Autoblog

VW building $125M flagship dealer complex on Manhattan's west side

Alex Nunez — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Audi, Volkswagen

Rendering of new VW/Audi complex in Manhattan - Click above to view in high-res

Volkswagen is building swanky new digs on New York City's west side for its VW and Audi brands. The automaker has purchased a 256,000 square foot space currently occupied by Potamkin GM (the Potamkin family has been synonymous with car sales in NY for decades), which stretches between 55th and 56th Street along 11th Avenue.

Visually unimpressive in its current state, the space will be converted into a state-of-the-art mega facility featuring brand-new Volkswagen and Audi stores. VW's total outlay for the real estate purchase and ensuing renovation will be around $125 million. The splashy move is part of the automaker's push to dramatically increase its U.S. sales numbers over the next several years. Potamkin GM will relocate a few blocks south to the space once occupied by Potamkin Honda (the family has sold its Honda franchise to another dealer group). Official press release after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VW building $125M flagship dealer complex on Manhattan's west side

VW building $125M flagship dealer complex on Manhattan's west side originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"I'll have the 10W-30 burger, please" - Examining the car dealers as eatery trend

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

A restaurant that has a few hot cars gathered round is one thing -- but a car dealership that opens a restaurant, where does that rank on the scale of ambiance? With recent trends, you could soon get a chance to decide sooner than you thought.

As our friends at The Detroit Bureau point out, California's Bistro33 at Rocklin Mercedes will be the next dining experience in a dealership. The cars don't mingle in the restaurant -- this isn't some trendy Vegas amusement. And this isn't just about having something to do while you wait for the mechanics to finish with your car. You actually go to a dealership to have your dinner. That means you can discuss APR after appetizers and sort out your warranty with a nice Napa red.

There isn't any reason a dealership can't also make a decent dinner. Galpin's Horseless Carriage has been open for 43 years for a menu full of good reasons. And if you have an Aston Martin, the fare in Galpin's Aston Martin club is worthy of both brands. It remains to be seen this trend catches on in more than a few niche markets, but until car sales rebound. this could be a way to get more foot traffic and a bit more income. And besides, there's nothing like an aged strip steak to make you hungry for a car.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

"I'll have the 10W-30 burger, please" - Examining the car dealers as eatery trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going for Gold: Toyota dealers reportedly price gouging on 2010 Prius

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

The last time we heard about gouging on the Toyota Prius was, oh, just last summer when gas prices put the frugal flyer at the top of shopping lists. Things were so bad then that used Priuses were going for more than new models because dealers couldn't keep the fresh stuff in stock.

Cash-for-Clunkers appears to have had the same affect on some Toyota dealers this summer. Even though cars like the Ford Fusion and Toyota Corolla grabbed the top slots and headlines, the Prius was so popular as a swap-car that dealers again ran short on inventory. Daily Tech reports that the tight supply llead some dealerships to start adding a Market Value Adjustment (MVA) to the MSRP of up to $5,000.

It wasn't all Toyota dealers that took to making dough while the sun shone, of course - and the gist of the story appears to be that if you really want a Prius, shop around for MSRP and you'll probably find it. In the long run, until the Prius gets some real competition for the mantle of Greenest Thing on Earth, be ready to hear this story again.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Daily Tech]

Going for Gold: Toyota dealers reportedly price gouging on 2010 Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Dealers may have to pay taxes on Cash for Clunkers rebates

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. One prime example is the government's newly minted "Cash for Clunkers" program, or CARS (Car Allowance Rebate System) that launched yesterday.

As the rebate program kicks into gear, dealers that are hoping to cash in are facing a new worry. But according to Automotive News, they may end up having to pay federal and/or state taxes on the rebate money they receive from the federal government. It seems that the lobbyists and congressional aides who actually wrote the bill neglected to address the issue of whether the rebates count as income for dealers.

In the end, the bill passed by Congress explicitly states that the rebates don't count as income for consumers. As for the dealers, oops! Nothing in the rules published by the National Traffic Safety Administration or the law says anything one way or the other, which means that the Internal Revenue Service and individual states will have to make the call. Some dealers are already setting aside cash just in case they end up having to pay.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: Dealers may have to pay taxes on Cash for Clunkers rebates originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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House reportedly approves measure to restore dealerships despite bankruptcy blows

Chris Shunk — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, GM, Earnings/Financials

One of the more controversial parts of the Chrysler bankruptcy was the decision to cut 789 dealerships by June 9. The move made for a quick, painful end to dealerships that in some cases spanned several generations of family ownership. When General Motors entered bankruptcy, it said it would cut about 1,300 retail stores, but the automaker planned on waiting until October, 2010 to pull the plug.

