The American International Automobile Dealers Association on Monday announced a new affinity relationship with Wells Fargo Bank N.A., doing business as Wells Fargo Dealer Services. Through this relationship aimed at boosting their Member Benefits Program, officials highlighted WFDS is the only lender endorsed by AIADA to provide dealer members with commercial floor plan financing, indirect […] [Read More]

The TechnoMetrica Auto Demand Index — a national survey conducted every month since 2007 to determine the public’s interest in buying or leasing a new vehicle within the next six months — showed intent is softening. Officials said the June results show an ADI of 55, confirming new-vehicle purchase intent has dropped significantly from its […] [Read More]

The announcement of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding essentially the bulk of the Affordable Care Act drew a wide-ranging response from both sides of the political aisle, as perhaps was expected. And while many in the auto business chose not to publicly comment on the issue, the organizations representing dealers and auto workers, respectively, voiced […] [Read More]

When a commercial comes on the television advertising the latest model from an OEM, or a print ad boasts the best vehicle on the market, which brands seem to catch consumers’ eyes the most? According  to social analytics company General Sentiment’s inaugural Auto MediaMatch Report, Ford is the top auto brand with $90.2 million of […] [Read More]

Gas prices might not be as high a priority for water-cooler conversation like when pump prices approached $4 a gallon. Still, an industry observer asked Manheim economist Tom Webb about fuel costs in light of sinking crude oil prices recorded earlier this month. Webb tackled the question as a part of Manheim Consulting’s June Auto […] [Read More]

Though OEMs continue to look for ways to integrate technology directly into the makeup of new vehicles, consumers may still be looking to “plug in” their devices, putting less emphasis on built-in applications. According to the 2012 Harris Poll AutoTECHCAST study released by marketing research firm Harris Interactive, flexibility to "plug in" current consumer electronics […] [Read More]

With technological advances in the fields of in-car technology, as well as fuel efficiency, the list of features consumers might come to expect when in the market for a new car continues to grow. That said, it seems that an age-old concern is still at the front of car shoppers’ minds. [Read More]

Recent automotive retail growth is among the factors cited by DealerTrack as contributing to the company’s achievement of a milestone in number of lenders. On Thursday, DealerTrack announced that more than 1,200 U.S. lenders are now connected to its credit application network. Surpassing this mark sets a new standard in the company’s history, officials said, […] [Read More]

TD Auto Finance has rolled out a vehicle return program this week in Canada that may offer a bit more peace-of-mind when a customer steps on a dealer’s lot. In essence, TD Auto Loan Protection lends a financial hand if a Canadian consumer were to go through a life-changing event like losing their job or […] [Read More]

Average gross profits for Canadian dealers during May were down both year-over-year and month-over-month on both used- and new-vehicle sales, according to data provided by J.D. Power and Associates’ Canadian Automotive Practice. But that might not be the only profit-related challenge facing dealers these days. Some misconceptions among consumers about what dealers are actually making […] [Read More]