Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Stays Atop Auto Industry Entering New Era Of Sales

Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall know that if the dealership cannot execute business in the nanner today's consumer is looking for, it's irrelevant to the consumer.

Being relevant, being prepared for a consumer's visit, and being able to execute on information quickly are becoming paramount to success in today's automotive industry.

What car consumers are looking for these days are ease of doing business, transparency of transaction and dealership cooperation with their plan about how to purchase.

This is not about the greatest generation and the old way of buying cars. It's about the latest generation and the new wave of car buyers.

With the influx of Gen-Y customers into the car and truck market, dealerships are having to change their business model and habits to remain successful. The ability of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to stay at the forefront of that change is essential to its ability to stay ahead of the competition.

Fortunately for those consumers considering Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, the dealership staff has been able to prepare for and adapt to the change without missing a beat.

According to reports, the Gen-Y demographic, also known as Millenials, could represent as many as 75 percent of car buyers over the next 10 years. They are considered tech savvy and educated and may determine where they will buy a vehicle based solely on their shopping experience: How is it from a digital standpoint? How is it when I get to the dealership?

Millenials reportedly may visit as many as 25 Web sites before coming to a dealership. Social media also is an influence on Mellenial consumers - a study from eBay Motors indicated that more than half of Millennial car buyers are strongly influenced by what their friends have to say on Facebook.

One way the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is staying on top of its game and appealing to today's consumers is with the "Shop-Click-Drive" program - a simple, innovative way to shop that enables the consumer to combine the convenience of the Internet with personal customer service. An easy-to-use tool helps shoppers find the perfect vehicle, pick the trim and accessories, select extended warranties and even schedule delivery.

Furthermore, visitors to the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Web site can estimate their trade-in value and monthly payments, find the latest incentives and apply for credit from the comfort of their own home.

It's not only about convenience, but also about allowing the customer to be able to control his or her own buying experience and make it easier for the dealership to form a relationship with them.

Another important step the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has taken to stay relevant is not a small one, nor inexpensive. The completion of a brand-new, state-of-the art facility in the Southpoint area of town is just weeks away and will utilize the latest, greatest technology and resources to make for a customer experience that will rate second to none.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Helps Camaro Keep Pace In 5-Decade Rivalry With Mustang

Fifty years ago today - Jan. 27, 1965 - marked the debut of the Shelby GT350, a version of a Ford Mustang sports car developed by American auto racer and car designer Carroll Shelby.

Since then, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Mustang have endured a fierce rivalry for muscle-car dominance. Drive a Camaro today at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and discover its power for yourself.

"For five decades, the Camaro and the Mustang have been battling it out in every possible setting," said Mark Reuss, executive vice president, GM Global Product Development. "These two cars have been striving to beat each other on the track, on the drag strip and on the streets. That competition is a big part of why both cars are so amazing, and so popular."

The Shelby GT350 featured a 306 horsepower V-8 engine and remained in production through the end of the 1960s. It has held value as a collector's item.

The GT350R is a more hardcore version of the Shelby GT350. The first 2016 GT350R, with VIN 001, sold for $1 million recently at the Barrett Jackson collector-car auction in Arizona. The Ford Motor Company originally planned to put the rights for the first Mustang Shelby GT350 up for sale but at the last minute decided to sell the rights to the first GT350R

The first Mustang rolled off the assembly line in 1963. Three years later, Chevrolet introduced the Camaro as a direct competitor to the Mustang and created one of the most enduring rivalries in the automotive industry.

"The new Camaro hit the ground running, and it's been a battle royale ever since with the bowtie vs. the blue oval," Ken Gross, a preeminent automotive journalist for 40 years, recently was quoted as saying. "Chevy readily admits its Camaro is constantly getting better, thanks to intense competition from Ford."

On June 28, 1966, during a press conference in Detroit’s Statler-Hilton Hotel, then-Chevrolet General Manager Pete Estes announced a new car line with a name that Chevrolet chose in keeping with other car names beginning with the letter C: Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II, and Corvette.

When the new Camaro name was announced, reporters in attendance asked Chevrolet product managers what "Camaro" meant. The answer: "a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs."

