Car salesmen in the US earn incomes ranging from $10,023 to $234,892, with a median pay of $42,645 each year. Car salesmen earn an average salary of $42,646 to $106,677, with the top 86 percent earning $234,892.
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Is it worth it to work as a car salesman?
Car salespeople have a wide variety of earning possibilities; according to PayScale, salaries can range from $19,000 to $84,000, with an average yearly salary of little under $40,000. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that through 2026, the growth of sales employment would be slower than normal. With an expected increase in online and internet sales, growth in the sales sector is predicted to be in the 3% area.
Tip
To take advantage of consumers’ increased interest in making purchases online, some auto dealerships are gradually expanding their online sales departments.
Does selling cars make a good career?
Nobody knows this better than someone in the automotive industry how difficult it may be to change one’s reputation. Some people still picture long hours and difficult conversations when they consider a job in auto sales, despite the significant changes to our industry and dealership culture.
But compared to earlier times, the automobile retail sector has undergone significant change. Job seekers now have a variety of intriguing new opportunities.
As a result, many dealerships now place a higher value on computer and communication skills than on the conventional hard closing methods that auto salespeople are known for. Dealers have started hiring people with good interpersonal skills and a talent for relationship building as a result of the need to create more individualized purchasing experiences.
According to an Epsilon study, 80% of consumers stated they were more likely to do business with companies that offer higher personalisation, and 90% of consumers considered customised purchasing experiences desirable.
Auto dealerships around the nation have made accommodating these changing preferences a key focus, especially those that want to achieve sales targets while nurturing client loyalty. Many auto dealers are examining their employment processes more carefully and emphasizing customer service and interpersonal skills in order to stay flexible.
This practical book offers everything you need to advance your career in vehicle sales, whether you’re interested in the field or are just seeking for career guidance.
Why become an auto salesperson?
A career in auto retailing has considerable value and long-term viability, and working in the auto industry can be both gratifying and hard.
One of the main advantages of selling vehicles is the potential for commissions, which, based on statistics gathered by the National Automobile Dealers Association, can average up to 25% of front-end profits every sale. Even though commission-based pay is starting to become less popular, many dealerships still use it to make sure their top salesmen are adequately compensated.
Being an auto retailer requires a thorough grasp of consumer demands and the ability to suggest particular goods or services in line with those needs.
Successful automobile salesmen are eager to learn more about various makes and models, vehicle features, F&I options, and the overall sales management process. They love this challenge. As a result, motivated people who want to take control of their careers and professional development are a good fit for this position.
Consumers still choose in-person car purchases over online ones, despite the recent transition to e-commerce. According to a 2019 Automotive News article regarding the shift in car buying habits from in-person to online, 75% of polled car customers would not want to purchase a vehicle without the assistance of a dealer, and roughly 81 percent of respondents trust the information they receive from dealerships. Given this, there won’t likely be a sudden decline in the demand for competent and approachable sales agents. But what specific job advice for car salespeople will assist you in achieving your objectives?
Building a car sales career
In order to increase fixed operations purchases and secure new car sales, modern dealerships rely on the automotive expertise, interpersonal skills, and selling prowess of their team. Even though each dealership operates in a unique way, you can expect most of them to have roles for auto sellers that have comparable job descriptions. The majority of automobile salesperson roles, according to job statistics provided by Glassdoor, entail the following duties:
- generating sales leads through interactions with customers
- Calling, emailing, or texting prospective customers to follow up with them
- addressing client inquiries on the sales floor and the automobile lot
- interviewing prospective automobile buyers to determine their needs and resources
- coordinating during talks with the sales and F&I managers
- coordinating and taking part in test drives
Being a vehicle salesperson typically doesn’t require a college degree or a long work history, in contrast to other professions. Without any prior sales experience, many effective auto salespeople begin their careers right out of high school and are able to make a good income. Naturally, there are particular qualities, abilities, and talents that enable vehicle sellers to succeed in both entry-level and mid-career positions. Therefore, think carefully about what makes car salespeople useful to their dealership and what qualities you possess that match those needs before applying for an open position or pursuing a promotion.
