Kelly Taylor

Ford says it is "listening" and creating exceptions to fine-tune the Model e electric vehicle certification programs for different markets.

For Toronto-based DSMA, which specializes in finding qualified buyers in Canada and the United States for new-vehicle dealerships, the deal represents new territory. For Canada’s Vicinity Motor Corp., it’s a chance to expand beyond its compact EV transit buses to sell vehicles in a growing market.

The pay for women at Canadian dealerships is increasing, on average, but the gap between men’s and women’s salaries is also growing, according to the 2023 Automotive News Canada Retail Salary Survey.

Ford estimates the Model e Certified Elite program would cost dealers $1.3 million while the Model e Certified costs $560,000. The latter choice will result in a reduced allotment of EVs to sell. The investment covers charging stations as well as sales and service training.

Although more auto retailers are adopting salary-based compensation strategies to attract and retain employees seeking stable incomes, sales commissions are still key to dealerships, and that could be particularly true in an uncertain economy.

Canada’s automotive sector began the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic with hope, but anti-restriction protesters, a resurgence of the virus and continuing supply-chain disruptions — amplified by Russia’s war on Ukraine — pushed thoughts of a sales recovery far into the future.

Even with COVID-19 restrictions lifted, several regional events have been canceled; larger shows are toughing it out, but they continue to hemorrhage automakers.

Cox Automotive, which in 2021 transferred its Canadian operations to the United States and parted ways with its Canadian president, told customers Nov. 9 it is selling the majority of its Canadian division to Trader Corp.

Al-Karim Awadia, head of automotive industry for Google Canada, said tracking the experience of countries such as Norway, China and South Korea shows that five per cent market share for electric vehicles is the “tipping point” where EVs move from being niche products to mainstream considerations for buyers.

According to Best Companies Group, which surveyed dealership employees across Canada to arrive at the list of 25 Best Dealerships to Work For, the key to success is building a corporate culture that reflects employees’ values, needs and wants.

When a dealership has a staff of diverse ethnicities, ages and genders, it pays dividends when customers deal with staff with whom they identify

Dealers and automakers threatened by disruption from direct-sales competitors such as Tesla or Rivian are in a strong position to fight back if they work together to develop competitive sales processes and a rich ownership experience, a panel of experts said.

Dealerships have to revise their pay structure, find new ways to stay engaged with consumers and immerse their sales staff in the EV culture, say experts who participatedd in the Oct. 6 Automotive News Canada Retail Forum: Dealer Discussions,

Canadian Mercedes-Benz dealers were disappointed by Eva Wiese's sudden departure as president of Mercedes-Benz Canada, but they understand her decision to move back to Germany for family reasons.

The J.D. Power 2022 Canada Customer Service Index — Long-Term Study, which tracks the service needs of post-warranty four- to-12-year-old vehicles, forecasts a market value of $10.9 billion for 2022.