America's Car and Truck Dealerships

4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 It is an industry that has faced adversity, adopted change, and survived over the past 100 years. Today’s challenges provide incredible opportunities for both franchised car and truck dealers, as well as consumers who are purchasing new vehicles. Vehicles today are the safest, most environmentally friendly, longest lasting vehicles in the history of transportation. These vehicles present new and exciting opportunities for dealers, as well as consumers, in the years ahead. These are a few market trends that the consumer will see in the years ahead. ONLINE DIGITAL DASHBOARD With the replacement of analog dials, gauges, and push-button radio channels, tomorrow’s cars and trucks will feature heads-up displays, as well as a dashboard that more closely resembles an iPad or a Windows-based laptop. Additionally, vehicle manufacturers and select vendors will be able to download apps onto the “information center” that will not only pertain to the vehicle’s operations and services but will also address the driver’s personal habits, driving history, dining choices, recreational choices, and much more. From an automotive perspective, the consumer will have the ability, with a few keystrokes, to download four-wheel drive features, or additional battery life, or additional gas saving features, etc. These products will be delivered on a “pay per use” basis with over-the-air updates as the vehicle sits in the consumer’s driveway. COMING AGE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES Plug-in hybrids or full-battery electric vehicles will continue to gain acceptance by consumers in the next few years. While representing less than five percent of the marketplace in 2020, the sheer number of new EVs being introduced into the marketplace will accelerate consumer adoption. Vehicles will be equipped with easy- to-access charging station information that AMER I CA ’ S CAR AND TRUCK DEALERSHI PS