• Video: No Easy Money for Detroit
  The Wall Street Journal, November 19
  WSJ’s John Stoll discusses the second day of testimony from Detroit auto makers, who are seeking money from the government. Congress is going in eyes wide open this time.
• Going gets tougher for Colorado car sales
  Rocky Mountain News, November 18
  The economic environment for Colorado's car dealers has gone from bad to worse.
• State car industry sees bridge loans as the road out
  Denver Post, November 18
  Leaders of Colorado's auto-sales industry — including well-known local pitchman Dealin' Doug Moreland — are on the stump for a proposed rescue of the nation's Big Three auto manufacturers, saying it would save thousands of jobs, keep suppliers afloat and help buoy consumer confidence.
• Longtime San Francisco auto dealer drops new cars
  San Francisco Business Times, November 21
  Ellis Brooks Auto Center, a fixture on San Franciso’s Van Ness Avenue for decades, will stop selling new cars, citing the growing burden of a union pension fund and the rising costs of doing business in San Francisco.
• Hecker closes 6 car lots, sells 3; GM sues
  Star Tribune, November 22
  About 400 workers -- a third of Hecker's workforce -- are being laid off. General Motors also filed suit to bar Hecker from selling Hyundai vehicles in his Southview Chevrolet showroom.
• Consumers a reluctant bunch at auto show
  The Detroit News, November 22
  The crowds at the show are a reluctant bunch this year. Anxious about the economy, the future of the Detroit Three automakers and the unpredictability of gas prices, few said they had any intention of buying a new car anytime soon.
• If I had the floor at the auto rescue talks
  Detroit Free Press, November 23
  Good morning. First of all, before you ask, I flew commercial. Northwest Airlines. Had a bag of peanuts for breakfast...
• Dems are postponing crucial vote on auto bailout
  Business Week, November 20
  Democratic leaders in Congress sidetracked legislation to bail out the auto industry Thursday and demanded the Big Three develop a plan assuring the money would make them economically viable.
• Oil Closes Below $50, Lowest Price Since May 2005
  The New York Times, November 20
  Oil prices fell to their lowest level in more than three years, dropping below $50 a barrel on Thursday, after shedding close to $100 since July as an ailing global economy pared consumption.
• To rest of U.S., Detroit is mired in the past
  The Detroit News, November 20
  To watch two days of hearings on how -- or whether -- Congress should rescue Detroit's close-to-failing automakers is to be haunted by a recurring question: How did we get here?
• Congress: No deal until automakers provide a plan
  USA Today, November 21
  After enduring hours of grilling this week in the Senate and House of Representatives, Detroit's auto leaders failed to win the $25 billion in federal bailout loans they had been fighting for.
• Prospects for Big 3 aid package grow dim
  The Detroit News, November 20
  A bid to grant Detroit's Big Three automakers $25 billion in loans this week was on the brink of collapse after the automakers' chief executives spent two days testifying before Congress and failed to win many allies.
• Senate cancels vote on bailout for Big 3 automakers
  The Detroit News, November 19
  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that he wanted to figure out some way to help Detroit’s struggling Big Three but that efforts to do so had stalled.
• Ford dealers back Mulally
  The Detroit News, November 24
  I received this letter over the weekend from the Ford National Dealer Council:
• GM, Tiger Woods End Longstanding Deal; Timing ‘Coincidental’
  The Wall Street Journal, November 24
  General Motors announced Monday it is ending its nine-year endorsement deal with Tiger Woods.
• Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout
  The Wall Street Journal, November 10
  As President-elect Barack Obama prepares to enter the White House, he must ponder what to do about the world's trouble spots: Iran, Iraq, North Korea, the Caucasus. And, oh yes, Detroit.
• Auto execs lose ground in bailout quest
  The Detroit Free Press, November 19
  Detroit's automakers' second run at convincing Congress of the need for $25 billion in loans today struggled for traction as Democrats, Republicans and the White House sparred over whether to compromise on a source of money for the industry.
• Why Romney's right, and wrong, about the Detroit automakers
  Detroit Free Press, November 19
  Native son Mitt Rommey, whose dad ran American Motors in its Rambler days and then became governor of Michigan, is the latest national figure to totally trash the Detroit-based auto industry.
• How much time should aid buy for automakers?
  Detroit Free Press, November 19
  Politicians from Connecticut to California are skeptical that it's in their constituents' interest to toss Detroit's sinking auto companies another $25-billion worth of rope.
• Why Detroit's auto executives are ruling out going bankrupt
  Denver Free Press, November 10
  Over more than a century, Detroit's autoworkers have survived two world wars, recessions and oil spikes, but a bankruptcy by a U.S. automaker would finally knock their destiny out of their hands.
• Granholm pleads for auto aid, avoids Obama cabinet question
  Denver Free Press, November 10
  Gov. Jennifer Granholm repeated her plea this morning for a federal bridge loan for the Big 3 to weather the deepening financial crisis.
• Retailers and eateries feel the pain from auto job losses
  Denver Free Press, November 11
  Andrea Kanakry assembled fruit baskets in her Warren floral shop Monday on a mission to win new business.
• Attractively Priced, Fuel-Efficient Cars
  The Wall Street Journal, November 18
  Jonathan Welsh answers readers' questions
• Hybrids' Payoff Recedes
  The Wall Street Journal, November 9
  Calls for an auto industry bailout have become ever more insistent in recent days, as have the dire predictions of what's to come if the government doesn't ante up.
• Yes, Detroit Can Be Fixed
  The Wall Street Journal, November 5
  For that guy elected yesterday, a puzzle is how Detroit's auto makers should be reshaped by the hand of government -- with a taxpayer bailout or by letting bankruptcy judges take charge?
• Automakers' $25 Billion Fast-Track Bailout
  Business Week, November 18
  The incoming Obama Administration is determined to help the U.S. auto industry survive the deepening recession.
• White House is open to Big 3 aid
  The Detroit News, November 11
  The White House said Monday it would consider additional immediate aid for Detroit's Big Three if Congress acted, but signaled that it does not support opening the $700 billion Wall Street rescue package to the automakers.
• Obama urges Bush to act on auto aid
  The Detroit News, November 11
  President-elect Barack Obama wants government leaders to help the auto industry cope with a cash crisis that threatens to overwhelm General Motors Corp. and other automakers.
• Reporter's Notebook: The Freshmen
  FOX News, November 22
  The newly-elected freshmen of Congress are finding out their first year on Capitol Hill isn't much different from college.
• No blank check for automakers
  Denver Post, November 17
  Calls for an auto industry bailout have become ever more insistent in recent days, as have the dire predictions of what's to come if the government doesn't ante up.
  

