While auto dealership M&A in the first quarter was down year-over-year, buy-sell momentum is building and there is “plenty of opportunity” in coming months, according to The Presidio Group, which anticipates a “very active M&A environment” the rest of the year. The firm’s latest report, Presidio Perspectives: A Quarterly Outlook on Auto Retail and M&A […] [Read More]

Lotlinx announced it has hired industry veteran Kerri Wise to its leadership team, calling its new chief marketing officer “a trailblazer in automotive retail marketing.” In a news release, the inventory management platform said Wise will lead its marketing strategy, brand development and dealer engagement initiatives as the company seeks to expand its footprint and […] [Read More]

One might think Hendrick Automotive Group, which claims to be the nation’s largest privately held auto retail organization with 134 franchises at 97 locations across the nation, might already have every vehicle brand covered. But there was room for one more. The dealership group has added its 26th brand with the opening of Hendrick INEOS […] [Read More]

Industry associations got the result they wanted on Thursday as the U.S. House voted 246-164 in favor of H.J. Res. 88 to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of a waiver to California and 11 other states to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. After 35 Democrats — including a pair from California […] [Read More]

The National Automobile Dealers Association has doubled down on its push against California’s rigid vehicle emissions plan. NADA president and CEO Mike Stanton sent a letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to pass a resolution to revoke a waiver that allows California to enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II […] [Read More]

As the retail auto world braces itself for the impact of tariffs on new-car sales, AutoNation sees used-car sales as a potential cushion against that impact, but supply remains a challenge, its executives said on the auto retailer’s first quarter earnings call. Used is an area that is less impacted by tariffs, AutoNation CEO Mike Manley said, so it is an area of ... [Read More]

Kia America’s certified pre-owned program has hit the million mark. Kia’s 1 millionth U.S. CPO vehicle was sold April 21 at Kia of Brandon in Tampa, Fla. The 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Range was purchased by Bryce Ashmore — but Kia picked up the check. “The EV6 had really great reviews, and I always […] [Read More]

News watchers who have seen continuous coverage of government-imposed tariffs didn’t get much of a break during Sonic Automotive’s first quarter 2025 earnings call last week. Sonic’s chairman and CEO David Smith said in his opening comments of the earnings call that the company is still dealing with the “uncertainty” of the tariff situation. Tariffs, along with the strong performance of Sonic’s used-vehicle business, EchoPark, received a great deal of discussion time during the earnings call, and the topics of tariffs and EchoPark ... [Read More]

Lithia and Driveway’s used-car segment had a strong first quarter highlighted by robust sales in what the auto retailer characterizes as “value” units. “Used autos are foundational to our model and we expect to see ongoing positive trends in the quarters ahead,” said Bryan DeBoer, Lithia’s president and CEO, during the earnings call. Used-vehicle sales in the first quarter ... [Read More]

Hendrick Automotive Group is returning to South Carolina’s capital. The Charlotte, N.C.-based dealer group, which is the largest privately held auto retailer in the U.S., said Thursday it will be acquiring Love Automotive. Hendrick said the acquisition is expected to happen in June and close by July. The purchase of the Columbia, S.C.-based group would […] [Read More]