Dealertrack Technologies announced Monday afternoon that it has entered an agreement to purchase VINtek, a provider of automotive collateral management, electronic lien and title and consumer automotive finance processing services. “VINtek has been an innovator and strong supporter in the ELT marketplace for years, and is well-respected by state governments, including their departments of motor […] [Read More]

Consumer appetite for the latest iterations of the compact crossovers is strong, Black Book says, thanks to the functionality, value and fuel economy these vehicles offer. And shoppers are even responding positively to the fact that these vehicles are bigger than their 2005-2008 counterparts. However, this strength doesn’t appear to have translated over to the […] [Read More]

The industry is rallying to fight hunger during Hunger Action Month, as AutoTrader Group and Sheehy Auto Stores both revealed future plans and results from their efforts this week. First up, the AutoTrader Group shared that its Drive Away Hunger Campaign collected more than 33,000 pounds of food and donated more than $67,000 to community […] [Read More]

The certified pre-owned industry is coming off its best sales month ever, and shopping-trend data from CNW Research is reinforcing why. During the last 16 years, the percentage of shoppers who would consider an off-lease CPO unit moved from 88.9 percent to 98.2 percent. In the September edition of the firm’s Retail Automotive Summary, CNW […] [Read More]

How great is your customer service?  How is your customer satisfaction?  These are fairly common questions when it comes to marketing folks, and I'm going to be honest.  I really don't like them.  “Customer Service” reduces the customer to a task list, and “Customer Satisfaction” doesn't go far enough.  I don't want customers to be […] [Read More]

While Ford and Chevrolet are generate considerably more online discussion than other automakers, in light of recent new product launches and redesigns, Chevy edged out the Blue Oval for most chatted about automaker on the Web last month. According to the August Social Buzz Report from Phoenix Marketing International’s Automotive Practice, consumers were tracked chatting […] [Read More]

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada revealed a series of management changes this week — moves designed to better serve its members. First up, AIA promoted Andrew Shepherd to senior director of industry programs and executive director of I-CAR Canada. In his new role, Shepherd will be responsible for overseeing the I-CAR training program,  direct […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive says more than 130 to 150 monthly used-vehicle sales at each of its stores are possible, and suggests the key to reaching this perch are two new programs it has recently implemented: True Price and the Sonic Inventory Management System. Sonic chief financial officer Heath Byrd, speaking at the Goldman Sachs 2013 Global […] [Read More]

NADA Used Car Guide executive automotive analyst Jonathan Banks explained how last month’s headline-grabbing new-vehicle sales performance is creating price trends in the used-vehicle space that ought to delight dealers. Banks recapped how franchised dealers turned 1.5 million new models in August. This pushed the new-vehicle seasonally adjusted annualized rate above 16 million for the […] [Read More]

Every dealer knows that the inventory that turns the fastest is often the most profitable. This is compounded by the carrying cost of the vehicle (often cited as $10-$25 per day). For both reasons, the longer a car remains in inventory, the more it eats into your profits. That’s why it’s critical to measure and […] [Read More]