Communication skills
The ability to connect effectively with clients from various age, cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds is the most essential requirement for a career in vehicle sales. You’ll meet folks from various walks of life and with very different car-buying demands while working at a dealership. You must first comprehend what customers want, what they value, and what they can afford in order to fully meet and surpass their expectations.
Remember that automobile buyers are also humans, and many of them have spent countless hours online evaluating the features and costs of various vehicles. In fact, a 2019 Cox Automotive study revealed that the typical consumer invests more than 13 hours in their vehicle buying research. Your responsibility as a car salesperson is to respect the time and thought that consumers put into their choices and to assist them in getting to the point of purchase. Additionally, even while price negotiations are less stressful now than they formerly were, you might still have to engage in some challenging sales interactions that call for both candor and sensitivity.
Interpersonal abilities
The capacity to develop lasting relationships with customers that go beyond the sales floor is another essential car-selling talent. This is due to the fact that for the majority of auto dealers, fixed operations like maintenance plans and insurance packages are key profit generators. Even though you might be thrilled to close a purchase, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for F&I upsell chances that will both the customer and the dealership.
Auto salespeople will increasingly rely on their interpersonal abilities to build long-lasting client loyalty as the need for individualized shopping experiences rises. 54 percent of auto buyers, according to Limelight research, are willing to pay more for a better purchasing experience. Offering rewards programs and other incentives is an example of this. However, consumers rely on skilled salespeople they can trust during their path from buyers to lifelong customers, regardless of the exceptional discounts a dealership may tout.
Self-motivation
Although buying and selling cars isn’t as labor-intensive as it formerly was, a profession in automotive sales may nonetheless involve long hours and demanding duties. The typical work week for auto salespeople is 40 hours, with many opportunities for overtime. However, vehicle salespeople who are primarily compensated through commissions put in significantly more overtime.
Meeting monthly quotas can also be a source of conflict for staff members because dealerships depend on them to keep the inventory of vehicles moving. These conditions can help self-starters earn more in commissions and get a lot of knowledge about the sales management process. As new technologies continue to affect consumers’ purchasing decisions, on-the-job training and professional growth are essential for a successful career in vehicle sales. Selling automobiles can be the ideal career choice if you’re driven to continuously enhance your skill set and automotive knowledge.
How to kickstart your career in auto sales
The greatest way to enhance your profession, whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience selling cars, is to learn more about effective selling methods, relationship-building techniques, and negotiating strategies. There are many training programs that can help you establish a solid foundation in the auto retail industry, even if there are no college degrees that are expressly designed for careers in auto sales. Most dealerships provide professional development classes centered on practical business skills even after you’ve acquired a sales job.
The JM&A Group’s Performance Development Center is committed to developing the next generation of car salespeople through intensive, hands-on training that is specifically designed for contemporary dealerships. Car salespeople may learn crucial closing techniques, efficient interviewing techniques, how to handle client objections, and more through our small modules and webinars. The PDC also provides a thorough curriculum called Skills for the Business Manager that covers the following subject matter for people who are already employed in the auto industry:
- knowing the demands of clients and the sources of purchase resistance
- Operations at auto dealerships, such as sales, financing, and maintenance
- Negotiations at the moment of sale and how to structure auto agreements
- Managing rate issues and retail presentation
- The psychology of conversions and sales
To increase retention, all training programs are created utilizing adult learning theory, and many of them include online resources and e-learning tools. This makes it possible for auto salespeople to increase their product and industry expertise without having to spend a lot of time away from the sales floor.
How many people work for Kia GA?
Georgia was successful in securing the first auto manufacturing facility for Kia Motors in the United States via diligence, prompt action, and close collaboration.
The development of relationships in Korea by Georgia’s international office in Seoul moved quickly; the announcement of the Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) project came six months after Kia asked for a special meeting with representatives of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD).
Georgia was chosen by Kia because of its skilled, committed, and readily accessible workforce, world-class transportation infrastructure, top-ranked state-sponsored employee training program in the nation, well-regarded pro-growth corporate environment, and dedication to fostering innovation. The facility has soon reached capacity thanks to these resources.
