powertrain warranty - Dealership Corridor

We have a paradox! More consumers are returning to the dealership to get out of their old vehicles; yet, there are more decade-old cars on the road today than since the depths of the recession in 2009.

If you’ve been following the news for the past two years, or even just the past month, there is not a doubt in your mind that the economy is improving and consumers are returning to dealerships. Both new and used car sales are up, and lenders across all credit tiers are seeing an uptick in loan volume.

According to the latest “Automotive Market Trends” analysis from Experian, the percentage of vehicles on the road predating the 2001 model year has reached its highest level since 2009. In fact, vehicles in that age group made up more than 28.3 percent of all vehicles on the road. To put this in perspective, before the recession, in 2008, that age group only made up 22.1 percent of vehicles on the road.

It’s understandable that during the worst of the recession, consumers held off on making big purchases like vehicles. With mass layoffs and companies filing for bankruptcy left and right, everyone was concerned about jobs and economic stability.

But now that the economy is expanding, shouldn’t consumers be trading up for a newer model?

According to Melinda Zabritski, Experian Automotive’s senior director of automotive credit, “While the growth in early model vehicles on the road is slowing, getting the most out of the vehicle they purchase still appears to be top of mind for consumers.”

Everyone knows that after the recession F&I managers were faced with a more informed and demanding consumer. But what few have taken into consideration is that this could be a good thing. With consumers hyper-vigilant about stretching their dollars, and getting more value from the companies with which they choose to do business, dealerships and lenders have the opportunity to create lasting relationships by aligning with their needs.

The consumers sitting across from the F&I manager know what it takes and the difficulties involved in maintaining older model vehicles. Imagine talking to a consumer who has dealt with three or more costly vehicle repairs within a single year. While they are concerned with current-model dependability, they still expect to keep their vehicles longer than historically normal.

By structuring your F&I products to meet their current needs, you can significantly enhance your dealership’s brand and generate lasting consumer relationships. Picture the relief on a consumer’s face when you tell them that your powertrain warranty will cover some of the most expensive repairs that could have set them back for months with their previous vehicle; or your vehicle service contract comes with roadside assistance so they’ll never be stranded again.

With their relief also comes increased profits for your dealership as well as the opportunity to build a lasting relationship for repeat business. With almost 40 years of experience in structuring successful consumer protection products, EFG Companies knows how to leverage consumer trends to successfully impact your business. Find out how today!

-90 percent of consumers surveyed said they would seek out a dealership that offers it-

EFG Companies, the innovator behind the award-winning Hyundai Assurance program, announced today the launch of Power x2, a powertrain protection vehicle service contract that doubles the benefit of the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty. The new contract delivers a vital dealer tool, proven by independent research indicating that 90 percent of surveyed consumers say extended warranties impact their purchase.

According to a recent EFG survey conducted by a third-party research firm, 62 percent of consumers said the manufacturer warranty significantly affects what make and model of vehicle they consider purchasing. New vehicles are exactly the same within a manufacturer brand from one dealer lot to the next, including MSRP and the manufacturer warranty. This underscores the need for dealers to give consumers a value-driven reason to come to their retail location versus the competitor down the street or across town. A recent statistic released by JD Power Automotive Internet Roundtable — that consumers now visit only 1.1 lots prior to purchasing a vehicle, down from three lots just five years ago — only amplifies the dealers’ need to deliver increased value to consumers.

As consumers continue to keep their cars longer than historical norms, ongoing maintenance costs are more top-of-mind when making purchasing decisions. According to EFG’s study, 48 percent of respondents expect to replace their cars every four to seven years, which could extend their ownership beyond 100k miles. By doubling the benefits of the manufacturer’s warranty, dealerships have the opportunity to use this trend to their advantage. Seventy-two percent of the survey respondents stated that they would go out of their way to purchase a vehicle from a dealership that is less convenient to them if that dealership doubled the benefits of their manufacturer’s powertrain warranty as a complimentary offering.

“In this highly competitive market, we know that dealerships need showroom traffic now, whether online or at their physical location, not six months to a year from now,” said John Pappanastos, President and CEO of EFG Companies. “Power x2 provides dealerships an immediate means of capturing market share based on current consumer wants and needs by moving past the price game to a more value-based conversation that motivates car shoppers to a transaction.” Dealerships can also increase fee income by offering exclusionary coverage that wraps around Power x2 for a specified timeframe, which includes:

the suspension;

the fuel system;

the electrical system; and,

the cooling system, among others.

Power x2 gives dealers a valuable toolkit to address each customer’s specific need when it comes to taking care of their vehicle and protecting their pocketbook. EFG also acts as a very strong extension of the dealer’s customer service through its in-house claims administration that operates according to above-industry standard target SLAs. This translates to enhanced customer retention and loyalty.

Contact EFG today for more information on this new product and how it can benefit your business.