The dealership closings hit small and medium-sized towns particularly hard, putting pressure on lawmakers to do something to rectify the problem. The U.S. House took initial steps towards restoring the doomed dealerships by passing a bill to restore dealer rights. The bill, which has just been approved by the House by a 219-208 margin, would restore dealerships back to their previous state, forcing automakers to work through state courts to close down the stores. Since dealerships are such a big part of the employment picture in most states, GM and Chrysler face an expensive uphill battle to close the stores if the bill is also passed by Congress and then signed into law by President Obama.

Automotive News is reporting that Chrysler says the bill would cost the company $2 billion per year over the next four years. Vice President Peder Grady added on the Chrysler blog that if the bill were passed, " it flies in the face of a U.S. vehicle market that has declined 40 percent since 2007." AN also says that GM estimates the bill would cost them $2.5 billion in support, training and IT costs over a period of time.

The Obama administration is reportedly against the measure, saying that the dealership closings were "a critical part of their overall restructuring to achieve long-term viability." Thus, even if the measure passes muster in the Senate, there's a good chance it will face a veto from President Obama.

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd | Image: Spencer Platt/Getty]

House reportedly approves measure to restore dealerships despite bankruptcy blows originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini dealership network to expand by 20% to meet demand

Chris Shunk — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, BMW, Mini

2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

The next 18 months will be huge for BMW's MINI brand. Execs are looking for big sales increases by 2011, and the fuel efficient little car company is adding 17 dealerships to its retail network in that time frame to help get the job done. The additional dealerships will predominantly go to urban areas that don't currently have a MINI presence, bringing the total figure to 100 dealerships in the States. MINI is looking for a "double digit increase" from 2008's record 54,077 U.S. sales by 2011; a number that is impressive considering the current state of industry sales, but more likely due to the addition of a new model line (Clubman) as much as anything else. With more dealers in the fold, the lofty sales goals ought to be attainable, though, provided the nation's economy improves.

The first new dealer network, which comes online later this year, will be in Birmingham, Alabama. The next 18 months will see still more openings in urban hotspots like Austin, Texas and Seattle, Washington. For a complete list of new locations, hit the jump to read the press release.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Mini dealership network to expand by 20% to meet demand

Mini dealership network to expand by 20% to meet demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM grants reprieve to 30 dealers, reviewing more

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: GM, Earnings/Financials

General Motors wants to shrink its dealer network by around 2,500 outlets and has sent closure notices to more than a thousand already. Still, the General has left a door open that allows affected dealers to appeal the decision and show proof of why they should not be cut from the herd.

According to reports, almost the entire affected body of dealers appealed, and 500 of those appeals are still pending. Thirty dealers have had their sentences overturned and will be allowed to stay open. It is good news for the dealers... and yet the math remains the math: strorefronts have got to go.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd | Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty]

GM grants reprieve to 30 dealers, reviewing more originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Under Fire: GM targeting metropolitan Cadillac dealers for closure?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Cadillac, GM

Cadillac is one of the core brands that will form the new General Motors, but the dealership network can't continue in its current guise, according to GM sales head Mark LaNeve. There are 1,422 Cadillac dealers nationwide, more than four times the number of Mercedes-Benz dealers and more than six times the number of Lexus dealers. That kind of saturation meant that in 2008, the average Cadillac dealership did one-sixth the business of a Mercedes dealer and one-tenth the business of a Lexus dealer.

To be fair, Cadillac has fewer cars on offer than Mercedes, BMW, or Lexus. Still, GM wants to gets its dealer volume numbers closer that of the competition - proportionally speaking - and that means more dealer closings. GM hasn't said how many, but to even get close to retail parity they'd be looking at many hundreds of closures, with many of them likely to be in metropolitan areas. Whenever those dealers are chosen, as with the others, they will be allowed to remain open until their franchise agreements on October 31, 2010.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Under Fire: GM targeting metropolitan Cadillac dealers for closure? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dealer Bailout: Chrysler to redistribute all new inventory

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

After the suggestion of Congressional hearings on the matter, Chrysler's Jim Press assured Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) that Chrysler dealers with leftover inventory after June 9 would "receive a fair and equitable value." It appears that Chrysler is making good on that promise.

