New vehicles and services

The automotive world is changing quickly and dealers need to keep up with the pace of change. New vehicles come with new technologies, which means that sales and marketing, as well as service strategies need to keep up. It wasn’t too long ago when we thought that cutting-edge new car models were those that featured plug-in hybrid systems or regenerative braking or even automatic emergency braking or some other driver assist features. Now, all those technologies seem almost “old school,” as the rapid pace of change brings new models to market with even more advanced vehicle electrification technologies and the kind of driver assistance systems that will make hands free driving almost ordinary.

Sales and marketing

Not only have the vehicles changed dramatically, but so have the methods dealerships need to employ in order to promote, market and sell a new vehicle or a used one. A variety of websites and apps like AutoTrader have become the go-to marketplaces used every single day to connect consumers with local dealerships. Dealers must remember that their product may be a car or a truck, but that their focus needs to be on the customer, since today’s dealerships are really working in the service sector, as they cater to the needs of each customer. Even the technologies used to manage dealerships, run the sales department or even the service department have changed. Today’s customer relationship software and dealer management system tools are more advanced than ever.

The EV customer

Another novelty for dealerships is the electric vehicle (EV) customer. This is the man or woman who in the past may have been perfectly happy with a perennial favorite like the Subaru Outback, the Honda Civic Type R or the Mazda CX-5. Now, these same customers are embracing electrification and they’re interested in something as exciting  and innovative as the Mustang Mach-E, maybe a Tesla model, or maybe even something more utilitarian like the Equinox EV, the Blazer EV, or even the Chevrolet Silverado EV. Whether their electrified ride is as exotic as a Ferrari Purosangue or as down-to-earth as an Elantra Hybrid, their concern is the available driving range on a full charge. Can your staff cater to these needs? So whether you’re in the business of selling the latest EVs, like the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 or IONIQ 5, or something more upscale like the Polestar 2 or the Polestar 3 electric with its advanced electric motor and standard range or extended range batteries, each individual customer matters, especially in the age of the Internet.

The business office

In the past, consumers would have been concerned about warranties, automotive financing options, and car insurance costs. Today, thanks to companies like LGM Financial Services or iA Dealer Services,  business managers can offer a broad range of innovative products, from prepaid maintenance to loan protection and more. Here again, keeping up with changing consumer demand is a must. As you endeavour to keep up with these changes, why not allow Autosphere to be your automotive news source. We can bring you the automotive news, trends and technologies, so that you can remain focused on building your business in this time of change.