Automotive acronyms you need to know to develop for dealers

4WD

A drivetrain that employs two differentials and a transfer case to provide power to all four wheels of a vehicle.

ABS

Anti-lock braking system senses wheel slippage when you hit the brake, and it adjusts the braking pressure to give optimal contact between your tires and the road. Note that some German automakers may call this ARS, acceleration slip regulation.

ACC

Adaptive cruise control scans the area ahead of your vehicle when the cruise control is on,  automatically throttle and breaks to maintain a safe distance form traffic in front of the vehicle. 

ACV

The "Actual Cash Value" of the vehicle use usually  determined by an appraisal performed by a used car manager

ALG

Automotive Lease Guide - Private company that track future value of vehicles for the purpose of calculating a lease

APR

Annual Percentage Rate. The cost of credit (i.e., the interest rate) expressed as a yearly rate.

AWD

All-wheel drive. A drivetrain that employs a front, rear and center differential to provide power to all four wheels of a vehicle.

BDC

Business Development Center,  handles any calls for the dealership, sets appointments for the sales and/or service staff, and helps resolve customer problems.

CAFE

Corporate Average Fuel Economy, an agreement between the United States government and automakers to increase fuel economy in their vehicles to 54.5 miles per gallon for cars and light-duty trucks by the year 2025.

CPO

Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle - A used vehicle offered for sale by a franchised dealer for that vehicle make and who follows the manufacturers requirements for "Certifying" the vehicle (including inspection and service) and which, upon sale, is accompanied by a manufacturer-backed warranty.

CRM

Customer Management System

CUV

Crossover vehicles -  combine SUV design features with design features of a car

CVT

A transmission with a continuously variable drive ratio (as opposed to conventionally stepped gear ratios) that maintains a steady acceleration curve with no pauses for gear changes.

DFI

Direct Fuel Injection – Fuel is injected directly into the engine instead of mixing it with air before it reaches the intake valve passage.

DMS

Dealer Management System

DMV

Department of Motor Vehicles

DOT

Abbreviation for the United States Department of Transportation.

DRL

Daytime Running Lights – Low energy lights that switch on automatically whenever the vehicle is in operation to increase the visibility

ESC

Electronic Stability Control

EV

Electronic Vehicle - A vehicle propelled by the use of batteries in place of a traditional engine

FF

Front-engine front-wheel drive. A vehicle that is propelled solely by its front wheels and whose engine is located forward of its front axle.

FICO

Fair Isaac Corporation, which is a company that calculates and distributes consumer credit scores.

FR

Front-engine rear-wheel drive. A vehicle that is propelled solely by its rear wheels and whose engine is located forward of its front axle.

FWD

Front Wheel Drive – Power from the engine is sent to the front wheels only.

GM

General Manager who presides over all departments of a dealership

GSM

General Sales Manager who presides over all sales departments at a dealership

GVWR

The sum of a vehicles curb weight, cargo weight capacity and passenger weight capacity.

HP

Horsepower – The measure of an engine’s work rate, which is torque (twisting force) multiplied by speed (how fast it is spinning).

IIHS

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety - A nonprofit, scientific and educational organization funded by auto manufactures, dedicated to reducing injuries and deaths from automobile crashes. 

ILEV

Inherently low-emission vehicle. An emissions standard for alternative-fuel vehicles with closed and pressurized fuel systems.

ILM

Internet Lead Management System

IMS

Inventory Management System - takes an inventory feed from a DMS allows for editing of descriptions, pricing, and photos. The system then sends edited data to websites for display in inventory listings.

ISO

International Standards Organization

ISV

Industry Service Vendor

IWFA

International Window Film Association

LDWS

Lane Departure Warning System. Cameras and onboard sensors warn if a vehicle is drifting out of marked lanes

LEV

Low emission vehicle. A vehicle that meets the average emissions standard within the LEV program.

LNG

LNG (Liquefied natural gas) is natural gas, used as a fuel source

LSD

Limited Slip Differential – If one wheel loses traction, a limited slip diff prevents all the power being transmitted to the spinning wheel, instead allocating a proportion of the power to the other driven wheels that have grip.

LWB

Long Wheelbase – A lengthened version of an existing vehicle chassis, often available as an option for luxury sadans and trucks

MPG

US Value - The fuel economy of an automobile relates distance traveled by a vehicle and the amount of fuel consumed.

MPGe

US Value - Miles per gallon comparing the energy consumed by alternative fuel vehicles to that of traditional gas-powered vehicle

MSRP

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price — also known as “sticker” price

NADA

National Automobile Dealers Association

NHTSA

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

NIADA

National Independent Automobile Dealers Association

OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer

PDI

A Pre-Delivery Inspection is part of the process of preparing a vehicle for display or delivery. Some manufacturers require proof the PDI has occurred and may compensate a dealer for the service. Also known as “make ready,” “prep,” or “get-ready.”

PO

Parts Order - An invoice generated at the parts counter for the purchase of a part or group of parts

PZEV

Partial zero emission vehicle. A vehicle that has zero evaporative emissions and meets the EPA?s SULEV standard.

RO

Repair Order - A document created when a vehicle is brought in for service contained work performed an related costs

RPM

Revolutions per minute.

RR

Rear-engine rear-wheel drive. A vehicle that is propelled solely by its rear wheels and whose engine is located aft of its front axle.

RWD

Rear Wheel Drive – Power from the engine is sent to the rear wheels only.

SEMA

Specialty Equipment Market Association

SMG

Sequential manual gearbox. Also referred to as "DSG," "direct shift gearbox" and "automated manual transmission."

SRP

Search Results Page - A list of vehicle on a web site after preforming a search, see also "VLP" or "VRP"

SULEV

Super-ultra low emission vehicle. A vehicle that meets an emissions standard that is stricter than the ULEV standard.

SUV

Sport Utility Vehicle - A vehicle classification that combine elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles

TCS

Traction Control System, or "TCS." A safety feature that regulates wheel spin and prevents loss of control under acceleration by ensuring maximum traction and contact between the tires and the road 

ULEV

Ultra-low emission vehicle standard; an emissions standard within the LEV program, tighter than the LEV standard.

VDP

Vehicle Description Page - This represents a single vehicle, listing all features, pricing, mileage, and options for that single vehicle.

VIN

A Vehicle Identification Number, or "VIN," is the unique code that is assigned to an individual vehicle by its manufacturer and that distinguishes it from all other vehicles.

VLP

Vehicle Listing Page - A list of vehicles on web site - see also "VLP" or "SRP"

VRP

Vehicle Results Page - A list of vehicles on web site, after filtering results, se also "VLP" or "SRP"

ZEV

Zero emission vehicle. The most restrictive emissions standard.