Four distinct generations of the Camaro were developed before production ended in 2002. The nameplate was revived on a car that evolved into the fifth-generation Camaro in 2009.

The Camaro, which has a V6 and V8 engine, has been a big seller at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. As the dealership prepares for its move to a new multi-million-dollar state-of-the art facility in the Souhtpoint area of Durham, the Camaro is part of its "Moving Sale."

So, come get one at a great price and keep the rivalry alive.

HDAM, Local Coalition Work To Keep Kids Safe

Representatives of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall were guests at a luncheon held Friday by Safe Kids Durham County.

The dealership is a member of the Safe Kids Durham County coalition.

Coalition coordinator Theresa Cromling thanked the dealership for its involvement in coalition events and its continuing support of the coalition effort to keep kids safe in Durham County. Cromling also reviewed the highlights of a successful 2014, in which Safe Kids Durham County was named Coalition of the Year by Safe Kids North Carolina.

Safe Kids Durham County was established in 1989 as a way to reach parents in Durham County to give them vital information related to the safety of their children. The vision is to prevent childhood injuries through education. The coalition believe kids should grow up safe, healthy and injury free!

Because the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1-14 is accidental and unintentional, the coalition mission revolves around providing injury prevention education to the families of the Durham community. Safe Kids Durham County operates under the 501C3 umbrella of the Duke University Medical Center. Lead agencies for Safe Kids Durham County are Duke Children's Hospital and Duke University Hospital Emergency Department.

The Durham coalition is one of many coalitions of Safe Kids USA, the first and only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall staff often participate in the events, whether demonstrating how quickly parked cars can heat up on a warm day, or explaining the perils of an improperly installed car seat, or promoting pedestrian safety by helping walk kids to school.

It is an effort very much in keeping with the mission of the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and essential to the wellness of its' customers' communities.

"I am proud to work with this wonderful group of dedicated safety advocates," Cromling said. "I thank you all for your commmitment to our community, and thank your families for supporting your commitment to our goals. I am looking forward to a very successful 2015."

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is among a group of strong core supporters of Safe Kids Durham County that includes the Durham Police Department, Durham COunty Sheriff's Office, Fed Ex and Durham Bike Co-op.

Plans are underway for a special Safe Kids event at the dealership's new location. The dealership is moving from its current downtown location to a spectacular state-of-the-art facility near Southpoint Mall in the next few weeks, and Cromling plans to offer car safety-seat checks and other car safety programs at the new location.

The coalition's work in 2014 was testament to the importance of promoting and raising awareness of keepikg kids safe. Various events were held in Durham County at which 1,600 car seats were checked for proper installation. It was detemrined that 60 seats were installed incorrectly.

The list of Safe Kids Durham County's events for 2015 is long - with emphasis on car safety, water safety, bike safety, firearm safety, pedestrian safety, and the dangers of Hyperthermia. Last year, 52 kids died from hyperthermia in North Carolina.

Safe Kids Durham County was named Coalition of the Year at the 2014 N.C. Safe Kids Conference, beating out 40 other coalitions.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is proud to be associated with such a successful group.

Thank You, Jeff Gordon

Perhaps the biggest advantage that the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall holds over other dealerships is the Hendrick name.

Being part of the Hendrick empire proves positive in maany regards: core values, knowledge, experience, resources, customer focus and the employees themselves.

Hendrick is synonynous with success - be it a car dealership or NASCAR team.

Synonymous with the Hendrick name is Jeff Gordon, perhaps the most fanous name in NASCAR racing since he signed with Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. He has won four NASCAR championships, won the Daytona 500 three times and ranks third in all-time victories.

Gordon has visited the Durham dealership. There are photos of him adorning walls in the showroom, hallways and parts department. There are photos of him on sales desks, posing with sales reps. His car has been on display in the showroom. His likeness has been worn on many hats and T-shirts of customers who have come to the Durham dealership to buy Chevrolets like Gordon drives and owns.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall has benefited from the Gordon-Rick Hendrick relationship in many ways, for many years - parlaying their success and popularity into success for the dealership, which soon will move into a new upscale state-of-the-art facility in the Southpoint area of Durham.

Thursday morning, Gordon announced that he will retire as a full-time driver following the 2015 season that starts next month.

