As a good chunk of automotive analyst companies revealed their predictions for July’s new-vehicle sales, noting they expect the month’s SAAR to rise above 14 million, experts also shared just which OEMs are likely to benefit the most from this sales spike. Kelley Blue Book explained that it expects Japanese brands to lead industry grains, […] [Read More]

If a shopper steps on a dealer’s lot and is confident and educated about the car-buying process, there are likely to be fewer obstacles that the salesperson must overcome in discussing a potential purchase with the consumer. With a confident shopper who is knowledgeable about car-buying, the dealer can devote his conversation with the customer […] [Read More]

The number of fuel-efficient vehicles on U.S. highways is growing at a fast tick, according to industry analysts Baum & Associates. In fact, the company reported that the first half of this year set the record for the highest-ever fuel efficiency for new passenger vehicles entering the U.S. market.  [Read More]

Several of the nation’s publicly traded dealership groups have released their second-quarter performance reports in recent days and a common theme has been the strength in used-vehicle sales during the period. And for the overall used market — including independent dealers and casual sales, as well as franchised shops — CNW Research recently reported that […] [Read More]

July new-vehicle sales are expected to continue the surge dealers have been experiencing so far in 2012. In fact, the market is projected to hit a total new-car SAAR of 14 million this month, according to Kelley Blue Book. But that’s not all. July new-vehicle retail sales are also expected to post the second strongest […] [Read More]

Gross profits on both used-car and used-truck sales in June increased month-over-month in Canada and were ahead of year-to-date trending, according to data provided by J.D. Power and Associates’ Canadian Automotive Practice. Specifically, dealers pulled in an average of $1,388 of gross profit for every used-car sale in June, which was a $43 increase from […] [Read More]

Amid what ALG Canada has found to be country’s “most turbulent economic times in recent history,” Canadian wages have actually remained strong. And this is helping residual vehicle values. In fact, the firm says the current lift in wages has positively impacted 48-month residual values in Canada by 0.2 percent. [Read More]

Strong incentives have helped lift Korean automakers over Toyota on Dataium’s monthly Automotive Shopper Intensity index, breaking the Camry’s winning ASI streak. Released on Wednesday, the Dataium index shows that strong incentives and marketing campaigns promoting fuel efficiency helped Hyundai’s Sonata and Elantra claim the top two spots in the index to rank highest in […] [Read More]

Although most new-vehicle buyers remain in the same size segment as their old ride, more than a quarter are downsizing these days. And often they get just as much enjoyment out of their economized rides, says J.D. Power and Associates. These findings were part of the firm’s 2012 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study, […] [Read More]

In remarks during a celebratory presentation earlier this week for the opening of a Hendrick Automotive Group dealership in North Carolina, it was emphasized that success for a dealer isn’t just about selling a car. It’s about keeping a customer for the long haul. And this sentiment was among the attributes Rick Hendrick honed in […] [Read More]