Industry News
In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.
Associations
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
Canadian Associations
- New Car Dealers Association of BC | A provincial industry association representing over 400 new car and truck franchised dealers throughout British Columbia.
- Automotive Retailers Association of BC (ARA) | The ARA was formed in 1951 to provide a collective voice for the Automotive Service Industry in British Columbia.
- National Automotive Trades Association (NATA) | A organization focused on advocacy, education, and information for the Canadian automotive professional
- Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) | The CADA is the national association for franchised automobile and truck dealerships that sell new cars and trucks in Canada.
- Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA) | A national, volunteer federation bringing together regional and provincial retail RV dealers across Canada.
International Associations
- National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) | NADA represents over 17,000 American new car dealers and is the national voice of the US auto sales industry.
- North American Automotive Trade Association (NAATA) | The North American Automobile Trade Association (NAATA) started in 1996, to represent the interests of vehicle dealers who imported and exported motor vehicles across international borders.
Magazines & Trade Journals
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for business planning. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
- Autosphere | A monthly magazine funded by the Government of Canada focused on B2B automotive communications.
- Canadian Auto Dealer | A digital magazine with a wide variety of news, trends, and opinions from Canadian automotive dealers.
- Auto Success Magazine | “The No. 1 sales-improvement source for the automotive professionals” released digitally once a month.
- Used Car Dealer Magazine | The official publication of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, included with NAIDA membership or available for purchase.
Consultant & Other Websites
- DesRosiers Automotive Consultants | “The only consulting and market research company in Canada that works exclusively in the automotive sector.”
- Alderson Consulting | Offers training and events services to improve dealership sales. Check out the client testimonial page.
- 360 Agency | A Montreal-based company focused on digital dealership solutions
- J.D. Power Canada Automotive Retail Consulting | A globally-known leader in advisory services offering a wide range of automotive retail solutions.
MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.
PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.
Firsthand | A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.
Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre | This free resource created by the Vancouver Public Library is an online and in-person resource that helps newcomers to Canada find information to get a job, explore different careers or start a business.
Blogs & Discussion Forums
- Car Dealership Guy Podcast | A weekly podcast featuring interviews with leaders in the automotive retail industry. For shorter clips from the full-sized podcast, check out Car Dealership Guy Bites.
- Used Car Dealer Podcast | Offers monthly insights and interviews exclusively focused on used car dealerships.
- The Dealer Playbook | Host Michael Cirillio partners with industry experts to help automotive dealers improve their car sales and bottom line.
- Auto Dealer Live Podcast | A podcast for automotive dealers and with an extensive backlog spanning from 2012 to 2023.
- The Automotive Troublemaker | A podcast for progressive automotive dealers who “aren’t afraid to make some trouble by pushing back on many popular, but failing, beliefs that persist in the Retail Automotive Industry.”
TIP: As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.