On behalf of the dealership, we say: "Thank you, Jeff." You have helped us thrive in Durham. Congratulations on your career, and good luck in your final season.

For the story of his announcement and what he has meant to Hendrick Motorsports, the Durham dealership, and the sport of auto racing, Click Here.

Buick's Impressive Heritage On Display At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

When you come to the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to browse through or purchase the many beautiful Buicks in its extensive on-site inventory, you can thank a late sewing-machine inventor for his impact on making these vehicles a reality.

In 1899, Adam Opel converted his sewing machine and appliance factory into an automobile works in Russelheim, Germany, where the first Opel automobile was produced on Jan. 21.

Later, in 1902, Opel introduced its first original car, a 2-cylinder runabout.

In the decades that followed, Opel became one of the premier forces in the European automobile industry, modernizing its factories and adopting the continuous-motion assembly line before its European competitors.

Today, Opel is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, produces about a quarter of all German cars and exports heavily to South America and Africa.

The company also was founded on this date, Jan. 21, in 1862, in Rüsselsheim, Hessen, Germany. At the beginning, Opel just produced sewing machines in a cowshed in Rüsselsheim.

In March 1929, General Motors, impressed by Opel's modern production facilities, bought 80 percent of the company, increasing the percentage to 100 in 1931. The Opel family gained $33.3 million from the transaction.

The Opel influence is prevalent in the Buicks of today. Come to Hendrick Durham Auto Mall to see for yourself.

The Buick Regal is a rebadged Opel Insignia.

The Buick Encore is the Buick version of the Opel Mokka.

The Buick Lacrosse is based on a long wheelbase version of the Opel-developed Epsilon II-platform and shares many key components with the Opel Insignia and the Regal.

Buick is in the process of producing its first convertible since the first Bush administration. The 2016 Cascada convertible, which is sold today in Europe as an Opel of the same name, will reach Buick showrooms this year.

Unlike the largely forgotten Buick Reatta convertible, the Cascada is a four-seater and is based on the compact Opel Astra platform.

So, thank you, Adam Opel, for getting out of the sewing-machine business in order to produce the cars of the future.

Understanding, Planning, Adapting

Alvin Toffler is a world-renowned futurist - a strong believer that the awareness of our need to understand, plan and adapt to the future forms the foundation for everything we do.

He is famous for a quote being coined by many of today's businesses and corporations:

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."

Although Toffler first made that statement several years ago, his words appear to be ringing true today more than ever as the country, consumers' habits and lifestyles continue to evolve and change.

Change has been great in the automotive industry, as well as at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall. Our business is moving toward a new level of trust and transparency.

Consumers are more knowledgeable than ever before, with so many more research resources available to them than ever before. Dealerships are forced to be knowledgeable, straightforward and consumer-oriented like never efore.

That movement is fine with Rick Hendrick and his staff at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, which trains and focuses every single day on giving its customers the shopping experience they want.

Among Hendrick's and the dealership's core values are "Commitment to Customer Enthusiasm" and "Commitment To Continuous Improvement."

Whether it's the construction of a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art facility near Durham's Sreets of Southpoint, to which the dealership soon will move its operation, or scouring the Internet and the used-car market to determine accurate and competitive vehicle values, or researching the shopping ways of today's consumers, or taking time to simply ask every vistor what we can do to enhance their experience, or training the sales staff on "Selling the Hendrick Way," everything that's done is done for the benefit of the consumer.

The goal is to ensure our clients' complete satisfaction - "Completely Satisfied" is the only passing score. Anything else is a failiing grade.

In this ever-changing time, it's the right thing to do.

Thank You, Mr. Michelin, For Adding Value To GM, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall Inventory

Thank you, Mr. Michelin - and happy birthday.

On this date 162 years ago - Jan. 16, 1853 - Andre Michelin was born in Paris, France. In 1888, at age 35, he founded with his brother the Michelin Tire Company, which invented the pneumatic tire found today on many vehicles at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Michelin is one of the three largest tire manufacturers in the world, along with Bridgestone and Goodyear. In addition to the Michelin brand, the company also owns the BF Goodrich tire brand.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall sells a complete General Motors product line that includes Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet vehicles. Adding to the value of those brands - all of which enjoyed historic success in 2014 - is the fact that they can be equipped with Michelin tires, considered the premier tire brand in America.

