Fw: GM Increasing Jobs, Production to Meet Demand for Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:47 AM

Subject: GM Increasing Jobs, Production to Meet Demand for Heavy Duty Pickup Trucks

General Motors plans to add a third shift at its heavy-duty truck plant in Flint, Mich., to meet increased demand for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD pickups, according to an announcement by the company this morning.

The additional shift is expected to create 750 jobs. Flint Assembly currently employs nearly 2,100 workers operating two production shifts.

In 2010, the plant produced 115,000 trucks, most of them regular and crew-cab versions of the heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra. Last year, the plant added production of regular and crew-cab versions of the light-duty Silverado.

"Adding a third shift is a response to customer demand for heavy-duty pickups, which most people use to tow, haul and plow," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. "Equally important, it brings jobs and a needed economic boost to the Flint area."

The first wave of employees is expected to arrive at Flint Assembly in the second quarter with more waves arriving until the plant starts the third shift in the third quarter. Initial openings will be filled by recalled laid-off Flint Assembly employees currently working at other facilities, primarily in Lansing. Remaining openings will be filled by laid-off employees in the area, including those from Orion, Willow Run and Warren in accordance with the UAW GM National Agreement. No new employees are expected to be hired.

[Source: General Motors]

RE: Discussion_Reply_To_Help_with_Lead_Source_Mix

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Discussion_Reply_To_Help_with_Lead_Source_Mix
From: "DrivingSales" <no-reply@drivingsales.com>
Date: Fri, January 14, 2011 10:25 am
To: Thomas@Ieracitano.com

Hello,

A reply to a topic you're participating in has been posted by Thomas Ieracitano:

Stephen, welcome to the car business!! And welcome to Driving Sales.
Looks like you are off to a great start. Like the rest of us in the biz sounds like you got thrown in and you are trying to figure things out as you go and doing a great job of it. As in building any department a good solid foundation and creating a funnel with the anticipated result at the end.

I agree with Bill in using a CRM or at least an ILM to create a database of leads where as you say track your progress. You will also be able to build a follow up process over time. Long Term Follow is important because some New Vehicle buyers will convert to Used Buyers and reverse.
Content is key not only on your website, but in your email follow-up.

When I started in the biz we would say follow them til the buy or die. I believe the say is true today, only the delivery methods have changed.
Be persistent, but professional !
Ask your OEM reps for help and feel free to download any of my material at http://digitalcarguy.com/Free_Files.html

Good Luck and Good Selling!
Thomas

View Topic on DrivingSales

Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Now What AutoTrader?

December 7, 2010 by John Druien

So what do you think is next on the plate for AutoTrader.com? Take over small countries in the Caribbean? Buy Dealer groups? Nothing really seems impossible for the company that has been in acquisition mode snapping up vAuto, Kelly Blue Book and HomeNet over the last 3 months. The company is truly taking over the automotive online marketing world and is far surpassing the visibility of other players that had previously worked up to 'neck and neck.'

 

The next step for AutoTrader appears to be getting in the middle of the finance business. They claim that these acquisitions are based entirely on their goal of "listening to dealers." Anyone who is in the business, and that actually listens to dealers, will tell you that staying the heck OUT of the finance side of the business is really what dealers prefer. The F&I office is one of the last bastians of profit that online companies have stayed out of, and dealers are ok with that. On the other hand, AutoTrader understands that's where a lot of money changes hands, and that's money that AutoTrader would like a piece of. We will wait to see what they come up in that area...or who they will buy. Maybe a bank.

 

What AutoTrader still cannot do, nor can most typical automotive destination sites, is determine the bottom of the sales funnel leads. At some point "quantity of leads" is going to stop being a selling point in favor of quality of leads. Dealers are not strong at keeping up with customers that contact the store and don't let on where they are in the 6-month purchase funnel process.

 

Chip Perry and AutoTrader...we await your next move.