The company's head of sales, Steven Landry, outlined the measures being taken to relieve shuttered dealers of their wares and remunerate them for it. Of the 42,000 cars held by the 780 dealers whose franchises were nixed, 26,000 of them have been sold. The rest, save for 220 cars, have been assigned to be moved to dealers that are still in business. Those last 220 cars are in the possession of dealers who haven't yet agreed to Chrysler's plan, but the cars already have new dealer homes waiting if and when things are agreed.

As for payment, after the cars arrive at their redistribution point, the new dealer's finance company will pay off the old dealer's finance company for an inventory acquired, save for $350 in destination fees. All else, according to Landry, including holdback and advertising funds, will be repaid. There is at least a little good news to start the week...

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty]

Dealer Bailout: Chrysler to redistribute all new inventory originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dealer still pitching cars from the afterlife?

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Hummer, Humor

On April 8, 50-year-old Charles P. Dimmick died doing what he loved to do: watching his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon, run in the Phoenix round of NASCAR. Dimmick was also the marketing manager at Lund Cadillac Hummer Saab in Phoenix, and if you believe the person who wrote his obituary, he also loved to sell cars.

In the notice itself (after the details of his death and before the details of the wake), was this line: "We are sure he would still want all to know that 0.9% financing is still available on all New 2008 Hummer H2's." It isn't clear who wrote the obituary, but tasking someone with selling H2 inventory even after they die sounds a bit like something Dante might be involved in.

[Source: Yahoo!]

Dealer still pitching cars from the afterlife? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM preparing to give more dealerships the axe

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, GM, Pontiac, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. According to two Automotive News sources, 450 dealers will not see their dealer franchises renewed. For his part, Mark LaNeve, GM's VP of North American sales, said the number would be "less than half that."

No matter the number, it's more of the same bad-yet-necessary news being spread around. LaNeve notes that the dealers who won't be renewed "have very specific issues" including "specific performance issues." Among them are supposed to be some stores that are skewed exclusively or heavily Pontiac. These dealers will be shutting up shop when their franchise agreements expire in October 2010.

[Source: Automotive News -sub req'd | Image: Mark Ralston/Getty]

REPORT: GM preparing to give more dealerships the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM and Chrysler CEOs called to D.C. to explain dealer closings

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, GM, Earnings/Financials

The situations with GM and Chrysler are beginning to look like what happens after a fumble in an NFL game: a dozen men pile on top of each other all trying to get the ball. The difference in the case of GM and Chrysler is there are far more than two teams struggling for the prize. The latest to hop on and shove a hand in is the Senate Commerce Committee, which wants the CEOs to testify "early next month" regarding the planned dealership closings.

Chrysler's sent 789 dealers eviction notices, GM is out to dispatch 1,124 dealers in the US and about 245 in Canada. The GM dealers won't have their franchises renewed as of October 2010, and are said to be staying in operation until they sell the last of their inventory. Chrysler dealers are expected to board up the windows by June 9, although Jim Press recently gave assurances that there will still be help given to those dealers after that date. The Commerce Committee isn't moved by either proposal, citing what it calls "the short and insufficient transition period given to dealerships for franchise terminations."

The hearings would be chaired by Senators John Rockefeller and Kay Bailey Hutchison, and will address what happens to dealer inventory and jobs and consumer needs like warranties and servicing. Hutchison was working on legislation to force automakers to give dealers 60 days notice before closing their franchises (which GM has done) or else go without government help. That legislation was put on hold after Press' letter, but now Nardelli and Henderson will need to go explain things to the principal in person.

For GM it's just one more thing to lump into the impending bankruptcy in-box. For Chrysler, every additional delay in sorting out its business situation only gives Fiat more of those pre-wedding jitters.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

GM and Chrysler CEOs called to D.C. to explain dealer closings originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 May 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Slighted dealers line up to criticize Chrysler tactics

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler

A story in the New York Times shines a light on some reasons for the Committee of Chrysler Affected Dealers to challenge the car company's bankruptcy efforts. The element common to all of the dealers profiled is that they did extraordinary things Chrysler asked them to do, such as buy too many cars and combine franchises at their own expense, only to find out they had been chosen for termination after bankruptcy.

Chrysler isn't buying back the inventory that sits on dealer lots -- inventory that, in some cases, Chrysler specifically asked dealers to take too much of in order to help make the company look better for sale. Banks have also dropped many dealers because they no longer have new-car franchises, making it even harder to sell the cars they have.