Buick vehicles are known for their luxury, which includes available Michelin tires.

The Michelin company announced two months ago - November of 2014 - that it had plans to open a plant in North America dedicated to the manufacture of airless tires called "Tweels."

A punctured tire can cause a bad, not to mention expensive, day for many vehicle owners and drivers. Michelin's proposed $50 million plant will be used to make the Michelin X Tweel Airless Radial Tire and others for commercial and agricultural applications - a move toward eliminating the possibility of tires that puncture.

Happy Birthday, American Motors Corporation

Say what you want about General Motors vehicles. You cannot say they are unattractive.

Since the days of Bill Mitchell - perhaps America's most famous automobile designer - GM has placed extraordinary emphasis on the design and styling of its product line. You can see that for yourself when you examine and drive the latest and greatest inventory at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Mitchell was responsible for creating or influencing the design of more than 72.5 million automobiles produced by GM, including such landmark vehicles as the 1938 Cadillac Sixty Special, the 1949 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, the 1955-57 Chevrolet Bel Air, the 1963-65 and 1966-67 Buick Riviera, the 1961-76 Corvette Stingray, the 1975-79 Cadillac Seville and the 1970-81 Chevrolet Camaro

Since then, GM's vehicles have continued to get more and more beautiful. Recent redesigns of the Cadillac SRX and Chevrolet Equinox, Malibu and Impala are testament to that, as well as the creation of elegant new products like the GMC Terrain and Buick Encore.

The appealing pricepoints and low-maintenance qualities of GM vehicles have been well-documented reasons that many consumers choose GM vehicles for their purchases and other transportation needs. But the aesthetic qualilty of all the vehicles across all the GM brands has been moving to the top of the appeal meter.

Anyone who believes any GM vehicle is unattractive needs to just remember back to the days of the now-defunct American Motors Corporation.

It is appropriate that we go back there today because it was on this day in history - Jan. 14, 1954 - that the American Motors Corporation was founded. The company was formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company, which at the time was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.

AMC was known for producing such beauties as the Pacer and the Gremlin. Remember those? The nmuber of people who drove those vehicles with pride has got to be small.

If you Google "Ugliest Cars In America," pages and pages of artlcles and lists appear. Prominently featured on most of those lists are the AMC Pacer and AMC Gremlin. Those cars were ugly.

The Pacer has been described as a fishbowl. It was the widest car on the road, with room in the backseat for four people to sit side by side, but also was terribly heavy and slow. It was in production for just five years - between 1975 and 1979 - and its unconventional styling was commonly cited in its lack of success.

The AMC Gremlin, meanwhile, is ranked on many lists of the 50 worst cars of all time by several measures. But you will be hard-pressed to find an uglier vehicle. It was manufactured for just eight years, from 1970-1978, at the same Kenosha, Wisconsin, plant that rolled out the Pacer.

Unlike the Pacer, the Gremlin today has a following among old car hobbyists and collectors of historic vehicles. In some cases, the Gremlin enjoys a cult-like following in today's collectible car market.

Perhaps we can credit the founding of the American Motors Corporation 61 years ago today for influencing and adding to the beauty of today's vehicle designs and styles. Certainly GM engineers have taken note and used the many years since to tweak and add to the beauty of Cadillacs, Buicks, GMCs and Chevrolets.

We should all be thankful for that.

Market-Based Pricing Makes Shopping Pleasant At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

As important as selling vehicles to the sales team at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is providing a pleasant straightforward experience for its many customers.

As part of sending that message to the staff, when they notice a visitor to the showroom, managers often ask the sales consultants: "Why is that person here?"

The correct answer is not "to purchase a vehicle."

The correct answer is that would-be buyers come to the dealership to validate and verify the research they have done.

By knowing that, the sales staff at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is better equipped to provide their customers with a pleasant straightforwad experience.

By aligning its sales process and research with its customers' process and research, the dealership is more successful and enjoyable.

The dealership uses the same protocol to set its online prices, compare its prices and set itself apart in the market as the customers do. So, we can truly say we are here for them.

