Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/fiat-expanding-beyond-chrysler-paired-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/fiat-expanding-beyond-chrysler-paired-dealerships/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/01/fiat-expanding-beyond-chrysler-paired-dealerships/#commentsFiled under: , ,

fiat 500c
2012 Fiat 500c - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fiat dealerships aren't popping up quite as quickly as the original plans showed they would, but the retail outlets could get a push now that the automaker is looking outside of the Chrysler family. Automotive News reports that Fiat is now offering franchises to non-Chrysler dealers for the first time. There are currently 59 Fiat dealers nationwide, and the automaker plans to open 130 stores by the end of 2011

At one point, there were reportedly 130 Chrysler dealers that had been approved for a Fiat store, but many deals fell through for various reasons. A Chrysler spokesperson tells AN that letters of intent have already been sent out to seven non-Chrysler dealers.

While opening up the franchising process will likely speed up the pace of adding Fiat stores to the U.S., there are still many hurdles for the Italian make. For starters, the 500 is currently the only Fiat available in the U.S., and it could sit alone on the show floor for at least another year. And so far, Fiat has insisted that new franchises will only be awarded to those with plans to build a standalone store.

Though it doesn't sound like a great situation to us, we're guessing there are at least 71 more entrepreneurs willing to sign on the dotted line to gain another foothold in the car business.

Fiat expanding beyond Chrysler-paired dealerships originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 fiat 500chryslerdealershipfiatfiat dealerfiat dealershipfiat franchisefranchiseWed, 01 Jun 2011 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19953784/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/01/fiat-expanding-beyond-chrysler-paired-dealerships/19953784/article-detail.xml 19953784 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-fiat-500c-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/2012-fiat-500c-opt.jpg <![CDATA[REPORT: GM won't pay dealers for franchises, will buy back parts, vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/gm-wont-pay-dealers-for-franchises-will-buy-back-parts-vehicl/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/gm-wont-pay-dealers-for-franchises-will-buy-back-parts-vehicl/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/29/gm-wont-pay-dealers-for-franchises-will-buy-back-parts-vehicl/#commentsFiled under: ,



In a special broadcast to dealers yesterday, General Motors' sales chief, Mark LaNeve, explained that the automaker would buy back unsold new vehicles and parts from dealerships slated to be phased out by the end of 2010, but GM wouldn't pay off dealers for their franchises.

As reported earlier this week, GM plans to cut it U.S. dealerships by 42% by the end of next year, reducing the total number of retailers from 6,246 to 3,605. Beginning this May, GM will begin sending letters to around 1,200 dealers informing them that their franchises will not be renewed and "they will not be part of a reinvented GM going forward."

According to LaNeve, the 1,200 or so dealerships slated to be cut are "very poor performing and not adhering to the sales and service agreement obligations." Joining the underperformers will be an additional 500 dealerships in saturated urban markets, another 500 that will be shuttered by the end of the year due to normal attrition, yet another 500 retailers that carry Hummer, Saab and Saturn vehicles - brands which GM is desperately trying to unload - along with 35 stand-alone Pontiac dealers that will meet their demise when the brand is phased-out at the end of 2010.

How this is all going to sit with dealer franchise laws remains to be seen, but after watching the Oldsmobile debacle play out, we doubt any resolution between GM and its dealers will be easy.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Source Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: GM won't pay dealers for franchises, will buy back parts, vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cutdealerdealersdealershipsfranchisegeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmreducedWed, 29 Apr 2009 15:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1531809/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/29/gm-wont-pay-dealers-for-franchises-will-buy-back-parts-vehicl/1531809/article-detail.xml 1531809 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/84137490-580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/84137490-580op.jpg <![CDATA[GM reportedly accelerating the closure of 1,700 dealers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/gm-accelerating-the-closure-of-1-700-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/gm-accelerating-the-closure-of-1-700-dealers/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/gm-accelerating-the-closure-of-1-700-dealers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto task forceAutoTaskForcedealerdealersdealershipdealershipsearningsfinancialsfranchisegmgm bankruptcygm dealershipsGmBankruptcyGmDealershipsgovernmentThu, 16 Apr 2009 10:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1518572/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/16/gm-accelerating-the-closure-of-1-700-dealers/1518572/article-detail.xml 1518572 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/gm_dlr_clsrs2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/gm_dlr_clsrs2.jpg <![CDATA[MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for our John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman high-res gallery

European MINI dealers are being asked to distinguish their stores from the BMW brand by creating a separate showroom for sell the British/Bavarian small-car. This entails new main entrances, and dedicated reception and service desks. While most of the dealers in the United States currently operate in this manner, most European retailers still share space with BMW. If dealers don't move enough volume to justify the investment, they will be dropped. In 2007, there were about 750 MINI retailers in Europe. That number is expected to fall to about 650 by the end of this year (worldwide, MINI has about 1,500 dealers in 70 countries). Unlike nearly all other automakers who are experiencing a sales slump, MINI's global sales are reportedly up more than 12 percent for the first nine months of 2008 -- no doubt credited to their diminutive size and fuel efficient engines.

Gallery: 2008 John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dealerdifferentiateEuropefranchiseMINImini coopermini cooper clubmanmini cooper convertiblemini cooper smini cooper s john cooper worksmini salesMiniCooperMiniCooperClubmanMiniCooperConvertibleMiniCooperSMiniCooperSJohnCooperWorksMiniSalesseparateshowroomTue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1366973/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/11/11/mini-dealers-abroad-asked-to-create-separate-stores/1366973/article-detail.xml 1366973 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/mini_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/mini_450.jpg <![CDATA[Last Mercury stand-alone dealership closes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/18/last-mercury-stand-alone-dealership-closes/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/18/last-mercury-stand-alone-dealership-closes/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/18/last-mercury-stand-alone-dealership-closes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A paucity of hot product, and an unintentional buyer boycott has claimed the last Mercury-only dealership. Dealerships trading singularly in Mercury products were always few and far between; the brand was usually paired with Lincoln, but Community Motor Company in Canonsburg, PA has sold only new Mercurys for 57 years. The small family run dealership will continue to sell used vehicles, which have seen the franchise through even as yearly sales of new Mercurys have dropped to one third of their 1989 high point of 300 cars. The only salesperson, Joe Mastrangioli Jr., didn't feel any pressure from the Blue Oval to hang it up, but Ford does need to trim its retail network. Elevated age, health concerns, as well as a tough sales climate have made it feel like the right time for Community Motor to bow out.

Mercury appears to be gasping for breath like a porgy washed ashore. They are nice enough cars; the Milan is handsome and nicely trimmed, the Sable got a more distinctive face this year, and the Mountaineer is what every Explorer should be. Initial quality is better than most, according to JD Power, and the brand knocked it out of the park on Power's 2007 Dependability ratings, too. Despite that, nobody seems to be paying any attention to Mercury (sales are down 6.7% through November). It could be that the brand has nothing unique to offer other than tarted up Fords. The fleet-only status of the Crown Victoria makes the Mercury store the only place to get the Panther platform without the Town Car drag, but the Grand Marquis long ago had its day in the sun. Every time we lament the fortunes of Mercury like this, we get an email from Ford letting us know it has product in the pipeline for its Roman god of Commerce and Speed (how ironic is that?). We'll have just have to wait and see.

[Source: Auto News - sub req., Photo: Larry Rippell]

Last Mercury stand-alone dealership closes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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