Pierre Boutin, who also headed VW in Russia, follows Daniel Weissland as chief of VW Group Canada effective Jan. 1. 

Examining some of the 2019 Best Dealerships to Work For in Canada provides a glimpse into what dealers are willing to do to attract the right people to their stores. 

The group bought eight U.S. stores and a six-brand auto mall from an Illinois dealership group for $135 million in 2018. AutoCanada said on an earnings call Friday that it continues to seek buyers for four other dealerships in the United States.

All sides want access to a treasure chest of consumer information, but many franchise agreements don’t deal with the issue.

John Chisholm, owner of Rose City Ford in Windsor, Ont., says the costs of being a single-point owner are becoming prohibitive. So, he decided to sell his store to publicly traded dealer group AutoCanada shortly after Ford's change in ownership policy.

Lally Ford stood out as the only one of Automotive News Canada’s 25 Best Dealerships to Work For that offerer paid sabbaticals to allow employees to further their education. Many other dealerships also reported going above and beyond the training that is provided or mandated by automakers.

Automotive News Canada’s 25 Best Dealerships To Work For are separated by a vast country, but they’re closer than it appears: Their employees feel like they’re part of a team; they have confidence in the store’s leadership; and they enjoy their work.

Flex production will end the week of Nov. 25, while Lincoln MKT production has already stopped. Oakville also builds the popular Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus crossovers. The move comes as Ford “strengthens its focus on products in the heart of the fastest growing segments to meet shifting consumer demands,” the automaker said.

In recent months, several brands have made drastic changes to their certified pre-owned programs in hopes of selling more used vehicles, which often have higher margins than non-certified ones.

The auto industry is stuck in a waiting game on the deal, which awaits ratification from Canada and the United States, where an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump threatens to upstage the deal. The pact could result in up to an additional $8 billion in annual Canadian parts orders, according to an Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association.

The plan to build the Oshawa, Ont., test track is another sign the automaker takes Canada’s potential as an r&d hub seriously, General Motors and analysts say. The automaker will cease vehicle assembly in Oshawa at the end of the year.

New Canadian Automobile Dealers Association President Tim Reuss says he's transitioned to new jobs several times throughout his career, but "this one is by far the most comprehensive and most in-depth."

Hyundai sales were up 3.5 per cent through September to 103,149 units, while Kia rose 4.1 per cent to 60,113. That flies in the face of overall sales that fell an estimated 4.1 per cent during the same period.

Automotive News Canada’s Take Five is a look at five new, refreshed or retooled vehicles that are destined for or have recently entered the Canadian market. Here's a look at offerings from Toyota, BMW, Porsche, Lincoln and Dodge.

A tight race between the Liberals  and Conservatives in the Oct. 21 general election leaves auto-related policy in limbo, just as the industry grapples with production cuts and falling new-vehicle sales. From free trade to tax cuts to incentives, each party has a different idea on how to help.