 

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Dealers Need to Get Back to Basics

Dealers Need to Get Back to Basics

Written by Ted Craig   

Thursday, 13 January 2011 02:57 PM

Rod Heasley still has the dealership training manual from when he started in the business in the 1970s.

The advice it offers remain as relevant today as it did then.

Heasley, the national sales director for AutoSave, recently presented a Back to Basics seminar for members of the Michigan Independent Automobile Dealers Association s metro chapter.

The key message was dealers need to stop thinking like people who sell cars and start thinking like people who buy cars.

That requires looking at every aspect of a business, including how the business looks.

dealers to walk across the street and study their stores appearance. He said they need to make sure the cars are all lined up, that the window stickers are all in the same place, that old advertising banners don t clutter the lot.

Heasley said he's visited dealerships before where cars on the frontline had flat tires.

The most basic details matter, such as providing clearly marked customer parking.

Dealers need to write ad copy in a way any consumer can understand. Heasley said to avoid the alphabet soup of most cars ads and spell out features such as air conditioning and power windows.

Having salespeople who can bond with shoppers remains crucial.
Heasley said how much a customer likes a salesperson drives a majority of auto sales.

All salespeople should always have a consumer take a vehicle for a test drive.

When they do that the salesperson should move into the backseat and stop talking about halfway through.

This allows the customer to take mental ownership of the vehicle, Heasley said.

Most dealers know the basic steps to success, but they forget them in the daily rush of work and fall into ruts.

Heasley suggests taking simple steps to get out of ruts, such as taking a different way to work.

He said dealers need to remember why they work - to provide for their families.

A good home life is essential for a good work life.

If you don t have that support, it s not as easy job, Heasley said.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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Military Pay - Outstanding!

If you get this more than once, feel honored that you know more than one
person who supports our military and appreciates what they do.

If you don't forward it, you don't deserve their sacrifice.

CINDY WILLIAMS was appointed by Obama as an Assistant Director for
NATIONAL SECURITY in the Congressional Budget Office.....

Military Pay
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all
newspapers across America.

Ms. Cindy William wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing the
pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she
stated a 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.

A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to
get a bonus for this.
"Ms. Williams:

I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GI's earn enough"
and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted
overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every
month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my
bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make
$1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20..
When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary
of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.

I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the
team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with
infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A
quick check under jobs for "Network Technicians" in the Washington, D.C.
Area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years
experience in my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a
year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per
annum............ I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.

Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the
pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.

Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional
and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's
lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join
a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice
of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for
the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time
away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment
experience."

As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses
and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care
to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to
make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously they've
been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving
them.

Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are
perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a
foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight
sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve
you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE's (meal-ready-to-eat)
you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or cheese tortellini,
and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.

Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't be
nearly long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be
thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with
most of the points you present in your open piece.

But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say
it.

You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First
Amendment right and every other right you cherish...On a daily basis, my
brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like
you can thumb your collective noses at us, all on a salary that is
nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most
people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private
sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian
companies.

And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we
deserve?

A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC

IF YOU AGREE, PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!

The World's Most Addictive Drug!

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EMAIL;INTERNET:Thomas@RobertHutson.com
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Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano
Your Digital Sales Manager

Ford Announces Fuel Economy Figures for 2011 F-150 EcoBoost V-6

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 1:59 PM

Subject: Ford Announces Fuel Economy Figures for 2011 F-150 EcoBoost V-6

Ford's all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 for the 2011 F-150 has been officially rated by the EPA at 16/22 mpg city/highway for two-wheel drive trucks and 15/21 mpg for four-wheel drive models.

Those numbers give the twin-turbo six-cylinder yet another boost in credibility as Ford positions the engine as a suitable replacement for larger V-8 engines, which have long been the traditional mills used for max towing and hauling duties but are known for being thirsty at the fuel pump. Using regular gas, the EcoBoost makes 365 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque.

