Businesses in Europe using the Ford Transit in their fleets have a tool to figure out if going electric makes sense for them, and that tool is now available here in the U.S. The software, dubbed Ford Pro E-Switch Assist, aims to help business and government customers determine if going electric is suitable for their […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s top dealer training program is coming back in 2025. The association said it will offer two Certified Master Dealer classes in 2025, the first sessions of its highest-level education curriculum since 2019. In an announcement posted on its website’s Dashboard, NIADA said it will offer individualized programs for retail […] [Read More]

Rick Case Mazda unveiled its new look last week. The Duluth, Ga., dealership held a grand re-opening celebration that capped an eight-month expansion and renovation project. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by community leaders — including Duluth mayor Greg Whitlock and five city council members — as well as Mazda executives. As a result of […] [Read More]

While the online retailer is facing much criticism and serious allegations from the investment community, Carvana gained more resources from one of its key financing providers. Carvana revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday that it amended the second amended and restated master purchase and sale agreement with Ally Financial. […] [Read More]

Perhaps your dealership didn’t generate the retail flurry during the holiday season that store management demanded, with the intention of meeting monthly, quarterly and annual sales goals. To help get your rooftop on the right online track for 2025 and beyond, DealerFire explored several strategies to help dealerships pinpoint the best keywords for their online […] [Read More]

Anthony Pordon knows that companies can’t stand still when it comes to technological innovation. Pordon is executive vice president of investor relations and corporate development for Penske Automotive Group, and he said the company’s used-vehicle business, CarShop, first started testing artificial intelligence technology in its retail service departments. “By the time you think you’ve got [AI] understood, it’s completely changed,” Pordon said. But AI has helped CarShop customers schedule appointments, which has resulted in ... [Read More]

Larry Van Tuyl is up to his old tricks: acquiring dealerships. The CEO of VT Companies has purchased Groove Toyota in Englewood, Colo., from Summit Automotive Partners, according to Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions, which brokered the deal. The dealership, which will retain the Groove name, is Van Tuyl’s first in Colorado. His current operation, Visionary […] [Read More]

The National Automobile Dealers Association, which is set to host its annual NADA Show convention this month in New Orleans, released a statement Wednesday following the terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in the city’s French Quarter during the wee hours of New Year’s Day. The trade association is working with city officials and law enforcement […] [Read More]

One thing that never changes in the used-car business is change. Which means dealers must always be ready to adapt. That, of course, includes the certified pre-owned sector. The supply of used vehicles suited for certification is shrinking. Costs have risen for both new and used cars, making affordability a critical issue for consumers. And the rise of used electric vehicles begs the question of how they can find a way into the CPO mix. During Used Car Week 2024 in Scottsdale, Ariz., four industry experts assembled to discuss those issues, their effect on the CPO sector and ways dealers and other stakeholders can ... [Read More]

It’s been almost 30 years since Lexus launched the industry’s first certified pre-owned program, during which CPO has grown into a strong and important sector of the used-vehicle market. But after all those years, car dealers are still learning and finding better ways to sell customers on the CPO experience. In a panel session during Used Car Week 2024 in Scottsdale, Ariz., titled “Best Practices from Best CPO Dealers,” moderator B. Miller of Cars Commerce asked four dealers to discuss what they’re doing at the dealership to give car shoppers confidence about buying a CPO vehicle ... [Read More]