technology

Everyone knows car brands. Honda - The Power of Dreams. Built Ford Tough. Chevy trucks and “Like a Rock.”

Part of the dealership experience is the warm greeting, one-on-one attention, and closing hand shake at the end of a good deal. Those personal touches are important when a customer is in your store. But… What about before and after?

We’ve all heard the phrase “get your head out of the clouds,” but, now, the cloud is where everything is! Most online infrastructure and the tech that consumers interact with on a daily basis involve the cloud.

As vehicles become more technologically advanced and the push for electric vehicles grows, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing tech companies enter the auto industry. 

Just when production levels started leveling out from Covid-19 shutdowns, automakers are facing a new problem: a semiconductor chip shortage. Once, again, factories are closed or on  delayed production schedules, waiting for these components.

Telematics have evolved since the very first automotive GPS system was introduced in 1990, and we’ve come a long way from basic OnStar. Theories of humans being tracked and recorded is becoming less sci-fi and more the norm. Many vehicles now come with built-in GPS, vehicle positioning assistance and more. Some automakers are now giving the option to control your vehicle from your phone. Yes, there’s an app for that.

Many dealers have been doing things the same way for years – Newspaper ads, inbound leads, and posting to Autotrader. But today’s consumer is much different than that of even five years ago.

While many carmakers have been putting a lot of blood, sweat and tears into electric vehicle technology, some have been dumping a lot of resources into the hydrogen fuel cell.

Haven’t heard much about it yet? Here’s how it works: You fill the tank with hydrogen (instead of gasoline). Then air is pulled in from the intake, delivering oxygen to the fuel stack. Hydrogen is simultaneously pumped into the fuel stack. This causes a chemical reaction that creates electricity, which is then used to power the motor when you hit the gas pedal.