Toys for Tots

The Holiday season is almost upon us and we'd like to take this opportunity to give everyone a chance to brighten the Holidays for a child. Raymond Chevrolet is an offical drop off Toys for Tots. Bring in any unwrapped present between now and the first week in December and help others in need.

We hope to see you, and your generous spirit, there.

Is Carmageddon officially over?

In my reading over the last few days it seems as though the general consensus is that "Carmageddon," the complete collapse of the auto industry, from the last few years seems to have gone the way of the 8-track. While I personally don't think we're completely out of the woods yet, things are dramatically different than they were even at the beginning of 2010. Things are much more optimistic. Inventory levels are good, but not bloated. People are willing to buy a vehicle, albeit more challenging to obtain financing than it has been in the past. Do I think sales will rebound to the levels they were at a mere 5 or 6 years ago? Probably not. At least not in the next year. Is that a good thing? Probably. Hopefully next year I'll be writing about how car sales are going gangbusters and things will be up, up, up in 2012.

I distinctly recall a mere 2 years ago the aura of disbelief and uncertainty that surrounded much of the automobile industry. This directly stemmed from the manufacturers and suppliers and trickled down to the dealership levels. I mean General Motors was going bankrupt!! I think even in my wildest dreams I NEVER thought GM would be broke. Five years ago I would have bet that if any auto company would be bankrupt, it was going to be Ford. I have to give credit where credit is due, with Alan Mulally at their helm, Ford has turned that ship around and impressed everyone in the process.

Every time you looked dealers were shutting their doors because they could no longer afford to be in business. A business they thought would sustain them and the families they support for many years to come. Between having their floor plan (the dealer equivalent to an inventory mortgage) called in to the bank, the dramatic downturn in business, the credit crunch, lack of leasing programs and a overstocked inventory supplies all made for what is now being called Carmageddon.

Slowly but surely, the stronger dealers have weathered the storm and are beginning to emerge a little battle worn, but smarter and leaner for having been in the fight. Internal spending and budgets have been cut. Staff has been pared down through lay-offs or by attrition. The belts have been tightened and in general dealers have become smarter and leaner. While we're starting to see the belt loosen a bit and things creeping back to "a new normal" level. However, the lessons of the past two years will not be forgotten.

Now in the final quarter of 2010, at a time when we see sales figures returning to an acceptable level, I ask you, is this over? Will Sales rebound to 2005 levels? Should they rebound?

We've got an app for that

Launching today, 2011 Chevrolet customers can download an app for their iphone or android phone. The apps are revolutionary in the auto industry and communicates a host of information to their users. The myChevrolet and the myLink OnStar applications are available for free download to owners who's vehicles are equipped with OnStar.

A summary of functions is as follows:
mylink OnStar - GPS parking reminder, reference material for your vehicle, database designed to explain warning lights.
myChevrolet - lock and unlock doors, automatically start your vehicle, offer diagnostic information, such as fuel, oil, tire pressure.

Visit www.chevrolet.com and get your application today.