The experience begins with three objectives regarding online inventory:

1. Provide the customer all of the information we can about each vehicle, including pictures, video and a full description with all important details.

2. A competitive market-based price based on the vehicle's year, make, model, miles, equipment and condition so that the customer does not have to come and waste time negotiating. We price our cars using the same information on the Internet that our customers use and then price it to be competitive.

3. Our commitment to total customer satisfaction.

At Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, we use a comprehensive technology system to competitively shop and then price our vehicles before they go on the lot for sale.

Market-based pricing is pricing determined by the consumer. It is the price that we find in the marketplace that a consumer will pay for a vehicle. It is typically one of the lowest, if not the lowest price on a particular car.

We use a tool that allows us to search all listings of similar vehicles in a given radius. We price our cars, regardless of what we own them for, around the lowest price we find, if not lower.

The main benefit of Market-Based Pricing is that it saves time. It also takes away the back-and-forth people are accustomed to in the car buying process. Upfront and transparent pricing is what everybody seems to desire today, no matter what they are buying.

Finally, we recondition the cars to Hendrick standards. And because we aren't using artificial markups to create big discoounts, our customers have found us easy to work with.

So, there you have it - pleasant and straightforward.

Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

2015 Vehicle Sales Could Increase To 17 Million

From www.media.gm.com

DETROIT – General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra said last week that the company expects light vehicle sales in the United States to reach a range of 16.5 million to 17 million units in 2015.

The last time industry sales reached 17 million units was in 2001. The industry delivered 16.5 million light vehicles last year.

"The U.S. economy and vehicle sales have been rebounding since 2009, and we believe there is still plenty of room for the auto industry to grow," Barra said. "The strength of the labor market, better job security and the recovery in home prices have consumers feeling pretty good about the future, so we expect people will continue to replace their older cars and trucks. The recent sharp drop in fuel prices and rising incomes should only add to their confidence.

"The most important change we see coming is the return of younger and first-time buyers to the market."

Reportedly, the largest number of expected vehicle consumers in 2015 will be Millenials - the demographic cohort following Generation X.

There are no precise dates when the "Millenial" generation starts and ends. Researchers and commentators use birth years ranging from the early 1980s to the early 2000s.

Strong real GDP growth is expected to create new job opportunities in 2015 – as many as 200,000 new jobs per month. That should drive higher labor force participation and better job prospects for recent college graduates.

Third party studies reinforce this view, including the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which said in its Job Outlook 2015 report that employers plan to hire 8.3 percent more new college graduates from the Class of 2015 for their U.S. operations than they did from the Class of 2014.

"A growing jobs market and new vehicles that exceed expectations for fuel economy and high technology are the best ways to rekindle the love affair America’s youth have historically had with cars and trucks,"Barra said.

Barra said Chevrolet is particularly well positioned to attract new customers in 2015 since it has reentered the mid-size pickup segment with the Colorado and launched seven small cars and crossovers in the last four years.

These include the Spark, Sonic and Cruze, which all posted their best annual sales in 2014, as well as the Trax, which began arriving in showrooms in December.

The Trax is a small SUV that offers seating for five with available all-wheel drive and EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 32 mpg on the highway. It also offers an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and Siri Eyes Free control of the audio system with compatible smart phones.

The emerging small-SUV segment in the United States is estimated to grow more than 80 percent in the next few years. Trax is on sale in 67 global markets, where it has generated approximately 188,000 sales since its 2012 introduction.

Elvis, Basketball, and the all-new Canyon

Eighty years ago today - Jan. 8, 1935 - Elvis Presley was born. The impact his life and music have had on American culture is remarkable.

Sixty yeaars ago today - Jan. 8, 1955 - WUNC-TV, Channel 4 in Chapel Hill, signed on the air as North Carolina’s first "educational station" with opening-night programming that featured a telecast of the freshman and varsity basketball games between North Carolina and Wake Forest. Who could have predicted the influential public television network that station has become?

On the same night that WUNC went on the air for the first time, the Furman basketball team set the NCAA record for most points scored in a game (154), and the Georgia Tech basketball team ended Kentucky's 10-year, 130-game home winning streak.

