Audi of America Gains New Exec
According to board member Marco Schubert, the German automaker 'is well positioned to enhance its competitiveness in both North America and China,' and part of that includes management shifts.
Vito Paladino has 27 years of industry experience and has been with Audi Canada since 2013.
Audi/Canva
As part of a “coordinated management rotation,” Audi has appointed Vito Paladino as president of Audi of America and Head of Audi North America Region, effective April 1. Paladino is currently president and CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada and president of Audi Canada.
Paladino will replace Daniel Weissland, who has served as president of Audi of America since 2019. Weissland will take over as president of the FAW Audi Sales Co. in China.
“Vito played a key role in establishing Audi as a leading premium brand in Canada,” said Audi board member for sales and marketing, Marco Schubert.
Paladino joined Audi Canada in 2013 and became president in 2020. He joined the industry 27 years ago. While president, Audi said he delivered multiple record-breaking results for it. In 2022 Audi Canada became the top premium brand by sales volume, a first for the country, Audi said.
“I’m honoured to lead Audi of America at such an important time for the brand,” Paladino said. “As Audi continues the largest product launch cadence in our history, I look forward to working closely with US dealers.”
In his place, Audi Canada will be led by Khaled Soussi, currently responsible for commercial strategy and customer experience at SEAT SA, a Volkswagen Group brand based in Spain. The role of president and CEO of Volkswagen Group Canada will be taken over by Edgar Estrada, who is currently the president of the Volkswagen brand in Canada.
More Industry
Texas Dealerships Rebranded After Sale
The Norm Reeves group of stores had owned the three rooftops in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metro area that now operate under a homegrown group’s signature.
Read More →
Positive Equity Reaches Record High
Mainstream vehicle owners who bought a car seven years ago are likely to have positive equity when trading in for a new vehicle, according to second-quarter Edmunds data.
Read More →
All on One Team
Since finance-and-insurance was added to the auto dealership, most stores’ F&I teams have been separated from sales like a car’s trunk is separated from the engine. It doesn’t have to – and shouldn’t – be that way.
Read More →
Auto Dealers Have Some Phone Homework
A midyear study found that stores can do a better job of converting both inbound and outbound calls into customer appointments for increased sales.
Read More →
Hyundai Ventures Aim for Deeper AI Dive
The automaker announced partnerships with several technology industry leaders to pursue an ambitious plan for integrating AI into its manufacturing and well beyond automotive.
Read More →
Early Intervention Saves Retention
Sales and service departments have the highest annual dealership turnover rates, according to a new industry report, costing money and time that could be better spent elsewhere.
Read More →
California Hybrids Reach State Record
The Golden State still leads the country in electric-vehicle registrations, but much like the rest of the U.S. its hybrid market share is up while full electrics stabilize after a dramatic first-quarter dip.
Read More →
California Launches EV Rebate Program
Participating automakers are matching the state's $13.5 million investment in new electric-vehicle rebates scheduled to take effect later this summer.
Read More →
UN Advances Fully Autonomous Vehicle Framework
While such cars aren’t on the public market yet, the United Nations established a safety-focused regulatory framework that's endorsed by the U.S.
Read More →
Another Carmaker Embraces Robots
Mitsubishi and a Japan-based startup plan to make humanoids at a home-country factory to use in auto manufacturing and to sell to others.
Read More →