Opinion
Industry Perspective | Technological Challenges Shake the Definition of Vehicle Reliability
J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Vehicle Reliability Study shows that software and connectivity issues are becoming the main factors affecting vehicle reliability, with technological complexity challenging traditional perceptions of reliability.
Industry Voices | Automotive Industry Priorities: Defending Against Cyberattacks
The automotive industry has long lagged in cybersecurity, facing increasingly severe cyberattack threats. The article notes that manufacturers need to double investment in cybersecurity talent by 2025, establish internal teams, collaborate with public institutions, and implement after-sales monitoring to protect vehicle and driver safety.
Industry Perspectives | Compliance Becomes the New Currency of Customer Trust
As trust and transparency increasingly influence consumer behavior, compliance has shifted from a back-office task to a critical component of establishing and sustaining customer relationships. For dealers, constantly evolving regulations around consumer data privacy, pricing transparency, and communication rules, along with a steady rise in fraud cases, make compliance a top priority. In this Q&A, Robert Newman, Director of Performance Management and Product Consulting at Cox Automotive, shares actionable insights on how dealers can address common compliance challenges, protect their reputation, foster customer loyalty, and navigate today's consumer-driven market.
Industry Perspectives | The Game Between Security and Efficiency: How to Stop Employees from Bypassing Cybersecurity Protocols
The latest survey shows that despite increased awareness of cyber risks among employees and consumers, the behavior of employees bypassing security protocols has not decreased. Car dealers need to confront the critical role of human factors in data security, and by strengthening technology, focusing on vulnerabilities, and continuous training, avoid sacrificing security for efficiency.
Industry Insights | Three-Step Strategy for Dealers to Protect Reputation and Avoid Compliance Risks
Automotive dealers face multiple legal and compliance requirements, from consumer data privacy to after-sales pricing disclosure, making it crucial to build a compliance culture. This article proposes three key measures: prioritizing consumer data privacy protection, ensuring pricing transparency, and planning compliant customer communication, to help dealers avoid fines, protect reputation, and enhance customer loyalty.
Industry Voices | The Opportunity to Give Electric Vehicles a Soul
Electric vehicle battery packs account for 30% to 50% of the total vehicle cost, and their design affects almost all key characteristics of the vehicle. Unlike consumer electronics and energy storage batteries, EV batteries need to be developed in sync with the entire vehicle and are highly customized. James Eaton, CEO of IONETIC, points out that although customization is costly, it is a necessary path to give electric vehicles a unique soul and enhance competitiveness, especially for small and medium-sized OEMs that account for over 90% globally, and the market urgently needs more feasible customization solutions.
Industry Insights | Think Local, Sell Big: Winning Customers with Targeted Advertising
As consumer behavior shifts online, dealers must adjust traditional marketing approaches. In 2025, local advertising strategies combining broadcast and streaming will dominate. Localized ads outperform national ones in boosting brand affinity (+6 percentage points), advertiser trust (+5 percentage points), and community connection (+9 percentage points). Balancing broadcast and streaming, and leveraging ACR data to optimize cross-platform campaigns, are key for dealers to win the market.
Industry Voices | Tracking the auto industry amid major changes
U.S. auto industry reporting has traditionally relied on year-over-year or month-over-month data, but amid tariff increases and reduced Inflation Reduction Act incentives, such comparisons can be misleading. RFQ Insights proposes a tracking framework based on baseline forecasts, covering economic, employment, and production indicators, with quarterly updates planned to assess the effects of policy changes.
Industry Perspective | Promoting Subscription and Flexible Leasing to Younger Customers
By comparing historical scenarios, this article points out that automotive retail is facing an opportunity to shift toward flexible leasing/subscription models. A Deloitte survey shows that young consumers are highly interested in low-commitment, low-down-payment vehicle options, but manufacturers and dealers have not yet actively positioned themselves. The author calls on the industry to learn from the successful experience of traditional leasing and launch relevant programs early to gain market share.
Industry Insights | Maximizing AI Innovation in Electric Vehicle Manufacturing
Electric vehicles (EVs) are reshaping the automotive industry, with nearly 14 million new registrations globally in 2023. AI is expected to drive the next phase of innovation in EV manufacturing, but 80% of AI projects face failure. This article analyzes AI applications in battery safety, energy optimization, autonomous driving, and other fields, drawing on cases like Tesla, proposes risk mitigation strategies, and emphasizes the potential value of failed experiments.