More than 3 million automobiles have been produced by KMMG since the company started operations in 2009. The Sorento, K5 (formerly the Optima), and Telluride can be made in the 2,200-acre, $1.1 billion plant in Troup County, Georgia, by 2,700 workers. More than 14,000 jobs have also been created in the West Georgia region by the company and its suppliers.
More than 40% of all Kia automobiles sold in the US now are produced by KMMG. 940 dealerships in the US and Canada receive more than 90% of the vehicles built in West Point. Additionally, vehicles are shipped to Mexico and countries in the Caribbean and Pacific. The Trade Division of GDEcD assisted Kia in setting up a shipment of the Telluride to the Middle East via the Brunswick port with the Georgia Ports Authority.
According to Jangsoo (Jason) Shin, President and CEO of KMMG, “the total support of the state agencies has been nothing short of spectacular.”
The depth and breadth of Georgia’s resources, from initial infrastructure to ongoing operations, are unmatched. The agencies work closely together to promote manufacturing expansion.
Over the years, Kia has received assistance from over a dozen local organizations. The Labor, Transportation, and Community Affairs Departments, the Georgia Ports Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, and the state’s technical college system are some of the state’s partners.
Shin states that Georgia MadeTM, a program run by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) that offers further assistance in logistics, production, and marketing of goods made in Georgia, is happy to have KMMG as a founding partner. To support the initiative’s launch, Governor Brian Kemp went to the facility.
Georgia is rated as the best state for business, and this initiative allows manufacturers like us a chance to share our success stories publicly as well as commercially, he claims.
Leaders of the company commend the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) Quick Start program for its contributions. The 70,000 square foot Kia Georgia Training Center was built by Quick Start, which also collaborates with Kia in its operation. Quick Start uses cutting edge methods to offer KMMG employees specialized, advanced industrial training.
According to Shin, Georgia Quick Start serves as a model for workforce development initiatives.
More than 125,000 applications for Kia positions have been handled thanks to the state’s first online application process.
Shin also commends Georgia Quick Start for creating an industrial maintenance certification program that is now taught as a course at West Georgia Technical College to assist KMMG in overcoming a labor shortage.
In fact, the business’ workforce development activities have led to the creation of hundreds of co-op programs for college and technical school students. Along with Troup County’s THINC College and Vocational Academy, which is a model facility allowing kids the ability to study a variety of career disciplines and work inside KMMG operations, KMMG also sponsors STEM initiatives in the neighborhood school system.
The influence of KMMG in West Georgia extends beyond the jobs and economic growth it has brought forth. Its corporate social responsibility program also addresses diversity, wellness, and the environment in addition to education.
One such project is “The Ray,” a stretch of I-85 in West Georgia that serves as a testing ground for new transportation technology. At the state-run West Point Visitor Information Center, KMMG provides a free solar panel charging station and a tire inspection station as a part of the corridor.
KMMG has modified its operations to create face shields during the COVID-19 crisis. The startup has so far produced about 550,000 units, with assistance from GDEcD and the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute. KMMG has given thousands of life-saving equipment, including face shields, masks, gloves, surgical caps, alcohol pads, and BioHazard bags, to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Six Kia vehicles have also been made available by the business to transport medical supplies across the state.
According to Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson, “Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia inquired how they could help, and then stepped up to offer life-saving equipment for the heroes on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. “We sincerely appreciate Kia’s support as a member of the Georgia MadeTM family and extend our gratitude.
Shin cites Commissioner Wilson’s emphasis on the value of interpersonal connections inside Georgia. More more than with business transactions, success actually begins with those and the confidence that develops from them. We have a wonderful network of accessibility to learn what we need to succeed in Georgia between the state and local economic groupings.
Georgia’s experienced workforce, dependable infrastructure, low taxes, excellent state credit ratings, and development tools are here to help you launch and expand your business. For seven years straight, Georgia has been named as the “#1 State for Business.” To take the next step in increasing your success, go to Georgia MadeTM.
The KMMG: The first manufacturing facility for Kia Motors Corporation, based in Seoul, Korea, in North America is Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG). In West Point, Georgia, on 2,200 acres, KMMG started mass production on November 16, 2009, with an annual capacity of 340,000 units. The Telluride SUV, Sorento SUV, and K5 mid-size sedan are all produced by KMMG.