Auto Business Outlook: Specials Magazine

Automotive supply chains are rarely predictable. Weather delays, port congestion, regulatory changes, or sudden volume spikes can disrupt production and delay dealership deliveries. Each delay sends ripples through the entire network. OEMs face this pressure daily and need more than just a service provider—they need a flexible, fast-moving partner who understands every link in the chain and can adapt in real time to keep vehicles moving without interruption. Amports steps in as more than a logistics provider—assuming full care and custody of every vehicle the moment it arrives, treating each one as its own, and guiding it through every phase until delivery. The company processes, stores, and transports vehicles for major OEMs across North America. It inspects, accessorizes, and prepares vehicles arriving by ship, truck, or rail, ensuring that each one reaches the dealership in perfect condition. Every vehicle undergoes a full inspection. If the automaker requests additional services such as accessory installation or minor bodywork, the vehicle is routed to the appropriate facility. Cars are stored securely until cleared for delivery, then transported via coordinated truck or rail solutions. “We provide detailed data tracking, so manufacturers know where every vehicle stands in real time,” says Vee Kachroo, CEO. Amports’ operations span 13 strategically located facilities across the U.S. and Mexico, all with direct access to highways and rail. The company is certified to perform technical services for manufacturers like GM, VW, and Stellantis, and is trusted to do so at scale. With over 1,500 acres of operational space, Amports can absorb shipment surges, buffer against port disruptions, and hold inventory when vehicles are rerouted or delayed. The company has also expanded into adjacent services such as intermodal logistics and stevedoring, assuming greater responsibility within the supply chain so OEMs don’t have to manage multiple vendors. A standout example is Amports’ heat treatment program for vehicles bound for Australia and New Zealand. These countries have strict biosecurity laws prohibiting the entry of seeds, insects, or organic debris. Amports heat-treats vehicles to kill potential contaminants, vacuums underneath, and inspects every panel to ensure compliance. This helps automakers avoid costly delays or rejections upon arrival.

Top Auto Repair Service 2025

In-house repair and reprogramming services under one roof are a true advantage in the automotive care space. It eliminates the hassle of coordinating with multiple dealers and makes the process easier for drivers and fleet operators. Premier Car Care Center is a family-owned business bringing garage-born finesse to auto and fleet repair services. With 25 years of experience under its belt and two centers in Odessa, Texas, it specializes in handling every make and model—American, European or Asian—with the same level of expertise. Premier Car Care offers high-quality, full repair services for light and medium-duty trucks. From brake systems and electrical work to diesel diagnostics, underhood components and A/C service with newer refrigerant types, the team delivers dealer-level capability without the extra stop. Using advanced diagnostics and OEM equipment, its certified technicians handle even the most complex systems on-site. Digital inspections enhance the service experience by giving customers a visual record of the vehicle’s condition, complete with technician notes and photos for full transparency. With all the details presented, customers can better understand the issue and decide when to proceed with repairs. “We always try to go above and beyond to take care of our customers, making sure their experience is as seamless and stress-free as possible. We explain everything in a way they can understand and take time to answer any questions or concerns,” says Walter Donham, partner. Whether it’s a family vehicle or part of a commercial fleet, every client receives the same attentive service. Every service is backed by a 24-month or 24,000-mile warranty. Premier Car Care Center also offers after-hours drop-off, helping drivers and business owners manage maintenance and repairs without disrupting their day. Many clients from across West Texas, including those in Midland, drive in specifically for the consistent quality delivered through quick turnarounds, transparent communication and a genuine willingness to help when needed. Premier Car Care Center understands that vehicles are a significant investment for people, and they deserve to know it’s in good hands. As a result, clear communication is central to its operations. The company focuses on fixing the problem and ensures people understand the work, trust the process and feel cared for at every step..

