DealerRater announced the results of its mid-year update to the 2015 DealerRater Consumer Rating Index (CRI) for Auto Manufacturers. At the head of their respective markets, Lexus ranked highest in customer experience in the luxury segment while Hyundai took the top spot in the mass market. Japanese manufacturers Honda and Subaru rounded out the top […] [Read More]

There were 3.16 million used-vehicle sales last month, a figure marginally better than October 2013 levels, according to CNW Research, which said year-to-date numbers through 10 months are essentially static with a year ago. October’s monthly used sales figure beat year-ago numbers by 0.29 percent and fell 16.9 percent from September, a sequential decline not […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Alec Gutierrez shared the leasing numbers he thinks might “keep auto executives up at night.” KBB expects the new-car market to originate 3.4 million leases by the time this year concludes. So why would top OEM brass walk the floor about that number? Gutierrez pointed out that the expected figure […] [Read More]

This month is likely to end with nearly 3.2 million used vehicles sold during October, which would beat year-ago figures by 1.3 percent, according to projections in CNW Research’s latest Retail Automotive Summary. CNW’s data includes sales forecasts for franchised and independent dealers as well as private-party numbers. Of those three groups, private-party sales are […] [Read More]

According to a Cars.com blog post, average listing prices of late-model vehicles hit a 2014 low this month, having slid $1,166 since the start of the year. And here’s the kicker: there weren’t even enough qualifying cars to fill the list of Top 10 Biggest Price Increases. “For an example of just how much used-car […] [Read More]

FordDirect announced this week the appointment of Jeff Forrester as the director of purchasing, a new position in the newly created purchasing department at the company. In the new role, Forrester’s responsibilities will include overseeing vendor management and contracts, working with internal teams to achieve cost reductions, quality maintenance, policy compliance and risk mitigation while […] [Read More]

An improving economy and falling gas prices may be pushing interest for more expensive and perhaps less fuel-efficient models, making certain large sport utility vehicles and sporty cars hard for dealers to find. According to AutoTrader.com’s latest installment of vehicle scarcity data provided to Auto Remarketing, popularity of these types of models in the used market […] [Read More]

This year has brought with it the highest number of recalls the U.S. automotive industry has ever seen. Consequently, this has put considerable pressure on dealerships’ technicians and service departments to rise to the occasion. And AutoNation, the largest auto retailer in the country, is no exception. Mike Jackson, AutoNation’s chairman and chief executive officer, […] [Read More]

On Tuesday, CU Direct launched the next generation of its online auto shopping program, CUDL AutoSMART. With more than 1.5 million vehicles in dealer inventory, officials highlighted the program offers a host of new features designed to dramatically transform members’ experience and engagement with credit unions. The new CUDL AutoSMART can enable credit unions to […] [Read More]

Off-lease vehicles have come streaming in recently after dealers put up with tight used supply for years after the recession. But some automakers are selling so many certified pre-owned vehicles — evident through this year’s overall soaring CPO sales — that sourcing still remains a challenge. Take Kia Motors America, for example. “While the statement […] [Read More]