WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the National Academy of Sciences and NASA will both delve into the issue of unintended acceleration to see if they can find the root of the cause. The total expected cost of the studies? LaHood anticipates it will be $3 million. The National Academy of […] [Read More]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — In a recent 15-month period examined by R.L. Polk & Co. analysts found that there were significantly more vehicles scrapped than added to the roads.  The Cash for Clunkers program — which occurred during the period of Polk's study — accounted for "thousands" of the scrapped units, officials said.    More specifically, Polk found during its analysis of […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — Jumpstart Automotive Group, which produces industry publications such as Car and Driver and Road & Track has a new chief executive officer. Being tapped for the CEO role by parent company Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. is Nicholas Matarazzo, an executive who is returning to the company. During his first stint with the organization, […] [Read More]

PALATINE, Ill. — Recent published reports included comments from consumer groups about how license plate recognition technology used by recovery agencies could be compromising privacy. However, a pair of LPR technology providers and a well-respected industry legal adviser all refuted these claims. One provider, MVTRAC, used its two decades of recovery and remarketing experience to create […] [Read More]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — To the professionals in the repossession industry — and yes there are hundreds of them in this business — there's nothing funny or entertaining about Operacion Repo, so-called "reality TV."  Although it slips by pretty quickly in the credits, it has a disclaimer up front that the scenes are staged, coyly referring to them […] [Read More]

DALLAS — The American Recovery Association deemed its recent North American Repossessors Summit a triumph as hundreds of recovery agencies and industry service providers gathered for a two-day event of constructive dialogue. The sold-out summit on March 13 and 14 drew more than 300 attendees who participated in various panel discussions and listened to speakers from […] [Read More]

DETROIT — Ed Whitacre, chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors, said late last week that his company plans to make its second quarterly loan payment to the U.S. Treasury and Export Development Canada on Wednesday, ahead of schedule. More specifically, Whitacre said, "In keeping with our commitments to the U.S. and Canadian and Ontario taxpayers, […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Cars.com officials cited ongoing negative publicity surrounding Toyota recalls as the primary reason the automaker's units are dropping in popularity on the Web site. In fact, the site found that the Toyota Camry — which once owned its largest share of consumer contacts to dealers among midsize sedans during the height of Cash for Clunkers — […] [Read More]

SAN FRANCISCO — State Treasurer Bill Lockyer brought together a panel of fellow California leaders last week in San Francisco for a public hearing to investigate the potential impact of Toyota's plans to shut down its New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. vehicle plant in Freemont, Calif. The panel collected information and heard testimony from a variety […] [Read More]

BANDON, Ore. — The success of the auto sales recovery may hinge on the re-emergence of one pivotal group of vehicle shoppers that went into a "recession hibernation" during 2009, according to CNW Research. Who holds the keys to a market rebound? Why it's women, of course, according to CNW. So it's good news for the industry […] [Read More]