Until a few days ago, the dealers were told they had only until June 9 to liquidate everything. However, an exchange between Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Chrysler President Jim Press has lead to an assurance from Press that dealers will "receive a fair and equitable value for virtually all of their outstanding vehicle and parts inventory," and that former franchisees would "receive a daily report which specifically outlines each unit of inventory and its place in the transition process." The suggestion was also that this would be the case after June 9.

Meanwhile, dealers who spent millions of dollars to show their commitment to Chrysler, only to be unceremoniously cut, will continue to fight their cases in court and on the showroom floor.

[Source: NY Times]

REPORT: Slighted dealers line up to criticize Chrysler tactics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 May 2009 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: GM reportedly set to confirms it will pink-slip 1,100 dealers [*UPDATED]

Chris Paukert — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials

According to Bloomberg News, General Motors is set to send some 1,100 notices today to U.S. dealers detailing the manufacturer's plans to sever their relationship. The move comes on the heels of yesterday's news detailing fellow beleaguered automaker Chrysler's announcement that they are firing some 25% of their own network (some 789 showrooms).

If the news agency's sources are accurate, those 1,200 dealers have possession of about 120,000 vehicles, or roughly $2.5 billion in unsold inventory. The deep dealer cut is not expected to be the last by GM, who has designs on chopping its dealer network to 3,600 stores (representing a 42% cut) by the end of 2010.

Unlike Chrysler, which is looking to lose its disenfranchised dealers by June 9 (as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings), Bloomberg's source says it expects an "orderly wind-down of the affected dealers over the next year or so," which essentially means that the dealers will close when their inventories are sold-through. In contrast, Chrysler has already said it is under no obligation to reimburse its closing dealers for vehicle, parts, or tooling, though it will try to pair up affected dealers with those that are staying on in an effort to transfer inventory.

*UPDATE: GM has confirmed that it will seek to sever relations with 1,100 dealers, characterizing the affected dealers as "underperforming and very small sales volume" stores. The official word is that GM will not be terminating any dealerships today, but that they will be discussing their plans with dealers over the next few weeks. Official press release has been added after the jump.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]

Continue reading BREAKING: GM ~~reportedly set to~~ confirms it will pink-slip 1,100 dealers [*UPDATED]

BREAKING: GM ~~reportedly set to~~ confirms it will pink-slip 1,100 dealers [*UPDATED] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford offering dealerships for $1

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford's dealer development program works to help people become dealer principles who might not otherwise have the chance. The 64 members of the program, most of them black or Hispanic, are set up with stores by Ford and then buy out Ford's interest in the dealership with revenues. To give them a boost and, presumably, free up Ford money, Automotive News is reporting that Ford is offering dealers in the program an offer they'll have a hard time refusing: complete ownership of their stores for $1.

To take advantage, though, the dealers will need to have private financing for their operating capital in place by September 30. If they can prove to Ford that they have enough private resources, they will take complete control of their stores and Ford will forgive any money the dealer still owes to The Blue Oval. Even though Ford would technically lose money on any dealer who accepted the offer, the automaker would no longer need to be involved in the dealership or in its floorplan financing.

With the state of car sales, there are likely to be dealers who can't take advantage of the program. For those who haven't been able to pay Ford back at all, the decision will be taken on a case-by-case basis about what to do with their stores. For those dealers in good standing who simply can't get outside financing, the arrangement will continue as is.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

REPORT: Ford offering dealerships for $1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM reportedly accelerating the closure of 1,700 dealers

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, GM, Earnings/Financials

June 1, 2009 is turning into the equivalent of General Motors' D-Day, and every day seems to bring new events that are being planned in advance of it. GM had more than 6,000 dealerships at the end of last year, and in the initial viability plan it offered to the government, the automaker pledged to close 25% of those over the next five years. As with the rest of the plan, the Auto Task Force said "That isn't enough."

So GM has turned the big guns on its dealership closures, having seen 200 of them shut down this year already. It is not waiting for attrition to rid itself of others, but pin-pointing under-performing locations and "could move to terminate franchise agreements." And GM is doing so with a different payment scale than it had when it closed down the 2,800 Oldsmobile dealerships, which ran up a tab of $1 billion.

Also, it appears, the bell tolls louder for a GM bankruptcy. Tucked in the article was this line: "The issue of how many U.S. dealerships GM can support has been one of the hot-button issues for U.S. officials as they drive GM toward a stepped-up restructuring that many observers have now concluded will include a bankruptcy filing."