Those are events that many people in the Triangle area of North Carolina remember and talk about today. Elvis remains many people's favorite performer. WUNC is many people's favorite TV station and UNC their favorite basketball team.

But today - Jan. 8, 2015 - General Motors has joined the conversation of people's favorite things and the relevance of today's date. Next year at this time, people may be driving to basketball games and listening to Elvis songs in their new favorite truck.

General Motors today introduced the 2015 Canyon Nightfall Edition – a stylized, blacked-out edition of the brand's all-new premium midsize truck that blends a dramatic appearance with popular features and accessories.

The Canyon Nightfall Edition will be offered on SLE crew-cab models, either 2WD or 4WD, in Onyx Black and available in the first quarter of 2015. In addition to standard equipment on the SLE, the Canyon Nightfall Edition will include:

*Unique black grille

*Black assist steps

*Factory spray-in bedliner

*18-inch multi-spoke aluminum wheels with Dark Argent painted inserts

*Polished exhaust tip

*Automatic climate control

*Remote start

Said Duncan Aldred, vice president of GMC Sales and Marketing, in a press release: “The new Canyon Nightfall Edition expands the Canyon lineup and gives style-conscious customers another choice. Importantly, customers get the great looks of the Canyon Nightfall Edition and its unique content at a greater value than ordering the features separately."

The distinctive appearance of the Canyon Nightfall Edition reflects customer preferences for personalization and features that support different lifestyle interests. More than 40 percent of the initial orders for Canyon include at least one selection from the comprehensive collection of accessories GMC developed for the truck. The Canyon accessories portfolio includes the available GearOn™ system for optimal cargo management, as well as bed protection, styling enhancements and trailering components.

"The Canyon is a lifestyle enabler," Aldred said. "Its accessories lineup matches lifestyles of all types."

According to the General Motors Web site, additional standard content on the Canyon Nightfall Edition will include:

*Rear-vision camera

*Eight-inch-diagonal Color Touch radio with GMC IntelliLink

*OnStar with 4G LTE and its standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot (includes three-month/3GB data trial, whichever comes first)

*Two USB ports for charging located on the rear of the center console in addition another USB port inside the console

*Multi-color driver information center display

*Soft-touch instrument panel with aluminum trim

*Auto-dimming inside rearview mirror

*Remote keyless entry

*Tilting and telescoping steering column

*Leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls

*SiriusXM satellite radio (includes three-month trial)

*Automatic locking rear differential (4WD models)

*17-inch aluminum wheels

Canyon was named Autoweek’s Best of the Best truck for 2015. It offers the segment’s best horsepower and EPA-estimated fuel economy: 200 horsepower (149 kW) and 27 mpg highway (2WD) from a standard 2.5L I-4; and 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 26 mpg (2WD) from an available 3.6L V-6. The V-6 engine enables a segment-leading 7,000-pound trailering rating.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902. But the excitement and appeal of its trucks has been renwewed and invigorated by today's exciting announcement.

Elvis would be proud.

Ingenuity Helps Improved Sales Numbers For GM, Hendrick Durham Auto Mall

A higher level of ingenuity at General Motors has contributed to a higher level of sales of GM vehicles, perhaps setting the stage for a record-seting 2015 for America's top automaker and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

General Motors and its dealerships nationwide, which includes the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, enjoyed their best December for sales in seven years last month.

An item commonly found on an infant’s changing table contributed to that result.

The baby diaper helped GM engineers simulate snow year-round, ensuring that heating systems in cars like the 2015 Chevrolet Cruze can warm their interiors quickly and efficiently.

Packed snow can prevent air from entering the inlet panel at the bottom of the windshield, obstructing the flow of air into the heating system and reducing the amount of air it can push out. This can lead to less-efficient warming of the car’s interior and windshield defrosting.

"The last thing anyone wants to do when it’s freezing cold out is scrape their windshield," said Nicholas Jahn, GM Vehicle Thermal Systems engineer. "The testing we perform on the Chevrolet Cruze with the diaper material allows us to maximize the car's heating capabilities."

According to a news release from General Motors, Jahn stumbled upon his diaper-based testing method in the middle of summer, during a swim with his daughter. He noticed that when her diaper came into contact with water, it multiplied in size.