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FIXED-OPS GROWTH STRATEGIES

Traditional thinking will not bring you new service customers

December 9-11, 2008; Six Sessions Across Colorado!

A thought-provoking, information-packed, business-changing workshop by a highly renowned consultant: Don Tipton has presented for many
state dealer associations and 20-Groups.

IT IS TIME TO CREATE A NEW IMAGE AND FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO:

• Provide service that will drive sales
• Create an environment that attracts customers…instead of marketing to
  drive customers
• Your service department may be perceived to be “High-Priced” and “Inconvenient”,
  especially by customers with older, high mileage, or out of warranty vehicles.
• Traditional pricing and customer handling procedures tend to reinforce this
  perception.
• Your old performance indicators and benchmarks may be getting in the way
  

Presented by Don Tipton, President-DTC Retail Consulting, www.dtcretailconsulting.com

Don Tipton, still an active dealership consulltany today, offers "In the Trenches" automotive experience combined with knowledge of proven management techniques. Don began in the automotive business at the age of 8, working for his father, a parts and service manager. Don has held management positions a both small single point stores and large multi-dealer operations at the corporate level. He spent a number of years with what was the largest automotive fixed operations consulting firm in the country, conducting training seminars and in-dealership consulting. He is passionate about this business and the success of dealers.

CLICK HERE to find your location and register online!

CLICK HERE for more information on this training session.

RED FLAGS RULE COMPLIANCE SEMINAR

PLUS: Privacy/Safeguard Recap and Overview of Frequently Overlooked Federal Compliance Obligations

Friday, Jaunary 9, 2008

By Paul Metrey, NADA’s Director of Regulatory Affairs
Make sure you completely understand the new Red Flags compliance obligations:

• Create and implement a written ID Theft Protection Program with procedures designed to detect and respond to “red flags” indicating potential identity theft.
  
• Periodically review and update the written program to reflect changing risks.
  
• Train responsible staff members and oversee service providers (i.e., third party vendors).
  
• Senior management or owner(s) must approve the program and review/monitor annual reports.
  

***Opportunity to ask questions, and delve into specific aspects of implementation***

Paul D. Metrey, Esq. is the Director of Regulatory Affairs in the Legal and Regulatory Group of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). He represents dealer interests before, and educates dealers on, regulations promulgated by several federal agencies including the Federal Reserve Board, FTC, FCC, Department of the Treasury, and IRS. He reports on regulatory developments and has authored several NADA publications and frequently speaks to dealers, dealership compliance professionals, and other industry groups on regulatory topics, including recent developments in privacy, ID theft, telemarketing, consumer financing, and tax.

CLICK HERE to register online!

CLICK HERE for more information on this training session.

TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR ANY CADA SEMINAR OR EVENT, PLEASE VISIT: www.coloradodealers.org/registration