Shop-Click-Drive: GM to Reportedly Extend Online Car Sales Tool to Entire Dealership Network by End of Year

General Motors has announced that it plans to expand its new online shopping tool that allows customers to bypass the showroom by purchasing their brand new vehicle online.  The program, Shop-Click-Drive, lists a total of 48 participating dealers on its website, but GM reportedly plans to extend the new web-based application to its entire dealership network by the end of 2013.

 

According to the Shop-Click-Drive website, a vehicle can be purchased online from a participating dealer around the clock, 24/7, and in just five (5) short steps:

1. Get Started - Select a vehicle from a participating dealership's website.  Click here to find a participating dealer and click on "participating";
2. Estimate Payments - See available financing plans, the latest incentives, and estimate your trade-in value if applicable;
3. Apply for Credit - Complete your secure and confidential credit application online and hassle free;
4. Personalize & Protect - Shop for additional vehicle personalization and protection options, including GM accessories, extended warranties, and more;
5. Scheduled Delivery - Schedule a trade-in evaluation, arrange a test drive, sign the sales paperwork, and take delivery of the vehicle, all on your time schedule.

About 900 cars have been sold so far through the Shop-Click-Drive program.  Of the 900, only 5 have elected to have the vehicle delivered directly to them, while the some 895 others have opted for a trip to the showroom to finalize the deal face-to-face.

As expected, many dealers are reportedly not fond of the new program, since it nearly eliminates their chance to sell consumers profitable service work, add-ons or finance and insurance products with their new cars.  The option is still there to purchase these items, but the decision to purchase is more "pressure free" than at the dealership.  Other dealers, however, reportedly see it as just another way to reach millennial purchasers who increasingly seek to make many purchases online.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

 

GM Tops J.D. Power Study for Best in Quality

A new study rates General Motors as #1 in quality over all other automakers worldwide.  The results of the Initial Quality Study, released by J.D. Power and Associates on June 19, 2013, measures the number of problems on 2013 cars and light trucks that buyers report after 90 days of ownership.

General Motors, as a corporation, ranked #1 with an average of 98 problems per 100 vehicles between its four brands GMC (2nd), Lexus (3rd), Chevrolet (5th), and Cadillac (14th).  In fact, General Motors was the only automaker with fewer than one problem per car.  General Motors is at the top of this annual study for the first time, while GMC and Chevrolet have broken into the top 5 for the first time ever.  Porsche topped the study by brand, followed by GMC, Lexus, Infiniti, and Chevrolet.

The Lexus LS sedan was reported as the most trouble free vehicle, with just 59 problems per 100 vehicles surveyed.  The vehicle was redesigned for 2013, and obviously consumers approve.

Lowest rated brands were Toyota's Scion, Chrysler's Fiat, and Mitsubishi.

J.D. Power has been conducting their Initial Quality study for 27 years, and redesigned/modernized the study for 2013.  Outdated questions, such as questions about cassette players, were replaced with questions about modern technical features, such as voice recognition.  Additionally, instead of sending paper questionnaires, J.D. Power randomly selected owners to respond online.  The study was based on 83,000 customers who bought or leased a 2013 model car or light truck, and included 233 survey of questions.

According to the study, almost 2/3 of problems reported on 2013 models were related to design defects rather than manufacturing defects.  Top problem areas were: (1) built-in voice recognition frequently doesn't recognize or misinterprets commands, (2) built-in bluetooth mobile phone/device frequent pairing/connectivity issues, (3) excessive wind noise, (4) materials scuff and/or soil easily, and (5) navigation system is difficult to use or poorly located.  According to the study, customers that reported a manufacturing defect said that the defect was fixed in the first visit 43% of the time.

Ford, who included the MyFordTouch system in their entire line of vehicles for 2013, was ranked #27.  Many owners find the system hard to use, and this is likely the reason for Ford's low ranking.  For this reason, it would certainly not be unexpected for Ford to take issue with the inclusion of design related defects in the study.

But, even the best manufacturers make mistakes.  So, regardless of where your car is ranked in this study, you may still have a "lemon" vehicle.  If you think that your 2013 car or truck is a "lemon" , then you should contact a consumer law attorney that specializes in Lemon Law to see if they can help get you out of your "lemon" car or truck.  Click here for a free online 50 state list of consumer law attorneys.   And act quickly- because for every legal right you have there is only a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in court before your rights expire.

 

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Are Asian Automakers Feeling the MPG Hurt?

Are Asian Automakers Feeling the MPG Hurt?


American automakers are reporting strong March sales figures.  The numbers for the "big 3" are impressive.  General Motors has reported an increase of 6.4%, followed by Ford Motor Company at 5.7%, and Chrysler Group LLC at a close 5%.

As for Asian car companies, the March sales figures are not so strong.  While Honda reported an impressive 7% increase, it all goes down hill from there.  Hyundai has reported a 2% loss, while sales are down for Kia a reported 14.6%. 

With both Kia and Hyundai's plummeting sales figures, one can't help but wonder how closely their recent announcement has played into the minds of the American consuming public.  In fact, it was just a few months ago that both Automakers announced that the reported miles per gallon for many of their 2011-2013 models were incorrect.  And the adjustments were not minor, some estimates being modified by the automakers as many as 3 miles per gallon below what was represented at the time of sale.  In their press release, the automakers claim that the incorrect fuel economy estimates were the result of incorrect testing procedures implemented at their testing plant in Korea.  However, the March sales figures coming in could indicate that American consumers are viewing the incorrect fuel economy estimates with an eye of distrust.  

Whether or not Kia and Hyundai's MPG "flop" has impacted their March 2013 sales, the outlook is not good for either automaker, as they hold a total of only 8.1% of the March 2013 market share.  This figure is abysmal when compared to the towering 44.9% of the March 2013 market share reportedly held by the "big 3". (For detailed sales figures for major automakers worldwide, click here.)

The moral of the story?  Be honest with the American public and they will spend.  

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running