Ford has already shown that the EcoBoost engine can outperform competitors' V-8s in a towing test at Davis Dam in Arizona. Ford has also demonstrated the EcoBoost's durability by torture testing a line-built engine on the dyno, pulling logs in Oregon, towing more than 11,000 pounds for 24 hours straight on a racetrack and competing in the Baja 1000 off-road race.

We've driven EcoBoost-equipped 2011 F-150s several times and have been impressed with its diesel-like performance – 90 percent of its torque band is available from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm – and almost unnoticeable turbo lag.

The flat power curve also enables EcoBoost F-150s to run with the tallest (numerically lowest) rear axle ratios of any Ford half-ton, as low as 3.15. That helps enable the high fuel economy numbers, especially on the highway, without sacrificing much performance.

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 is paired with Ford's updated 6R80 six-speed transmission, which is standard across the 2011 F-150 lineup. The transmission features a new manual shift mode for 2011 that allows the gearbox perform like a manual transmission as long as it isn't redlined. The 6R140 also features Progressive Range Select for every engine, which allows a driver to reduce the number of available gears so it's easier to tow up a grade and hold a specific top gear, like 5th, without worrying about the truck upshifting and getting bogged down.

The 2011 F-150 with the EcoBoost V-6 is expected to go on sale before the end of winter with a $750 premium over Ford's 5.0-liter V-8 and a $1,750 premium over the entry-level 3.7-liter V-6.

The Ultimate Guide to US Pickup Truck Sales in 2010

 

From: Mike Levine

Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 10:54 AM

Subject: The Ultimate Guide to US Pickup Truck Sales in 2010

Pickup truck sales rebounded in 2010, with significant volume gains over last year's depressed sales levels.

Here's look at the numbers of trucks sold last year, according to sales data provided by J.D. Power and Associates. J.D. Power's "Power Information Network" figures are unique because they break out full-size truck sales into light- and heavy-duty classes. Monthly figures released by Chrysler, Ford and GM aggregate both light- and heavy-duty truck sales (including chassis cabs, when sold) into a single number without revealing class splits.

J.D. Power removes the Ford F-450/F-550 commercial trucks from the tallies, so chassis cab versions aren't included. They do, however, report Ram 4500/5500 chassis sales. GM doesn't sell trucks in these classes. So, to make this fair, we're presenting Ford's full-size truck data with and without chassis cabs, of which 21,134 were sold, according to J.D. Power.

Full-size Pickups

Full-size pickup truck sales rose 20.3 percent last year and were 13 percent of the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of all vehicles in December, a level not seen since 2008, having increased steadily from the low-10% range of early 2010. Full-size pickups made up 11.6 percent of all vehicle sales in 2010.

While nearly every full-size truck brand grew sales, Ford dominated with a 27.7 percent jump and a 38.6 percent share of the market, the largest share its held since 2001.

The only full-size pickup brand that lost year-over-year sales in 2010 was Cadillac, lending support to the conventional wisdom that casual truck buyers are gone from full-size pickups for good. Cadillac EXT sales fell 14 percent.

Small Pickups

Small pickup sales volume rose slightly last year, ending a slide that's lasted more than a decade in the stale segment but market share amongst all vehicle continued to fall, to just 2.3 percent, its lowest ever share. Most of the volume increase was due to strong sales of the Nissan Frontier, which rose 42.3 percent, the highest percentage sales gain of any high-volume pickup in 2010.

SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices

SUV Prices May Drop Due to Gas Prices

Gas prices rose to around $3 per gallon over the recent Christmas holiday.
Overall, gas prices have almost doubled in the last 2 years, and the predictions for future prices don't look pretty.

So what does all this mean for car buyers?

It's likely there will be some huge price drops on SUVs and pickup trucks, while smaller cars will see price increases if gas continues to rise this year.

Back in 2008 when gas prices hit record highs, consumers turned away from larger vehicles and embraced more fuel-efficient and looked at smaller cars.

