As I write this, the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac has just ended, with its turmoil and drastic highs and lows, and the Year of the Rabbit has just begun. The sign of the Rabbit is said to be a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture, and 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. After weathering the last couple of years, I think most in the auto dealer community feel confident that we can get through anything the pesky Rabbit may have in store for us.
With such an eventful year behind us, with a mix of circumstances that were both challenging and ripe with opportunity, what can we learn? Our intrepid reporter, Perry Lefko, tracked down a range of experts and prominent dealers to find out how they made the best of the year, and what lessons they are taking forward into 2023.
Also in this issue, I looked into some creative strategies that some auto dealers are using to maximize the potential of their real estate, by building up, not out. While skyrocketing land costs may be pricing some dealerships right out of urban areas in places like Vancouver and Toronto, Destination Auto Group, Downtown AutoGroup and Jim Pattison Auto Group have created developments that incorporate urban dealerships into residential and commercial spaces that make sense from a business perspective, a land-use perspective, as well as a city planning perspective.
2022 was the year that industry events came back into our lives, and this month I’m looking forward to the NADA Show in Dallas, Texas, where the North American industry will come together to showcase the newest and most exciting new technology, retail innovation, pathways to speed electrification, and expert advice and inspiration for success in all aspects of running a dealership. Make sure to read our March issue and our eNews to find out the wildest and most interesting things we saw and heard at this massive and comprehensive show.
Another major event in the Canadian auto dealer calendar is always the CADA Summit. This year, the fantastic line-up of speakers includes Sverre Helno, a Norwegian auto dealer who will be talking about Norway’s successful transition to electric vehicles, and Walmart Canada Head of Innovation Lee Jeyes, who will share his experiences leading Walmart’s first-ever innovation accelerator and incubator, which is focused on “testing and scaling radical innovations in retail”. Our March issue will have a rundown of the highlights of the CADA Summit as well as the winners of the 2022 DSI Awards, which recognize the top ranked manufacturers in CADA’s 2022 Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey.
Auto shows have also come back, some in a traditional format, such as the Canadian International AutoShow and the Montreal International Auto Show, and some, like the Vancouver International Auto Show, are happening in a series of more dispersed and interactive events over the course of the year. Make sure you get out and support these great automotive celebrations, and learn about all the cool new vehicles, trends and tech from OEMs, and maybe even take a test drive.
I look forward to getting out to many shows and events this year and I hope to meet some of you out and about. Please reach out to me if your dealership has any interesting news, events or community initiatives. I’m always interested in hearing and publishing dealers’ stories from all over the country.
