yeah, I don't know why it hasn't been tried. At least unions get to negotiate. On one hand, fuck scalping resellers, on the other, prompt servicing when SHTF is part of the buyer experience and OE's reputation. The big 3 could attempt a new offshoot brand to do direct sales (think scion, acura, lexus, saturn) for EV's only and do direct that way though don't understand why it'd be necessary. Tesla's doing it and their IQS are average but people are still buying despite lack of service centers. I think folk put up w/a lot of shit for "exclusivity", like a hot shitty gf.
Manufacturers are looking at those options. Tesla doesn’t earn on service whereas ICE manufacturers do.
Posted this yesterday but in wrong topic: + + + Buy a Toyota anywhere in the U.S. and Toyota, Japan, wholly owned Toyota America and the dealer get a piece ................ except in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and here in Florida - you have to include Southeast Toyota (wholly owned by World Omni Financial Corp) and exclude Toyota America. As far as I know the only privately wholly owned distribution company that is in between the manufacturer and dealer that is not owned, even partially, by the manufacturer.
I honestly don't think there's a lot of money there. Parts are often light margin (exceptions exist), tools and training is just a part of familiarizing techs to proprietary systems and making it easier/more efficient....customer satisfaction IOW.
the few spares I had to order factory direct weren't that much higher than MSRP...I'll admit purchasing and dealing w/suppliers wasn't my thing but do wonder how much overhead from inventorying, packaging, storage, etc.. as opposed to "just in time" line assembly there is. I know the germans do like to gouge. Do you remember where you got that 3x figure?
%% LOL, well maybe because + he actually admitted it; \trimming that stock position. That is remarkable, he found away to figure out a way to say its worth more than Mercedes. Good timing, with chicom balloons shot down + tic-tok ruined, in USa they need all the ads they can get I've got a yellow chicom made crowbar, amazing price for the quality; sorry to say its not worth more than Mercedes, not today anyway