Category Archives: marketing

Mercedes ‘EQ Ready’ App Picks EV or Hybrid for You

Posted on 6 September 2017 by Ken Zino

A new Mercedes “EQ Ready app” allegedly helps motorists decide whether it makes sense for them personally to switch to an electric car or hybrid. The smartphone app can record real journeys made by the user, analyze his or her everyday driving and compare it with numerous parameters of electric and hybrid vehicles. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, electronics, marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Annual CAR MBS Conference Under Way in Changing Industry

Posted on 2 August 2017 by Ken Zino

It’s summer in northern Michigan, a time when people flock there for fun, relaxations such a swimming, sailing and fine dining amid verdant rolling hills. There is, however, a significant number of people who come each year at the beginning … Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, AutoInformed Editorial, economy, engineering, environment, fuel economy or emissions, manufacturing, marketing, quality, safety, transportation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Continental, Magna Drive Two Autonomous Cars to CAR Conference

Posted on 1 August 2017 by Ken Zino

The automated driving vehicles crossed into Windsor, Ontario before going north to Sarnia, Ontario and returning into Michigan. The first cross-border demonstration (hands free publicity stunt?) of its kind, allowed the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to test automated driving technology in a variety of settings. Continue reading →

Posted in autonomous cars, electronics, engineering, marketing, milestones, mobility company, news analysis, road test, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford – 100 Years of Trucks – 1917 Model TT to 2017 Raptor

Posted on 31 July 2017 by Ken Zino

Ford introduced its first purpose-built truck at the end of July: the 1917 Ford Model TT, arguably changing the character of work itself. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, engineering, marketing, milestones, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Maven Gig Expands to San Francisco

Posted on 20 June 2017 by Ken Zino

By 2020, an estimated 43 % of the U.S. workforce will be made up of freelance workers. The nature of employment is changing, as corporations continue to shed middle class jobs. Maven Gig claims it is a “nimble platform that will grow and adapt with the shift.” Continue reading →

Posted in economy, marketing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Automotive CX Summit – Dual Style to Customer Development?

Posted on 12 June 2017 by AutoCrat

“People liked going into the Apple Store, they liked to go somewhere to talk to a person face-to-face for support or to explain something. this is complex technology, it strikes me that’s the analogy the [automotive] industry should look at and say, “Ah-ha,” Munzel told AutoInformed during a phone interview. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, marketing, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Non-Toxic Garage Floor Coating Claimed

Posted on 7 June 2017 by Ken Zino

Rainguard has released a garage floor coating that it claims is the automotive industry’s first non-toxic technology. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kiss Your Privacy Goodbye as Mastermind Grows

Posted on 6 June 2017 by Ken Zino

More than 6,000 dealerships now have access to the Mastermind technology that uses thousands of data points, gathered from the dealer management system (DMS) and combines it with Big Data – social media profiles, financial records, product and consumer life-cycle information, socio-demographics among other privacy invasion data – to calculate when a customer is ready to buy and why. Continue reading →

Posted in customer satisfaction, electronics, marketing, news analysis, people, Privacy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

William Berman COO of AutoNation Resigns

Posted on 16 May 2017 by Ken Zino

The lack of a succession plan is not good news for stock holders. At the end of March 2017, AutoNation owned and operated 372 new vehicle franchises. AutoNation has sold more than 10 million vehicles, possibly the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, news analysis, people | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Mustang Claimed as Most Popular Sports Car Globally

Posted on 25 April 2017 by Ken Zino

This gets into a murky automotive marketing claims… Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Car Sharing Expands to Berlin via Croove

Posted on 24 April 2017 by Ken Zino

Four months after a small pilot program in Munich, a private car-sharing platform from Mercedes-Benz is slowly being expanding into in other major German cities. Now Croove is in Berlin with a program that continues to be open to vehicles of all makes, a decided departure from General Motor’s Lyft car sharing. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon Runs Fastest Quarter-Mile Ever

Posted on 13 April 2017 by Ken Zino

With 840 horsepower and 770 pounds-feet of torque from a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine, the new 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is the most-powerful production muscle car in history. It posted the world’s fastest quarter-mile with an elapsed time (ET) … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, milestones, new vehicle, performance, racing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Porsche Q1 2017 Best in History

Posted on 12 April 2017 by Ken Zino

Growth came from China, the company’s home market of Germany, as well as the Panamera and Macan model lines that had double-digit growth. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, results, sales | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

NYAS: Regal Returns as – What Else? – a Crossover

Posted on 11 April 2017 by Ken Zino

The former Detroit Big Three can’t give away a car, but are basking in the strong sales sunshine of pickup trucks (no Buick thus far?), SUVs and crossovers. The much Diminished Big Three – held 43.8% of the U.S. March vehicle market, down from 46% last month – despite an ongoing boom in light truck and crossover sales, slipping from 44.5% last March. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, new vehicle, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March U.S. Auto Sales Slump on Trump Russian Ties – Possibly Treason – Over Helping Communist Meddling with Election

Posted on 5 April 2017 by Ken Zino

Perhaps more ominous is the average length of time a car occupied a dealer’s – 70 days in March – the longest amount of time since July 2009. This is good for banks doing the financing but maybe a problem for potential customers, and certainly auto dealers who are holding the floor plan loans as the calendar turns over – incurring interest – each day, every un-sold day. Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, sales | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment