Perry Lefko

Greg Carrasco “is making some noise and making people aware” of the Ontario Nissan and Infiniti dealerships, says Saleem Budhwani, whose Prestige Group owns the stores.

Spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, changing consumer habits have shifted the commercial-property landscape, paving the way to more partnerships with nontraditional tenants such as dealerships

Nearly one quarter of Canadians are thinking about buying a new vehicle in December instead of during the traditional busy purchasing period between March and June, according to a survey released by Kijiji Autos.

In-person auto shows around the globe were forced into cancellation during the pandemic, but are starting to resurface. In China, the Shanghai auto show, which runs from April 21-28, is currently underway.

One Ontario dealership is prepared to buy out lease customers even if means cutting profit margins.

The strategy of offering employees equity stakes quickens expansion and puts a vested individual in the store, proponents of the practice say.

Dealership deals continue to thrive despite the pandemic and slumping sales. 

Trade X says it will be making a “major splash” in the industry in the second quarter of this year with marketing campaigns in Canada and the United States, and will be active in conferences and events.

The program, called Drive Investment Partners (Drive-IP), will be financed by a consortium consisting of participating banks, active or retired dealer principals and Drive-IP, said DSMA CEO Farid Ahmad.

Texas, home of some of North America's largest and fastest-growing cities, is attracting acquisitions by retailers north of the border.

Policaro Group in the Greater Toronto Area launched Policaro Access, which sells vehicles three different ways through the assistance of an app. The Jack Carter Auto Group in Calgary created Carter Live Connect, which goes beyond what GM's Cadillac Live offers.

From head office to the sales front line, business leaders, such as Brian Fulton, apply their unique skill sets at dealer groups.

OpenRoad purchased a Honda and a Toyota store in November because Policaro was in the process of divesting itself of mass market automobiles to concentrate on luxury brands.

Headquartered in Brampton, just outside of Toronto, the Policaro Group began its strategic shift in late November when it privately sold separate Honda and Toyota dealerships to reduce its stores to four. Now, it's expanding in Kitchene-Waterloo, St. Catharines, Etobicoke and Brampton.

Kevin Kutschinski, Foundation’s president and CEO, says the company could have about 40 stores in Canada and the United States by the end of 2021 or early 2022.