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A recent study by Cox Automotive reveals a concerning trend for franchised dealerships: a significant loss in service visit share to general repair shops. In 2021, dealerships accounted for 35% of all service visits in the U.S., but by 2023, this figure had declined...

Most dealerships recognize that the growing electric vehicle (EV) market is exacerbating a familiar issue: the declining need for oil changes in newer cars. However, EVs are also introducing a range of less predictable challenges. One particularly significant hurdle...

In recent years, dealerships have witnessed a significant shift: customers increasingly prefer text messaging as their main communication channel, especially vehicle owners under 55. But to capitalize on this trend, it isn't just about adopting texting—it's about...

While you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT by now, 2024 marks the year that AI tools will start really hitting the mainstream — especially with the billions of dollars invested in AI in 2023. In other words, there’s going to be more AI for car dealerships to take...

The way dealerships interact with their customers is facing a major shift in communication standards, which is especially important when profitability is more about recurring service revenue rather than vehicle sales. By prioritizing clear, consistent, and...

In the wake of the pandemic, dealership consumers made significant changes to their behavior and expectations. Yet how can we be sure which changes have stuck, and which have reverted back to how they were in 2019? Understanding these changes is crucial for...

A full 56% of consumers say they might stop going to a dealership after a bad experience. That’s according to survey data from nearly 1,500 dealership customers who get vehicle maintenance done at their dealership, when asked as part of DriveSure's 2023 Dealership...

Technician retention is a pressing issue for dealerships, plagued by problems ranging from compensation disagreements and miscommunications to uncertainty around career growth opportunities. These challenges not only lead to high turnover but also contribute to a...

Dealerships often struggle with two big issues: keeping their staff and keeping their customers. When you've got a high staff turnover and customers who might defect in the time it takes to read a competitor’s promo email, it can feel like you're constantly treading...

Using the power of "free" is a classic approach to customer acquisition. Free trials for feature-based subscriptions have long been an effective way for companies to attract new customers in the automotive industry. Even something as simple as a test drive is an...

In an effort to help dealerships in the competitive world of vehicle service and maintenance, DriveSure recently released the 2023 Dealership Service Retention Report. This new report uncovered a critical factor that may be affecting your customer retention:...

As part of the 2023 Dealership Service Retention Report, we surveyed dealership customers to figure out why they return for service and why they don’t. Among other topics, we asked respondents where they went the last time they purchased a tire, if not their...