Most dealers assume that when it comes time to retire from the dealer owner-operator position you will be able to designate a family member as your replacement. Increasingly, the manufacturers are refusing to honor a dealer’s designated replacement. These manufacturers, General Motors being one...

Almost all OEMs send periodic letters to their franchisees summarizing dealerships’ past sales and customer satisfaction performance. Depending on the manufacturer, these letters will often include notations regarding prior meetings with a dealer or discuss action items a dealer has stated it...