Turns out that sodium polyacrylate – the absorbent material found in diapers – starts as a powder but turns into a snow-like substance when saturated.

In Jahn’s test, according to the GM news release, he sprinkled the reusable snow onto the air inlet vents along the bottom of the Cruze's windshield, then started the car and let it idle. After a few minutes, he removed the inlet panel and inspected how much "snow" was sucked into the system and how much of the intake vents remained blocked.

Before discovering the material, Jahn had to rely on Mother Nature to provide snow, or find a schedule opening at one of GM’s state-of-the-art climatic wind tunnels. Just submerging a diaper in water solved that dilemma.

A more efficient heating system is particularly important and beneficial for those who use the OnStar Remote Key Fob services, which allow drivers to remotely start their car from anywhere with a cellular connection. As part of the OnStar Basic Plan, Remote Key Fob services - remote start, lock, unlock and activate horn and lights – is free for five years on all new, properly equipped GM vehicles.

The benefits of Onstar as well as sales of the heat-efficient Cruze helped GM dealers nationwide record retail sales figures last month that were up 23 percent compared to December of 2013.

The Cruze was among seven GM vehicles - along with the Chevy Equinox, Sonic and Spark, the GMC Terrain, and the Buick Enclave and Encore – that posted their best annual sales total in 2014.

GM’s unique three-pickup strategy – with new models spanning the light-duty, heavy-duty and mid-size segments – drove combined deliveries to a 43-percent increase over December of 2013. It marked the best December for the Silverado since 2005.

Five GM vehicles – the Chevrolet Corvette and Spark, the Buick Enclave and Encore, and the GMC Sierra – had their highest December sales in history.

Chevrolet, Buick and GMC retail deliveries were up 25 percent, 28 percent and 29 percent, respectively, compared with a 10 percent increase for the industry as a whole.

Chevrolet had its best December retail sales since 2005. Buick and GMC, meanwhile had their best December retail sales result since 2004.

Every Buick car and crossover posted a sales increase, with the largest gains posted by the Enclave, up 53 percent, for its best month in history.

All that leads to 2015, in which General Motors and the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall expect to continue to upward trend of sales.

In Durham, a brand-new, state-of-the art facility in a new location across the street from the Streets of Southpoint - among the busiest retail shopping malls in the Southeast - continued ingenuity and product development by GM engineers, improved inventory and a favorable economy all combine to present much excitement and expectation for the new year.

Why Not Hendrick Durham Auto Mall?

When Miami Heat team president Pat Riley was asked how confident he was that superstars Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James all would choose to play together in Miami as they faced free-agency together in 2010 and give the Heat a "Big Three" of skill and experience that would be almost too good to be true, he replied that he was very confident they would all come.

And then he said: "Why would they not?"

The same question can be used to answer why someone would want to buy or service a vehicle from the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall.

Why would they not?

Lower prices, a greater selection of and access to vehicles, and superior customer service are just three of many reasons.

The Hendrick brand and resources also factor into our favor. But the individual employees on our staff make the real difference.

They work here, at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, and no other dealership. So, if you buy or service a car at any other dealership, you miss out on an experience that only our epmployees here in Durham can provide.

So, again: why would you not come here?

Try it once, and see how you like it.

You'll find knowledge, experience, courtesy, respect..

...and even popcorn!

We'll be operating at our current downtown location on Roxboro Street, across from the Durham Bulls stadium and Durham Performing Arts Center, for about seven (7) more weeks - til the end of February, 2015.

Beginning in March, we will be doing business at a brand-new, state-of-the art facility across the street from the Streets at Southpoint with plans of being the nicest, friendliest, largest and best auto mall in North Carolina.

We're doing it for you because you deserve the best.

So, the next time you're asked why someone would not buy or service a vehicle at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, you will know the answer:

Why would they not?

Remembering Floyd McKissick

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall believes in promoting and supporting the community in which it works. The dealership wants all of Durham and its citizens to prosper and succeeed.

Knowing that success and achievement can be hard to maintain, the dealership likes to recognize those of its community who have made a positive impact and inspired others with their achievements.