[Source: Yahoo!]

GM reportedly accelerating the closure of 1,700 dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Investor group confirms they are bidding for Saturn; looking to sell multiple brands

Chris Paukert — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, GM, Saturn, Earnings/Financials

In what General Motors spokesman Steve Janisse is calling a "very interesting" proposal, investor group Telesto Ventures has put in an official bid for Saturn. The consortium features a variety of backers, including Black Oak Partners LLC (a private equity group) and a number of Saturn dealers.

While the proposed deal doesn't appear to express interest in continuing to build or sell existing Saturn products over the long haul, the arrangement would apparently keep the 384-store network stocked with GM-sourced vehicles through 2011, allowing for an easier transition. According to Automotive News, Telesto's long-term vision hinges on selling vehicles from other manufacturers, primarily products from unnamed foreign companies. The plan, likened to the multi-brand approach favored by electronics giant Best Buy, would see a focus on smaller, fuel-efficient offerings that could also be sold by other outlets.

GM says a feasibility study into this program is underway, with a report scheduled for delivery to the brand's dealer body by early next week. If the deal goes through, one thing is for sure: Saturn will once again truly be "A Different Kind of Car Company," albeit not the sort that the division's founders originally intended.

[Source: Automotive News (subs. req.)]

REPORT: Investor group confirms they are bidding for Saturn; looking to sell multiple brands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't Believe the Hype, America: Dealers urge GM to launch upbeat national ad campaign

Chris Paukert — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Marketing/Advertising, GM, Earnings/Financials

With a daily torrent of difficult and unflattering news about the domestic auto industry flowing out of media outlets everywhere (Autoblog included), many General Motors dealers are crying out for a national advertising campaign to stem the tide of negativity.

Critical dealers suggest that the automaker is back on its heels instead of "going out swinging," and many are calling for a positive ad message like the "Keep America Rolling" campaign that GM rolled out after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. That initiative, you may recall, began a long-running string of zero-interest financing that helped pull sales back out of the dumpster, although critics would suggest that the latter took a toll on both brand equity and resale value.

Back in September, GM did play up their centennial with blustery talk of being ready to lead for the next 100 years, but dealer feedback would seem to suggest that exactly this sort of confident messaging has largely disappeared from GM advertisements, at least on a corporate level. More recently, it launched a Facts and Fiction website in an effort to dispel rumors about its operations.

[Source: AdAge]

Don't Believe the Hype, America: Dealers urge GM to launch upbeat national ad campaign originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three Nebraska auto execs disappear... along with 81 cars

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Perhaps it began as an innocent experiment among dealer personnel: what would happen if three dealership executives all disappeared on the same day and 81 of the dealership's cars showed up at auto auctions in two other states? The answer to that question is that the FBI went bird-dogging on the hunt for owner Allen Patch, controller Rachel Fait, and General Manager Rick Covello on "suspicion of theft."

Legacy Auto Sales in Omaha, Nebraska was said to be in financial trouble. The three vanishing execs are suspected of trying to sell nearly all the dealership's inventory and then... well, at this point no one knows what they were going to do. But on Saturday and Monday night, transporters arrived at the dealership (that's one of them pictured) and began hauling cars away. When employees showed up for work on Tuesday, the higher-ups were gone and their desks were cleaned out.

The cars, worth $2.5 million, were found being sold at an auto auction in Salt Lake City, Utah, and also discovered in Las Vegas, Nevada. GM Covello apparently turned himself in. Fait was arrested in Tooele County, Utah on Wednesday, while Patch was located at his attorney's office in Utah and has probably been arrested by now. File this one under "Sounded like a good idea at the time..." Hat tip to WS.

[Source: Omaha.com]

Three Nebraska auto execs disappear... along with 81 cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi partners with PDM to create 'Holographic Virtual Assistant'

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Technology, Audi, Australia

The woman you see in the picture above isn't an actual human -- she's a life-sized hologram. PDM, an Australian out-of-home digital media company, created the hologram to present "customers an entertaining way to gather product knowledge and information about Audi's offering."

A load of tech and a 10 mm piece of perspex are what was needed to make the ~~walking~~ talking customer service rep. Of course, since we are still in the first inning of this technology, she's a bit stiff and not a little uncanny to watch. But as a sign of things to come, whatever her name is, she is our introduction to another corner of the car buying future.

[Source: Prime Digital Media]

Audi partners with PDM to create 'Holographic Virtual Assistant' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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