TrueCar.com wanted to get a better understanding of the youngest demographic of vehicle buyers — consumers ages 18 to 27 — better known as Generation Y. What brand vehicles should dealers stock so they can reel in these young purchasers? Of the top 10 that site analysts listed, not one was a domestic badge. According […] [Read More]

With foreign brands highlighted throughout, Edmunds.com recently unveiled its list of 2011 Consumers’ Top Rated vehicles, a compilation of 21 models. Audi took more honors than any other nameplate, winning four categories including: —Best Coupe $35,000-$45,000: 2011 Audi A5. —Best Coupe More Than $45,000: 2011 Audi S5. —Best Wagon $35,000-$45,000: 2011 Audi A4 Wagon. —Best […] [Read More]

Each month, CNW Research tracks what it calls fence-sitters, buyers who could fall either way toward purchasing a used or a new model. In June, a higher level than normal decided to go used. President Art Spinella determined that about 8 percent of the people who bought a used vehicle in June were sitting on […] [Read More]

Following what has been some rather challenging times recently, Saab revealed some more good news on Monday.  The company announced the signing of final agreements securing investments with China’s auto dealership chain Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and automaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. that have been in the works since last month. The company […] [Read More]

Under a partnership between the two companies announced Tuesday afternoon, Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corp. will obtain a 20-percent share of Westlake Financial Services. The deal, which closed Friday, is valued at $250 million in newly issued equity. In addition to owning a fifth of Westlake, Marubeni will also have two executive board seats. [Read More]

Now almost four months after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Edmunds.com wanted to see the difference between new-vehicle inventory levels now and shortly after the March disaster that disrupted production industry-wide. What site analysts found might surprise franchise dealers. Using a statistically representative sample of U.S. inventory, Edmunds.com discovered, as expected, that dealer inventories for […] [Read More]

Though the inventory shortage has certainly caused some real issues for automakers, there is a bit of a silver lining, according to TrueCar’s Jesse Toprak. Not only are OEMs spending less on incentives, but June transaction prices were the strongest of all time, Toprak said. Thus, more profits. “The upside to a lack of inventory […] [Read More]

In the midst of used-car prices moving upward in the past year, there is some question as to whether this trend is like a “bubble” that will suddenly burst or — as CNW Research president Art Spinella put it — “more like a slow leak in an air mattress,” deflating gradually. To shed some light […] [Read More]

Analysts from J.D. Power and Associates and Edmunds.com each gave their latest projections about where June’s SAAR might land, touching on how incentive levels greatly swayed their estimations. J.D. Power indicated Thursday the pace of new-vehicle retail sales cooled during the third week of June, after exhibiting a stronger pace during the first two weeks […] [Read More]

Is the Prius really so valuable? A Toyota dealership recently announced it bought one of these used models back from a customer after more than a year for $1,500 more than it was originally sold for. Is this the result of high gas prices, the impact of the Japanese quake on supplies or what? The supply level of […] [Read More]