Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various industries in America; however, scammers are taking advantage of its increased usage and sophistication to perpetrate fraud. Car dealerships are a prime target for AI frauds because they deal with high-value transactions and collect sensitive customer information. Scammers may pose as legitimate car buyers, use fake identities, or steal…
As car dealerships continue to evolve and grow during this time of flux related to technology advancements, supply chain issues and the effects of the COVID pandemic, Schwartz Ettenger has identified numerous employee-related issues that we recommend addressing now to ensure continued success of your dealership(s). The top ten employee-related issues facing car dealers today…
The Fall Meeting of the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) in Chicago is always an informative meeting for me, where I can learn about the latest legal and business issues from fellow attorneys representing dealerships nationwide and attorneys working for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Here are some highlights of the issues from…
Warning: this article offers no discussion of legal issues, just my commentary on the continued viability of automotive dealerships in the face of franchisors looking to insert themselves more directly into the electric vehicle (EV) customer sales model. It is a pivotal time for franchised dealers, who are responding to a fresh wave of changes…
With electric vehicles (“EVs”) becoming more popular, many franchised dealers are entering into contracts with vendors to purchase advanced charging stations to be installed at specific dealerships. These purchases are often in conjunction with OEM and government programs that help to subsidize the cost of these stations. These vendors not only sell these chargers to…
By now, many dealers have likely heard about the FTC’s proposed rules on dealership advertising and F&I office disclosures (16 CFR Part 463). To help dealers sort through all the commentary on these proposed rules, we have provided a brief summary of these proposed rules as well as some of the highlights of what you…
In my former life as a financial analyst for a Fortune 250 company, a manager and long-time mentor of mine handed me an informative book entitled “Merchants of Debt” that gave an inside look into how private equity (“PE”) firms purchased businesses and operated them to support the continued investment in other businesses. As dealership…
As we head into the second quarter of 2022, the impact of chip shortages on vehicle supplies has not subsided. As a result, many more dealers are facing a steeper challenge of meeting OEM sale metrics than at any time prior to the pandemic. Even before the pandemic, franchised dealers have called out factories that…