Some dealers, in desperation, were offering unbelievable discounts on large SUVs and pickup trucks.

The reverse is also true - small and fuel-efficient cars, due to higher demand, will start seeing price increases, just as they did back in 2008.

If you're thinking of buying a large SUV or pickup truck,do it now. If you're thinking of buying a compact, fuel-efficient car, you may want to wait to buy one.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

TheDigitalCarGuy.com

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The Most Powerful Aspect of Social Media

The Most Powerful Aspect of Social Media

You hear about the experiences your customers are having at your business (good or bad),

but are you doing something about it.

As I've said before it's the difference between what's expected and the actual service received
that will dictate whether or not they will talk about you,

and they are talking,
it's up to you though if you want to exceed those expectations and gain positive word of mouth or negative word of mouth.

Social media is good for a lot of things: building relationships, finding and spreading news, marketing, a good laugh,

keeping up with your friends and family and a host of other things,

but there is another aspect of social media that most businesses aren't using. Free Feedback !

The best part of Social Media is that it is a marketing tool that also serves as a collaboration tool as well as a marketing tool. When you implement Social Marketing in this collaborative fashion, then you go a long way to building a true social business by harnessing the true voice of the customer.

Building An Empire By Building Brand Ambassadors

Earlier I said that an emphases was being put on bringing in new customers instead of creating brand ambassadors, before you lambaste me though let me explain what I mean by that. Auto dealerships are notorious for being short sighted, they think in terms of today and because of that they tend not to think in terms of compounding customers.

Much like compounding interest, which Wikipedia defines as "when interest is added to the principal, so that from that moment on, the interest that has been added also itself earns interest", compounding customers works much the same way.

Dealership A

Dealership A spends a ton of money on advertising, they have catchy jingles and bring in a ton of customers every month. They give service that is expected but aren't very good at following up. Let's say that they sell 100 new customers every month, by new I mean that they aren't repeat or referrals. Through their advertising they are building top of mind, or so their radio and TV reps are telling them so they keep spending a ton of money each and every month on advertising but they still are only selling 100 cars each and every month.

Dealership B

Dealership B is a referral machine, they treat their customers right and work mainly through word of mouth. Management places an emphases on client follow up but they don't spend much money on traditional marketing so they aren't building a lot of NEW awareness but they are increasing their monthly unit count, but slowly.

Dealership C

Dealership C is a hybrid of Dealership A and B, they have a good marketing mix and spend a fair amount of money on tradition advertising but they also put an emphasis on customer experience and building brand ambassadors and relationship marketing (social media). They understand the Law of Compounding Customers (not really sure if it's a law, I may have just made it up! ) and that each and every single month, because 45% of their sales volume is from repeats and referrals, that they will grow perpetually, if they keep doing what they are doing.

If you follow with me here for a second I will explain in mathematical detail, to the best of my ability anyway, how you can take advantage of the Law of Compounding Customers. Let's say that in month 1, Dealership C sells 50 new customers and 35 referral and or repeat customers for a total of 85 units. Because of Dealerships C's exceptional track record they know that 45% of their customer will either come back or give them a referral.

Instead of starting from 0 each month they know that in any given month, the new customers they sold in previous months will either come back or send them referrals 45% of the time. In other words, out of the 50 they sold the previous month they can expect an additional 22 sales sometime in the future. If this keeps happening, month in and month out, the number of repeats and referrals will compound on the new customers in addition to the repeats and referrals in the previous months.

Breaking It Down

By listening to your customers and increasing the total customer experience in your business you create an environment for rampant word of mouth. If the point of sale experience matches how you portray yourself on social networks and in traditional advertising then you have the beginnings of a truly great customer experience and which increases your chance of effectiveness and frequency at creating influential brand ambassadors.

But, it all starts with listening to your customers and using that knowledge into your business operations.

This helps to make an even better customer experience.

Thank you,
Thomas Ieracitano

Thomas@Ieracitano.com

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