The subject of used imported cars will be one of the topics raised in an industry panel discussion at the Australian Automotive Dealers Association Expo and Convention on June 3 at 3pm (AEST) 5pm (NZST).
Australia’s new car dealers sell more than 900,000 used cars every year.
Optimus Group Australia Pty Ltd chief executive John Startari is one member of the panel. The Japanese-owned company operates both Dolphin Shipping Australia and Ozcar Pty Ltd which runs 22 used car dealerships on the east coast of Australia.
Startari is joined on the panel by the head of Eagers Automotive Easy Auto 123 used car operation Craig Bigley, as well as CARS24 Australia chief executive Olga Rudenko, Big Box Cars chief executive Mark Woelders, and FlipaCar chief executive Michael Winkler who has formerly headed up Jaguar Land Rover Australia and Porsche Cars Australia.
Peter Switzer will moderate the session as this industry panel performs a S.W.O.T analysis on the Australian used car market.
The panel will consider the question of whether Australian dealers should embrace imported preowned? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in this area of the dealership business?
Further questions to be addressed by the panel include: What has been learned from the resurgence in used car sales? How will dealers provide engaging online retail solutions for used car sales?
The AADA says just because Australia’s used car sales have picked up during the pandemic, that does not mean dealers can afford to sit back and take for granted that the trend will continue as the country returns to some degree of normalcy.
This panel group has decades of experience and expertise in selling and marketing used cars between them. What is perhaps even more important, they have their fingers on the pulse of new and emerging trends in this crucial aspect of dealership operations says the AADA.
It says the used car department has long been the backbone of Australian dealerships. However, this vital profit centre has suffered somewhat from a lack of attention over recent years, with greater focus being placed on new car sales. It took a global pandemic and a new car inventory shortage for dealers to refocus their businesses on this area of operations.
Now is the time for dealers to examine how they market and sell used cars. Time to apply the lessons of the past couple of years to ensure ongoing success and profitability in this key area. Many questions need to be asked and answered if dealers are to position themselves to continue the renaissance of the used car department says the AADA.
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