Most USA dealers don't like selling EVs

[Grumpy2]

Just what we all knew

https://fordauthority.com/2024/08/most-american-auto-dealers-arent-thrilled-with-selling-evs/

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[F150ROD]

Of course they don't. A Large percentage of buyers know more about the EV than the Salesman. They know their rebates and what's the out the door price should be. They cant sell you a service plan. They can rarely sell accessories. They try to play like they make "nothing" off the EV sale.

And finally, they know you will b eon your phone ordering a Tesla as they BS you on the price.

 

[Toby57]

The article just shows where ev are more popular and less popular.
Auto dealers get their thrills from selling autos.
They don't care what powers it.

 

[RickKeen]

Dealerships work best when they have the product on the lot, ready to go and can close the deal that day. Why would a salesman spend energy with a customer when they don't have the ability to make the sale and know that when the person walks out that door, they are more likely to buy from some other dealership with the vehicle they want in stock. Best case, maybe the customer eventually buys after a bunch of work to locate the vehicle they want and making a trade/shipping. etc.

So they would need a critical mass of EVs with a variety of trim levels and options and colors. Which they don't have.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I think they were super excited when they could overcharge the customer (i.e. sell them way above MSRP). Now that it has changed to more of a buyers market, they aren’t that interested! My understanding is that ALL vehicles aren’t selling that great right now anyway because of high interest rates so I would think you would want to have at least some on your lot to sell to those that are wanting them! If I was a dealer, I would definitely have a mixture of ICE as well as hybrid and electric so that I could sell to any customer that came in to my dealership. But hey what do I know?

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I wonder if this is the issue I'm having. I've reached out to multiple dealers and I barely get any reply. Last two vehicles I bought new (2015, 2020) I was able to get quite a lot of work done via email. Now it's just asking for my phone number, which I reply that I don't wish to share that right now, then it's automated emails. I thought it was just the Ford system that seems to be implemented at each dealer. Maybe it's because I'm looking for a Lightning....

 

[Heliian]

Now, let's divide those sales up into commissioned and salaried.

Lower margins means less excitement for rabid sales bunnies.

I have found salaried sales people to be the absolute best, no bullshit.

You want to buy a car? You walk in and buy a car.

 

[Ricks Lightning]

Sort of the opposite for me. In May I went to several dealers and made several calls to dealers looking for a 2023 pro in stock with certain required options. Several kept calling and emailing weeks after I had already purchased my pro.
In fact my email gets a daily update from carguru about local lightnings for sale with pricing and pricing history.
Rick

 

[Ayrshireman]

Wonder how senior dealership managers think about selling ICE vs. non ICE over time horizon given approximately 4k less parts…equals significantly reduced service and parts revenue? Long term business model must change radically to sustain profitability

 

[Grumpy2]

Regardless how we bought the vehicle, when we need repairs we need to avoid these same dealers that don't want to sell EV's.

The chance of having a good service experience will match their enthusiasm for selling them.

The Service Center provides the bulk of the income, and EV's need little service they can provide.

 

[Ayrshireman]

Agree Grumpy2. Sales enthusiasm for EV’ will drive future service revenues.

Wonder how senior dealership managers think about selling ICE vs. non ICE over time horizon given approximately 4k less parts…equals significantly reduced service and parts revenue? Long term business model must change radically to sustain profitability

Wonder how senior dealership managers think about selling ICE vs. non ICE over time horizon given approximately 4k less parts…equals significantly reduced service and parts revenue? Long term business model must change radically to sustain profitability

Update to number of parts in EV vs non EV for Lightning is 10k for former and 25k for latter

 

[Danface]

The biggest challenge to EV adoption is charging. Dealership readiness is important but charging infrastructure and time to charge is absolutely the number one challenge to adoption. BTW, let's not forget the grid couldn't handle rapid adoption of BEV's

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Now, let's divide those sales up into commissioned and salaried.

Lower margins means less excitement for rabid sales bunnies.

I have found salaried sales people to be the absolute best, no bullshit.

You want to buy a car? You walk in and buy a car.

Yes, but in my scenario there isn't any that are close. So I reached out to larger cities that have these in stock. For me I can drive either 2 hours north, 2 hours south, or 2 hours west. Kind of looking for just some info that makes me think you're serious about selling so I can decide to take a drive.

 

[RickKeen]

Sort of the opposite for me. In May I went to several dealers and made several calls to dealers looking for a 2023 pro in stock with certain required options. Several kept calling and emailing weeks after I had already purchased my pro.
In fact my email gets a daily update from carguru about local lightnings for sale with pricing and pricing history.
Rick

Google needs to add a button that tells the ad serving algorithm "Hey stand down. I bought one of those already. Don't need to see any more ads for this anymore."

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