Dealership Authentication Platform 2025

A customer’s journey from being a showroom visitor to a vehicle owner hinges primarily on their experience across different stages of the sales funnel. One way automotive dealers can reinforce positive customer experiences is by preemptively obtaining their credit and identity credentials in a secure and compliant manner to assess their creditworthiness early on. This translates into accelerated loan approvals, enhanced transaction efficiency, and improved sales closures. Identifying this, 700Credit, a leader in the credit service industry, strategically brings pivotal customer insights, including consumers’ credit scores and identity verification to automotive dealerships in the early stages of the sales process. Its solutions provide dealers access to customer information necessary to make the right funding decisions before initiating transactions, while closely monitoring compliance. 700Credit is the largest provider of credit reports, compliance solutions, soft pull products and identity verification & fraud detection solutions to automotive, RV, marine, and power sports dealers. Its growth is anchored in industry partnerships, with integrations extending to over 200 providers in the automotive space. “We integrate seamlessly into dealer native systems, expediting sales and compliance processes for smoother, quicker, and more effective operations,” says Ken Hill, managing director of 700Credit. Defying the Odds with Innovative Solutions With two decades of deep industry knowledge, 700Credit foresaw the shift toward prequalification—the ability to foretell an individual’s creditworthiness—in the industry and proactively offered innovative solutions to support this growing trend. One such innovation is the integration of the soft pull prequalification feature into dealership website and sales processes. Whether seamlessly incorporated into a dealership’s digital retailing solution or featured as a standalone prequalification application on the website, the integration allows potential car buyers to check their creditworthiness by providing basic demographic information, without impacting their credit score. The prequalification feature on the dealer’s website provides precise payment estimates at the beginning of the sales journey, attracting consumers browsing the site to make purchase decisions faster. Meanwhile the dealership gains valuable insights into the consumer’s credit score and existing loan balances even before the initial conversation, empowering them to make effective offers earlier in the sales process. In a notable instance, a dealership group with over 200 stores adopted 700Credit’s prequalification platform. The client reported a threefold increase in the call center’s size to handle the volume of leads generated through the websites post the platform’s implementation. Amid increased number of leads, dealers face a rising threat of fraud from customers as well as due to non-adherence to compliance. This requires them to take measures to prevent consumer-initiated fraud, such as identity forgery, while simultaneously adhering to the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines for consumer protection. 700Credit’s QuickScan solution covers the blind spots in the digital retail processes for both consumers and dealerships. It allows clients to electronically capture their documents, store them in a secure environment, and run them through powerful likeness detection, identity verification, and synthetic ID fraud tools. This dual-purpose approach tackles fraud at the inception of the sales process while ensuring compliance with FTC regulations. Understanding the solution’s benefits, a dealership group planned to implement 700Credit’s driver’s license verification tools across their 60 stores over 3 to 4 months. The platform’s efficacy became evident on the first day of implementation in the initial store, where an attempt of fraud was successfully identified and prevented. The immediate impact led the group to accelerate the rollout plan, which 700Credit achieved within a week. Apart from these solutions, the company provides a diverse range of products including income & employment verification and compliance consulting, to simplify the journey.

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EDITORIAL

Building Resilience in Automotive Logistics

Port logistics has become a strategic cornerstone of the automotive industry, quietly enabling global production, responding to disruption and aligning operational execution with business goals. In today’s rapidly shifting landscape marked by semiconductor shortages, volatile fuel prices and mounting sustainability demands, the automotive industry is rethinking the very foundations of how it moves, stores and delivers. What was once considered operational excellence, like just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, now exposes automakers to significant vulnerabilities. From COVID-19’s lingering supply chain ripple effects to geopolitical instability and labor shortages, the pressures on port logistics have intensified. At the same time, rising expectations for emissions compliance and ESG transparency are reshaping how companies design and manage their supply chains. Yet amid this complexity, the industry is responding with innovation. Enhanced visibility and real-time connectivity are becoming critical to manage global operations with agility and precision. Digital transformation is accelerating across logistics networks to streamline and connect, leveraging real-time shipment tracking, predictive analytics and AI-driven warehousing. Automakers are diversifying their supplier base and nearshoring operations to markets like the U.S. and Mexico to reduce dependency on distant sources. Sustainability, once a long-term goal, is now a daily priority with growing investment in electric trucks, autonomous delivery vehicles, green infrastructure and blockchain-secured traceability. This edition explores how the automotive sector is navigating the shifting currents of port logistics. From operational innovation to human centered technology design, we examine how forward-thinking leaders are driving meaningful change. We feature insights from Adam Van Asten, Director of Direct Material Procurement at Clarios and Monte Heisler, Director of Manufacturing Quality at North American Stamping Group. Their experiences highlight how companies are balancing cost, complexity and customer expectations to build the next generation of logistics strategies. As logistics becomes both a competitive advantage and a strategic imperative, we hope this edition provides the perspective and tools needed to rethink systems, align stakeholders and steer toward a more adaptive, efficient, and sustainable future.