Recent Stories
It might be time to decommission commission

Shrinking profit margins as well as the need to attract “risk-averse” young employees are prompting some dealerships to shift — at least in part — away from commission-based compensation for sales staff, industry experts say.
How solar panels can protect dealerships in Canada's Hailstorm Alley

Solar-panel coverings at an Alberta dealership will cost $850,000. But that may be a bargain, as some insurers in the province's Hailstorm Alley are denying coverage or charging annual premiums as high as $500,000.
For electric pickups, there’s no home on the Canadian range

Ford’s investment in Rivian lays the groundwork for an electric pickup, but such a vehicle would likely be a tough sell in Canada's farming communities.
How to make a real deal in a virtual world

After doing their research online, consumers know more about what they’re buying and they expect more from their dealers than ever before. For retailers, that means there is no longer a standard sales playbook.
How a Winnipeg dealer turns routine service into new sales and used inventory

When a customer's car is in for service, Crown Nissan staff offers to appraise the vehicle with an eye toward buying it. The dealership uses the process to sell the customer a new vehicle or to buy cars to bolster the store's used inventory. 
Why Nissan made AWD standard on the Altima in Canada

The 2019 Altima represents the largest investment in platform development in Nissan’s history and AWD for Canada was a natural decision in that context, the automaker says.
How a Winnipegger helped build top-notch lead-management software
Glen Demetrioff, a former new-car sales manager and self-taught computer programmer from Winnipeg, helped build the Rapid Response lead-management software for dealers.
Hyundai's Genesis luxury brand hits Winnipeg ahead of schedule
Winnipeg's Murray Automotive Group is Canada's newest Genesis distributor, with Genesis Winnipeg launching July 4 due to demand for the luxury brand.
Mitsubishi thinks its tablets set the industry standard
Mitsubishi dealers in Canada are pioneering the use of tablet technology to improve sales and delivery, and it's a project being watched by dealers worldwide at the urging of Mitsubishi headquarters in Japan.
Mazda Signature line targets Canada's premium segment
Mazda is making a concerted effort to steal some sales from the lower end of the premium market with a new Signature trim level. “It's a natural step for Mazda," says Sean Claessen of Bond Brand Loyalty.
Manitobans split over benefits of AVs, survey finds
Manitobans are almost evenly split on favouring self-driving cars, but by gender, men are more likely to welcome autonomous driving than women, a new survey finds.
Ford plans to plug holes in utility lineup with three new vehicles
Ford leads Canada in utility-vehicle sales, but currently leaves “white space” to its competitors that it intends to fill with three vehicles coming to market over the next three years, says one executive.
Provinces without EV rebates have less selection, fewer sales
Canadians who live outside the three provinces offering electric-vehicle rebates might be feeling left out of a growing EV market in Canada, but automakers are just selling their product where there is the most demand.
Winnipeg VW stores prep for electric future of e-Golf sales
Volkswagen Canada is selling the e-Golf in Manitoba despite the fact the province doesn't offer incentives to buy electric vehicles. St. James Volkswagen jumped at the chance to offer the EV for sale.
Ford thinks bamboo can rival carbon fibre for strength
Ford is exploring ways to combine bamboo with resins to create car parts that rival carbon fibre for strength.