When the annual Fortune Global 500 was rolled out on Thursday, several automakers found their names on the list which ranks the world’s 500 largest corporations in terms of highest yearly revenues. In fact, a few perched near the top of the rankings, as five automakers were in the top 25. Receiving the highest ranking […] [Read More]

Group 1 Automotive announced this week it has completed a $1.35-billion five-year revolving syndicated credit facility with 21 financial institutions. The company said this new facility expires in June 2016 and can be expanded to $1.6 billion total availability. Executives highlighted the revolving facility will provide $1.1 billion for inventory floor plan financing. They added […] [Read More]

Coinciding with vehicle quality scores reaching an all-time high, the National Automobile Dealers Association discovered through its latest Dealer Attitude Survey that franchise stores’ satisfaction with their respective automakers increased this year. Furthermore, the latest survey results that included input from more than 15,360 franchise stores showed Hyundai finished in the top overall spot for […] [Read More]

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]