DataScan Field Services revealed this week that Toronto-based Clubb Finance Corp. has chosen the company to supply Canadian dealer networks with floor plan verification services. Explaining the services of CFC, officials noted that company serves as a short-term floor plan lender for franchised dealers, brokers and wholesalers. Per CFC DataScan’s client base, dealers utilizing CFC […] [Read More]

Opinions gathered through KPMG’s 12th annual global automotive survey should be welcome news for the Big 3. Following years of economic uncertainty and industry restructuring, the survey showed global auto executives expect domestic automakers to increase market share during the next five years. What prompted that sentiment? Survey participants said domestic OEM growth will be spurred […] [Read More]

On Wednesday, Cars.com revealed the list of six vehicle contenders that will vie for its “Best of 2011” honor next week at an awards gala held during the Detroit Auto Show. The nominated models include the 2011 BMW 5 Series, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, 2011 Chevrolet Volt, 2011 Honda Odyssey, 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Nissan […] [Read More]

In completing its 2011 Car Brand Perception Survey, Consumer Reports discovered that two automakers tied in a statistical dead heat for the top spot with consumers. The publication revealed that a domestic almost knocked Toyota off its pedestal from the top of the rankings. [Read More]

New-vehicle sales for import automakers showed double-digit gains in the final month of 2010, a year that turned out to be relatively healthier for the overall auto industry, according to American International Automobile Dealers Association AIADA said, citing AutoData Corp. data, that import brands moved about 6.36 million units in 2010, which marked a 9.3-percent rise […] [Read More]

Group 1 Automotive announced this week it amended and restructured its $235 million, five-year revolving mortgage facility. Executives explained the amended facility is a $42.6-million, five-year, variable-rate, term loan, financing specific dealership properties with Bank of America N.A. and Comerica Bank. They said the facility may be expanded to $75.0 million in total availability. In […] [Read More]

A pair of domestic brands enjoyed their second straight year commanding the top two spots for consumer research traffic on NADAguides.com in 2010, and the overall top 10 list didn’t change too much from a year ago. However, it appears the gap between brands has tightened up, according to the site’s president and chief executive officer. [Read More]

With consumers paying more at the pump coupled with an uptick in incentive spending, there was an unusual — albeit slight — decline in transaction prices during December, according to TrueCar.com. Specifically, December’s average new-vehicle transaction price reached $29,358, according to the company’s estimate. This marks a 0.9-percent year-over-year decline and a 0.3-percent sequential drop. [Read More]

Edmunds.com offered a rundown Tuesday of not only how automakers handed out incentives for December, but also what the 2010 average was for the top six OEMs. Looking first just at December numbers, site analysts found manufacturers averaged $2,528 in incentives per vehicle sold. That amount was $64, or 2.6 percent higher, than the previous […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book recently announced the new vehicles that generated the most consumer traffic via Kbb.com in 2010, in addition to revealing the brands that commanded the most market interest for the year. Topping the list of most-researched rides is the Honda Accord, with the Honda Civic coming in second. As far as the brand that generated the strongest proportion […] [Read More]