Dealer optimism surges, online dealership reviews improve, the cost of missing service center calls

Hey everyone. CDG Recruiting has a dealer client looking for an HR Manager in the Midwest.

Key criteria:

— Dealership experience is a plus.
— Prefer someone already living in the Midwest.
— Must have a wide range of experience in everything HR.
— This is not a remote position, and must be willing to relocate.
— The compensation range is $120,000 annually plus a year-end bonus.

If you’re interested in this opportunity, email Steven or click here to inquire.

— CDG

Toyota / Lexus have 8 of the 10 fast-selling cars:

But the real shocker?

Leading the list for the slowest-selling cars — is the Audi A3 with a market days’ supply of 926 days – more than 10X the industry average.

The ironic thing is…

When compared to the rest of the cars on the list — the A3 has the lowest average transaction price.

(Data source: CarEdge)

Cox Automotive’s latest survey shows a big post-election boost, with confidence levels climbing to their highest since mid-2022.

However, the optimism is uneven — franchised dealers are far more bullish than their independent counterparts, who still face significant hurdles.

But easing cost pressures and a shift in the political climate could signal a smoother ride ahead for the retail car market in 2025 … (Go deeper: 4 min. read)

Service departments are leaving money on the table — up to $1.17 million a year per dealership, according to a new report from Numa.

Driving the news: Missed calls and scheduling issues during peak hours are the main culprits, with some dealerships missing over 200 calls a month.

Given that service drives account for around half of a dealership’s gross profit, these revenue leaks are no small problem … (Go deeper: <1 min. read)

Don’t wait for March or April to boost your tax season sales.

With the Tax Max “file and drive” sales event Tax Max can help a customer access their tax refund same day for a down payment starting January 2! No need to wait for the IRS.

The same day tax refund advance, allows a Tax Max customer to apply for up to $7,000 on the same day they file to use toward their down payment.

No additional work from staff as the entire tax filing process can be completed online and from your customer’s phone. Tax Max prepares the return, refund sent to dealer for a down payment and the customer gets the car. It’s that simple with Tax Max.

Dealers are making steady progress in improving their online reputations, with average Google ratings rising to 4.56 stars this year and negative reviews dropping by 21%.

However, communication issues — especially in service and financing — continue to drag scores down.

With staff knowledge gaps and increased scrutiny on financing practices, tackling these weak spots could be the key to turning gradual progress into meaningful change … (Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Auto marketers are navigating a fragmented media landscape where no single platform can do it all.

Bottom line: For dealerships, this balanced, multiscreen approach can drive both immediate sales and long-term customer loyalty … (Go deeper: 4 min. read)

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG