Southland Sales Stabilize in January

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Southland Sales Stabilize in January
Light trucks continue to increase market share

While new vehicle registrations for the first month of 2017 were relatively flat, light truck sales increased 14%, signaling a shift from smaller cars to larger vehicles.

Honda is coming close to selling as many cars as Toyota. Click below to see full report.

Click here for full report

NU Fixed Ops Course Starts March 14
Now Open to Dealership Employees

Is your next Fixed Operations Manager ready to manage? Northwood's Fixed Operations Class is designed to give your existing and future managers the tools to succeed. Class is now offered to non-degree seeking students in eight evening classes at the Northwood University Cerritos Center. March 14 to May 3. Contact Todd Leutheuser at 562-467-5206 for details and download a flyer here.

Ready for management?

Northwood Lunch & Learn for Dealers and Managers

Where: Southland/Cerritos Center for Transportation Technologies
When: Tuesday, March 7, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Who is going to manage your store? Northwood is inviting all dealers and General Managers to a complimentary lunch and learn on Tuesday, March 7 to discuss the various Northwood management courses available for your future managers. You will:

Learn about six key Northwood Management Courses offered at Cerritos College
Receive detailed information about the course content
Meet the instructors
Review the enrollment process
See the 2017 schedule

We invite you to attend this informative luncheon. Contact Todd Leutheuser by email at Todd@smcda.org or direct line 562-467-5206.

Is Your Store a "Best Dealership to Work For"?

Find out if your store is a "best to work for dealership" by entering the Automotive News BEST Dealership

assessment program. Completed by Dealers and Employees, dealers learn their ranking in eight key areas, and often use it as a self-assessment tool.

Mitch Walters, president of Friendship Auto, which has had stores named among the Best Dealerships for five consecutive years said: “This has been a real game changer for our company. Not only are we able to attract the best talent in our region…we also have developed a great image nationally with vendors, manufacturers, lending institutions and other business partners. This honor also gives our team members so much pride in what they do and where they work that our employee turnover has been reduced dramatically.”

In addition to the opportunity to be named among the best of 2017, all dealerships will receive a free employer benchmark summary – which shows how their stores compare with others in the program. To be considered, dealers must register online by March 31 at www.autonews.com/bestdealerships

If you have questions about the program or would like materials to share with your dealer members, please reach out to Director of Sales Operations Kathy Lightbody, at klightbody@autonews.com, or call 313-446-6037.

Nominate Your Dealership

Single-User Restrooms Must be Designated “All-Gender” by March 1
Provided by CNCDA

Beginning March 1, 2017, single-user restrooms in business establishments or public places must be identified as all-gender facilities.

Which restrooms are “single-user” restrooms?

For the purposes of this new rule, a “single-user” restroom is a restroom that has a lock and includes no more than one toilet and one urinal. Restrooms that do not have locks or restrooms that have multiple toilets do not need to be designated as “all-gender.”

Does this requirement apply to all single-user restrooms?

Yes. This requirement applies to all single-user restrooms, regardless of whether they are accessible to the public.

How long do dealers have to complete this process?

AB 1732 (which imposes this new requirement) is effective March 1, 2017. Therefore, dealers should promptly complete the process of re-designating their single-user restrooms.

Must the signage comply with the California building code?

Yes. Signage should comply with California building code (Title 24) requirements. AB 1732 authorizes inspectors, building officials, or other local officials responsible for code enforcement to check for compliance.

How can I learn more about AB 1732?

Click here to read the text of AB 1732.

CNCDA members with have questions about this new requirement can contact our legal advice team at (916) 441-2599.

Four New Workplace Rules
Provided by Sam Celly, of Celly Services, Inc.

Sam Celly of Celly Services, Inc reminds dealers of four new workplace rules:

To Vape or Not to Vape?
New Battery Fee
Tow Truck Regulation eased
CA Recycle Rule update

More About New Rules

24/7 live support
Response Team to cover your clerks if they cannot work
Logbook that tracks your deals, not just a reporting tool
Electronic Release of Liability processing (not just the DMV's website but rather a tool within DMVdesk that assists in this process)
Refund Checks issued
Fastest shipment and TRACKING of license plates and stickers
For more information, please visit dmvdesk.com

The College of Automotive Management Believes Good Ethics is Good for Business

Southland Dealers are signing up their sales teams for the online compliance and ethics course though the College of Automotive Management and are pleased with the results. For more information about CAM enrollment, please contact Bill Hanyak at (714) 336-5799.

Industry News
Perhaps you've already seen the following industry headlines, but just in case, here they are again.

Demographic Shifts: Shaping the Future of Car Ownership
K@W
Cars have been at the heart of American culture for more than a century. Until recently, getting a license and buying a car were considered rites of passage, and the car you chose was widely regarded as an expression of your identity, reflecting your priorities and revealing your status.

Automakers urge new EPA chief to withdraw Obama CO2 rules
Automotive News
A trade association representing GM, Toyota, Volkswagen and nine other automakers on Tuesday asked new EPA's new chief to withdraw an Obama administration decision to lock in vehicle emission rules through 2025.