So, today, the dealership recognizes and celebrates the significant contributions of Floyd McKissick, Sr.

McKissick, a longtime resident of Durham before he died in 1991, was perhaps best known as the first African-American student at the UNC-Chapel Hill Law School. He started his own law firm in Durham in 1955

McKissick's greatest impact may have come during his time with CORE - the Congress for Racial Equality. It was on this date 49 years ago - Jan. 3, 1966 - that he became the leader of CORE. Shortly after that, McKissick joined with Martn Luther King, Jr., amd Stokely Carmichael in leading a group of civil-rights demonstrators on a 194-mile walk from Memphis, Tenn., to Jackson, Mississipi.

The father of politician and attorney Floyd McKissick, Jr., McKissick died of lung cancer at the age of 69 on April 28, 1991.

Sharing Significant Automotive News On Historically Significant Date

Today's date, Jan. 2, is a significant date in American history. Many events happened on this date over the years that have had much social and societal impact.

It seems fitting that we take today to tell you about significant news regarding General Motors and Hendrick Durham Auto Mall and the vehicles they build and sell. Perhaps the information will have a positive impact on you as you enter 2015 with your transportation needs in mind.

First, a look back:

Jan. 2, 1945 - The University of Kentucky men's basketball team started an incredible 130-game home-game winning streak that stretched all the way into 1955.

Jan. 2, 1960 - John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the Presidency.

Jan. 2, 1965 - The New York Jets of the National Football League signed Joe Namath out of the University of Alabama to be their quarterback. He later famously guaranteed victory in his first Super Bowl appearance and delivered on the promise.

Jan. 2, 1974 - President Nixon signed into law the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at a fuel-efficient speed and curb the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. But people showed they preferred driving fast to conserving fuel, and Congress repealed the act in November of 1985.

Jan. 2, 1990 - Alan Hale, Sr., who played "Skipper" on the popular sitcom "Gilligan's Island," died of cancer at the age of 71.

That brings us to today, when we share with you the announcement of several significant GM awards in the realm of safety and value.

Spark, Volt, Equinox Top Safety Picks

The 2015 Chevrolet Spark, Volt, Malibu and Equinox have been named 2015 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Picks.

The designation goes to models that achieve an acceptable rating in the challenging small overlap front test – introduced in 2012 – and a good rating in each of the Institute’s four other crashworthiness evaluations: moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.

IIHS is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by auto insurers. For 2015, the number of models earning the Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ awards rose from 39 to 71 compared to a year ago.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the world's largest car brands, selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year.

The Hendrick Durham Auto Mall sold an average of about 52 Chevrolets a month in 2014, with the Equinox leading the way. Sales of the Equinox continue to grow year over year becauuse of its value and safety.

Canyon Named Top Truck For 2015

GMC Canyon has been named Autoweek’s best truck for 2015. Editors praised the all-new premium midsize truck for its design, utility, features and "perfect size."

Autoweek’s annual Best of the Best awards are based on the evaluations of eight vehicle finalists selected for their performance, design, build quality, value and significance. A three-day test session at Michigan International Speedway by the editors determined the awards, which include one car and one truck.

"Of the hundreds of vehicles Autoweek tests each year, only a relative few truly stand out from the rest," said Autoweek editor Wes Raynal. "The GMC Canyon is not only one of the best new vehicles on the market, it’s one of the most important, signaling an exciting return to the mid-sized truck segment."

Canyon, on sale now at the Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, starts at $21,880. It comes in three trim levels, Base, SLE and SLT, with extended cab and crew cab body styles.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902. The brand has evolved to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover

Barra Named Forbes' 'Crisis Manager Of Year'

Fortune Magazine has named GM CEO Mary Barra "Crisis Manager of the Year."

Barra took over GM in January of 2013 with celebrity-like media coverage, ranging from lifestyle magazines to auto tabloids.

"Over the past year Barra has presided over perhaps the most challenging time in the automaker's 106-year history," Fortune’s Ben Geier wrote about why Barra is Crisis Manager of the Year.

Barra was announced as Dan Akerson’s successor last December. She started as CEO on Jan. 15. Prior to leading the company, she was executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, and held several other executive, engineering and staff positions.