How the Car Business is Changing

Change: “to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone…”

This is the first in a series of short posts on change in the car business. Some changes are obvious. Some changes are hidden. As a third generation car dealer, I believe that our business is entering a period of the most profound and rapid change we have ever experienced — and that is saying something.  Of course, we’re not alone in this. The entire world is experiencing the same thing. My hope is to help you as a consumer to understand the changes going on in the car business, so that you will be empowered to make the best decisions for your own particular situation.

Transparency

Transparency is explained by Wikipedia as follows. Transparency, as used in the humanities, implies openness, communication, and accountability. It is a metaphorical extension of the meaning used in the physical sciences: a “transparent” object is one that can be seen through.

In the car business, access to information and an increasingly efficient market is driving increased transparency.  As a consumer you have access to more information than ever before. Just “Google” whatever you drive now. A search just a moment ago for “2008 Toyota Camry” resulted in 5,580,000 results (that’s way more than the number of Camry’s sold that year!). As you know the quality of the information you have can make a big difference. Automotive consumers have more choices and increased access to information, which leads to a more efficient market. You wouldn’t pay more than the going rate for a publicly traded stock.  Until relatively recently, consumers and dealers alike didn’t have access to this kind of information that they could count on to be accurate.

I have to say all this is a good thing for our business. The car business needs to change and quickly. We have to develop new ways to do business that meet our customers’ needs.

At Doenges Toyota Ford Lincoln Mercury we talk about this all the time. We strive to be leaders in increased transparency of a car deal and upfront dealings with our customers. For an example of how this might work check out our “shopping cart” for automotive e-commerce at http://www.aidealer.com/AiDealerProduction/DealershipInventorySearch.aspx?DealershipId=28

The nuts and bolts of a car deal is just math. The real magic in our business comes from helping people.

Popularity: 6% [?]

2009 New Car Sales: What Consumers Really Want

Americans Love New Pick Up Trucks

How many times have we heard it over the past months? American auto manufacturers are suffering because they aren’t producing the fuel efficient vehicles that people really want. It is a refrain heard all across our TVs, the internet and in print publications. The reason they are doing so badly is because they refuse to build anything except for SUVs, Pick-up trucks and muscle cars but what the people really want is fuel economy. Well, guess what?

The numbers for the US vehicle sales of specific models from domestic and foreign manufacturers are in for January of 2009 and the picture sure looks familiar. Americans love their pick up trucks. According to AOL Autos the best selling domestic vehicles for January 2009 were: Read more

Popularity: 19% [?]

Toyota Camry — The Crowned King of Used Cars

And as the number one used car we have….The Toyota Camry. Well, no big surprise there. Its kind of like when Spielberg wins for best director. But the truth of the matter is, new or used, its tough to beat the Camry. As one of the best selling vehicles in history this car finds itself at the number one spot in a number of lists due to the plain and simple fact that it is, in almost all respects, consistently among the very pinnacle of its class.

Read more

Popularity: 22% [?]

2009 Toyota Camry — The Sultan of Sedans

America’s Top Seller

You can probably count the number of family sedans that offer affordability, fuel economy, luxury, comfort, style, safety and a hybrid option on one hand. Better yet, you can probably do it on one finger. Not that finger. The one next to it. Yes, that’s it. Raise it towards the sky and say, “Number one, Toyota Camry.” Well, I think that probably covers it. Read more

Popularity: 8% [?]

Toyota Camry Comes in at # 1 in the “Doenges Top Ten” for December 2008

There are two major reasons that the Toyota Camry is not only the top selling new car in the U.S. nine of the last ten years, but is also a staple atop the used car sales list; quality and luxury. If those are high priorities in the used car you are in the market for, then I’d suggest that a pre-owned Toyota Camry is very likely the car for you. Read more

Popularity: 8% [?]