#727 - 🚗 Ring Ring Ring

TOGETHER WITH

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and we hope you feel all the pride, duty, and history that goes into the holiday.

Today, we discuss telephone effectiveness, pizza, and CDK’s return to full functionality. A lot more is mixed in there, but you’ll find them just fine.

What do you think your dealership/brand does better than the rest?

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

One: Ford Phones, Toyota’s Pizza, and China’s Upward Creep

If you talk with auto pros about being auto pros, eventually somebody will bring up “The Fundamentals.”

Sometimes, the term can feel like a catch-all for “the things we miss,” but in the work of identifying, connecting with, and serving the mobility needs of people in the community, phones have earned a high place in the fundamental conversation.

And now you can use them for videos and memes, too, so we don’t see them losing that high position anytime soon.

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Ford Dealers Rank Above Average for Telephone Effectiveness

Ford dealers have significantly improved in the 2024 Pied Piper PSI Service Telephone Effectiveness (STE) Study, ranking ninth among all brands with a score of 59.

This study evaluates the efficiency and quality of service telephone calls, focusing on how quickly and easily customers can schedule service appointments. Pied Piper assessed 2,716 dealerships, considering factors like appointment scheduling speed and representative helpfulness.

What is Ford's secret?

1. Focus on Customer Loyalty: Well-run service departments prioritize increasing customer loyalty. The first step in fostering this loyalty is ensuring that customers have a positive experience when scheduling service appointments by phone.

2. Efficient Appointment Scheduling: Dealers should strive to make the appointment scheduling process as quick and straightforward as possible. Delays and difficulties in this process can drive customers to seek service elsewhere.

3. Helpful and Knowledgeable Representatives: Training service representatives to be helpful and knowledgeable can significantly impact customer satisfaction. Representatives should be well-versed in handling service inquiries and adept at providing clear and concise information.

What's YOUR secret to effective phone use? Hit reply, and let us know.

Toyota's Hydrogen-Powered Pizza Oven

Folks love to multi-task while driving. Some of us devour audiobooks, practice speeches, or just think about the mysteries of the universe.

Toyota is showing off a new way to get the most out of driving at the Japan Mobility Show. Partnering with Rinnai, the global auto leader is using its hydrogen engine tech to bake pizzas.

Are they good pizzas? Apparently, hydrogen's high combustion temperature makes dishes crispy outside and moist inside.

Chinese EV Companies Report Record June Deliveries

New energy vehicle sales in China accounted for 47% of all passenger cars sold in May, up from 45% in April. Hybrid-powered vehicles drive much of the sales growth, contributing to a 39% increase in hybrid sales year-over-year. Here are some company-by-company stats:

• Zeekr:

  • Delivered 20,106 cars in June, up 5% from May.

  • Year-to-date deliveries: 87,870 vehicles, a 15% increase compared to last year.

• Nio:

  • Delivered 21,209 cars in June, up 10% from May.

  • Year-to-date deliveries: 87,426 vehicles, a 12% increase compared to last year.

• Xpeng:

  • Delivered 10,668 cars in June, up 7% from May.

  • Year-to-date deliveries: 52,028 vehicles, a 9% increase compared to last year.

• Li Auto:

  • Delivered 47,774 cars in June, up 8% from May.

  • Year-to-date deliveries: 188,981 vehicles, a 20% increase compared to last year. 

TOGETHER WITH EFFECTV

More Than Conversations w/ Effectv

Our friends at Effectv sponsored our podcast stage at ASOTU CON 2024 because they know the importance of getting good information to the right ears.

As car buying evolves, Effectv connects auto dealerships and manufacturers to consumers through impactful TV and streaming ad solutions. Utilizing Comcast data insights, they can target any of 80+ auto-specific audience segments to deliver your message across platforms to your most likely customers.

Check ASOTU CON Sessions by Effectv for live, candid, and insightful conversations with top operators and guests.

BUSINESS CONT’D

Two: CDK, Rivian, and Smart Roads

Rebound in U.S. Auto Sales Slows Amid High Prices and Cyberattacks

U.S. auto sales have slowed due to high prices, borrowing costs, and cyberattacks on dealerships (but an end is in sight).

Deets:

• Sales Rate: Expected to slow to 15.8M vehicles annually in June, down from 16.1M a year ago.

• Affordability: New-car loan rates rose to 10%, making cars less affordable.

• Pricing: More discounts are being offered, but consumers are waiting for further drops as prices remain high.

• Coming Soon: The June 19th cyberattack on CDK Global temporarily throttled sales at many dealerships, but CDK aims to restore systems by July 4th. Talk about Independence Day, amirite? 🦅

Rivian's Q2 2024 Deliveries Remain Flat

Rivian delivered nearly 13,800 EVs in Q2 2024 (slightly up from Q1 but down from Q4 2023).

The flat deliveries were due to a manufacturing plant shutdown for upgrades. Rivian plans to ramp up production in H2 2024, aiming for a 57,000-unit annual production goal.

First Look: America's Smartest Highway

Why should I care about a tech-enabled highway in Michigan?
Glad you asked! This isn't just any highway—it's a glimpse into the future of transportation...maybe. Cavnue's three-mile stretch of I-94 in Michigan is packed with tech for connected and automated vehicles, making roads safer, more efficient, and less congested.

How does it work?
Here's the cool part: technology poles every 200 meters use sensors, AI, and machine learning to provide real-time data on traffic, weather, and road conditions. This information is shared with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and connected vehicles, helping everyone stay ahead of potential issues.

What's the ultimate goal?
The big picture is a seamless collaboration between cars and roads, improving safety and efficiency for all drivers. And guess what? A similar smart corridor is coming soon to Texas!

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Baker Auto Group: Thriving Together

Lots of people can talk about celebrating despite setbacks, and we applaud them. But our friend Patrick Daly and his team at the Baker Auto Group are celebrating in spite of the setbacks — an important distinction.

After facing significant challenges for over ten days without CDK, Eleads, or access to their leads and database, the Baker Auto team found themselves needing to sell 14 GMC's to achieve their super bonus.

The team united like never before, and in just twelve hours, they exceeded the goal by delivering 17 new and 5 used cars, totaling a remarkable 22 cars for the day.

This was a true group effort, showcasing the team’s willpower, dedication, and absolute refusal to give up. Kudos on the achievement and enjoy your super bonus, Baker Auto! 👏

/More Than Cars Moments

How have you and your team supported one another, your customers, and your goals during the CDK setback? Hit reply or us the link below to let us know!

Quick Hits

• American Airlines committed to buying 100 hydrogen-powered jets. 🛩️ 

• Netflix is phasing out its cheapest ad-free plan. ✂️ 

• The White House has invested $504M in U.S. tech hubs. 👩‍💻 

History

• 1884: Dow Jones & Company publishes its first stock average. 📈 

• 1945: Ford begins production of 1946 model year cars, more than a month before World War II would actually come to an end on the Pacific Front. 🥇 

• 1998: After many months of negotiations, together with a bidding war with BMW and high court battles, Rolls-Royce is sold to Volkswagen for £479M. 💶 

Thanks for reading, friend! Retail auto touches a lot of lives in a day, and you get to play a part in the quality of that connection. We trust you!