Audi dealers held a virtual make meeting during the NADA Show — without the make.
The Audi National Dealer Advisory Council had invited the premium brand's leadership to brief retailers on its plans for the U.S. However, Audi of America President Daniel Weissland told Automotive News last week that the brand met virtually with U.S. dealers the previous week, and planned two more meetings this year.
Primm: Push for EV transparency
Still, the meeting hosted by newly elected council chairman Don Flow and council member Michelle Primm gave dealers a deeper look at the last two dealer attitude surveys. Flow also detailed his plans to boost transparency, Primm said.
"We told them some strong results from the summer [survey], the total participation rates for the winter one, which were high, and we told them that hopefully we'll be presenting those numbers to Audi in March," Primm said.
Flow, CEO of Flow Automotive Cos. based in Winston-Salem, N.C., told Automotive News that he wants to refocus factory-dealer relations through a customer-centric lens, and revamp the council to tackle nagging issues over a longer term.
Primm, managing partner of Cascade Auto Group in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, said she supports the transparency push, especially regarding battery electric vehicles.
"There's a difference between buying an EV and actually owning an EV, and we need to be transparent with our customers about charging networks, and the true cost of owning an EV, and the true range issues. And if we aren't transparent about all that, the customers aren't going to trust us," Primm said.
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