No sure thing on state air rules Conquest sales, Asia growth boost ADP Brockman: Reynolds focuses on service OEConnection links to ADP Geneva goings-on Judge: Dealer suit over transfer of GM franchise can proceed Honda will build Ridgeline in Alabama So who's running the show at Chamco? GM seeks Plastech tooling Federal-Mogul reports gains Chrysler sells plant to Fiat BMW's new sales boss Odell is named COO at Ford of Europe Strike dents GM truck output Tony Stewart blows a gasket Illingworth leaving — and staying with — Toyota A note to eager auto execs: Invaders sometimes get icy reception in Russia Hush, hush: Baby Nason on board For rent: Ford's PAG palace on the West Coast Chrysler cuts Calif. studio

Automotive News - March 17, 2008

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