“Dale, what can I do to take my used-vehicle operations to the next level in 2013?” This question comes my way more frequently, and much earlier in the year, than it did in the past. To me, this is a good thing: more dealers are thinking hard and planning ahead to do a better job […] [Read More]

Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems recently hired a new vice president of sales. Joining the provider of repossession and remarketing services is Jeff Swisher. CARS is looking for Swisher to help the company further scale the sales organization and continue to build brand recognition. “We are excited to bring Jeff and the wealth of knowledge and […] [Read More]

A new Arizona-based vendor screening company on Monday launched what it's calling the first online compliance management system for the auto lending industry. Vendor Transparency Solutions explained that it developed an industry-specific, comprehensive, supplier screening solution designed to assist the lending community to reach the highest level of compliance. The tool is also geared to […] [Read More]

Are gas prices finally on the way down? According to the latest “Beggs on the Used Car Market” report, gas prices at the pump made the biggest week-over-week change since July, and wholesale price changes may be directly impacted. Ricky Beggs, managing editor of Black Book, said gas prices fell by $0.13 this past week […] [Read More]

The seven highest ratings for reliability among 28 car brands studied went to Toyota and other Japanese makes, as Consumer Reports this week released the results of its 2012 Annual Auto Reliability Survey. Meanwhile, one particular domestic brand dropped dramatically; going from being among the top 10 two years ago to coming in next-to-last in […] [Read More]

With so much industry talk about pent-up demand being a spark for vehicle sales, a dealer recently asked Manheim chief economist Tom Webb to explain why his story wasn’t enjoying the traffic and turn uptick experienced by other dealerships. In the October Auto Industry Brief from Manheim Consulting, the dealer told Webb that “I see […] [Read More]

Supply: the topic that has been at the forefront of used-car dealers’ minds for the past few years as quality pre-owned vehicles proved scanty in the lanes. And as leasing dried up in the years after the 2008 recession, both off-lease and off-fleet vehicles — which had fed the auction lanes in the past — […] [Read More]

The auto industry’s financing spigot is steadily reopening after being choked off when the recession hit more than three years ago. As proof of strengthening funding support, CNW Research indicated that back in September there was a 13.7-percent increase year-over-year in the number of buyers who received a pre-approved loan before purchasing a used vehicle. [Read More]

Black Book predicted last week that the increase in small cars being made coupled with the disproportionate amount of consumers interested in purchasing them may lead to overproduction issues. Offering a different take, an Automobile.com survey paints an alternate picture of where demand for these models stands. It contends that the sales of compact and […] [Read More]

Last week's ceremony during the NABD East Coast Conference to enshrine the newest member of the alliance's Hall of Fame turned back the clock on the buy-here, pay-here industry to a time of handshake contracts and Southern hospitality. The National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers posthumously welcomed Martin Ingram to its Hall of Fame. Ingram […] [Read More]