DrivingSales University — a NADA University partner that offers an online training platform for dealers — has chosen an executive director. Tapped for the position is Shaun Raines, who the company notes has spent the last 13 years “helping dealers effectively use the Internet to attract, acquire and retain customers.” Raines will oversee DSU, which […] [Read More]

The hybrid and electric vehicle market’s tough year and slide in sales this past summer may be due in part to lack focus and desirable product for certain demographics. According to research company Mintel, the biggest potential in the market for alternative fuel vehicles is with black  consumers. [Read More]

Announcing an upgrade to its used-vehicle value data, Kelley Blue Book is now breaking that data down regionally, offering specific used value data for each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. And while consumers and single-point dealerships may not notice a huge difference, the state-by-state breakdown of used values will be extremely beneficial to large […] [Read More]

With October’s SAAR reaching beyond the 13 million mark, it looks like auto sales might remain strong this month as well — or may even climb above last month’s peaks as inventory levels rise, according to NADA chief economist Paul Taylor. He goes on to predict that some factors could potentially push consumers out of the used-car […] [Read More]

Amplicate’s latest social media analytics report revealed online users posted many more positive opinions than negative about Audi, Mercedes-Benz and other luxury brands during the past 12 months. The report found that 85 percent of all opinions on social media about Audi were positive during the past 12 months, while 77 percent of all opinions […] [Read More]

Experian Automotive and Experian Hitwise recently discovered online users have increased their share of overall vehicle make and model searches for the four weeks that ended Oct. 8 as compared to the same time frame two years ago. And the rise is substantial. Analysts say it’s up by 37 percent. Drilling deeper into its findings, […] [Read More]

Significant year-over-year gains in revenue and income during the third quarter prompted DealerTrack Holdings to raise its 2011 financial performance guidance. This week, DealerTrack revealed its third-quarter revenue came in at $95.8 million as compared to $63.1 million a year earlier. As a result, the company’s third-quarter GAAP net income settled at $5.4 million, up […] [Read More]

Ford Motor Credit created a new division Monday to finance consumer purchases of Lincoln models. Officials described Lincoln Automotive Financial Services by stating “the premium customer experience is even more seamless with available financing and exceptional service” from this new company. All customer touch points — contracts, invoices and customer service support — now are […] [Read More]

If you have ever taken a ride in the backseat of a taxi cab – or a police car, for that matter – there’s a fairly good chance it was in a Ford Crown Victoria. But someday that won’t be the case. Yahoo Autos counts the Crown Vic among the 14 vehicles being retired at […] [Read More]

Skip-tracing expert Alex Price is offering several opportunities to study approaches to find debtors and vehicles. In his role as national sales director and training manager of MasterFiles, Price is holding free sessions titled, “The Art of Skip-Tracing.” They begin at noon ET daily through Nov. 18. Price believes participants will learn how to profile […] [Read More]