Along with tabulating its North American production performance for 2011, Toyota also shared upbeat reaction the positive findings from a National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council study about claims of unintended acceleration. The Japanese OEM recalled the comprehensive 162-page report was commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to explore the broad issue […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book discovered this week that Toyota recaptured its No. 1 spot for brand loyalty on kbb.com for the fourth quarter of 2011. Analysts pointed out Toyota last appeared in the top position during the third quarter of 2010. For the fourth quarter, the site indicated Toyota’s brand shopping loyalty was at 50.6 percent, […] [Read More]

The federal government is demanding stronger vehicle fuel efficiency and automakers have certainly been doling out the investment to pay for stronger gas mileage and alternative-powertrain technology. Granted, there is still some debate as to whether these alternative-fuel vehicles will truly catch on, but analysis from Deloitte suggests that younger car buyers may be the […] [Read More]

The dearth in vehicles coming off lease has been a topic of great concern within the certified pre-owned programs at automakers in the U.S., as these units are typically a vital source of CPO-worthy inventory. But are dealers experiencing the same issues in Canada? Based on what most automakers are telling Auto Remarketing Canada, off-lease […] [Read More]

The American International Automobile Dealers Association contends that employee benefits dynamics have become “increasingly complex” due to cost hikes and governmental reform. With this backdrop in mind, AIADA and affinity partner Northwestern Mutual are offering a free online seminar next week designed to teach dealers best practices when it comes to providing employee benefits like […] [Read More]

The U.S. vehicle population has reached a record-high age after showing rapid gains in recent years, according to Polk, which said this aging fleet and longer ownership periods present dealership service departments — along with other auto repair and aftermarket businesses — with “significant business growth opportunity.” More specifically, the average age of vehicles currently […] [Read More]

The National Automobile Dealers Association began a parade of public hearings Tuesday as federal officials continue dialogue about proposed fuel economy rules for model year 2017-2025 passenger cars and light-duty trucks. Offering his testimony,  New Mexico dealer and NADA committee leader Don Chalmers urged federal agencies to properly consider the rising consumer cost of new […] [Read More]

NADA University, the education and training arm of the National Automobile Dealers Association, introduced a new, fully updated and easily accessible guide to the complex Federal Excise Tax compliance rules facing truck dealers. NADA officials explained on Tuesday that the tool, “A Guide to Federal Excise Tax Compliance,” is a new addition to the Driven […] [Read More]

Lawsuits associated with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protect Act and Truth-in-Lending Act all set new records last year, according to federal data compiled by WebRecon. Analysts determined that FCRA litigation had a big jump after several years of relatively flat numbers, while TCPA litigation more than doubled and TILA nearly tripled over […] [Read More]

This week, Consumer Guide Automotive revealed the recipients of its 2012 Best Buy and Recommended Awards, showcasing a total of 106 vehicles. Two domestic nameplates led the way with the most models honored as Chevrolet and Ford each had nine award winners. Toyota was right behind with eight lauded units while Honda had seven vehicles […] [Read More]