Accident history is the No. 1 thing used-car shoppers look for in a vehicle’s history, according to CARFAX. The company said that although Americans are driving less because of the COVID pandemic, and accidents were down in the second half of last year, car dealers should know whether a vehicle has sustained damage. “Otherwise they […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive continues to expand its standalone used-car program, announcing Tuesday it has opened an EchoPark Automotive location in the Phoenix suburbs. The store, located in Avondale, Ariz., is Sonic’s 19th EchoPark location. On Friday, the retailer said it brought two Used Car King locations in New York State into the Echo Park fold, putting […] [Read More]

Through a new partnership between SureSale and Tampa Bay-area dealer Maus Family Automotive, a vehicle report will be available to consumers on each of Maus’ pre-owned vehicles. Providing vehicle histories, inspections, and assessments of current quality, SureSale said it offers consumers transparency and confidence in their used-vehicle purchases. Maus Family Automotive operates four dealerships in […] [Read More]

Ally Financial, Greensboro Auto Auction and the Hiester Automotive Group are working together, while fueled by some of their passions: classic-car restoration, helping people in need and lifting up the next generation of technicians. John Hiester, owner of Hiester Automotive Group in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., led a project that highlighted another example of how dealers across […] [Read More]

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson closed that portion of his racing career in a car sponsored by an auto finance company. Now in a new circuit with a new car, Johnson’s ride is sponsored by an online used-vehicle retailer. On Monday, Carvana unveiled the paint scheme for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 48 Honda to be […] [Read More]

Bob Vail of Vail Buick GMC has been elected to the National Automobile Dealers Association’s executive committee as vice-chairman, region I. A former chair of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, or GNYADA, Vail will represent the Greater New York region’s auto dealers. Those dealers represent a collective $53 billion economic impact and support […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive’s specialty pre-owned vehicle brand now stretches into the nation’s most densely populated region — the Northeast. On Friday, the company announced the expansion of the EchoPark Automotive network with the addition of Used Car King in the New York markets of Cicero and Cortland. Sonic highlighted these two Used Car King locations bring […] [Read More]

Independent dealership expert Gene Daughtry is back on the Auto Remarketing Podcast with a timely message for operators who might be struggling to handle inventory acquisition and maintain underwriting discipline. The senior consultant for AMS Consulting cautioned about the pitfalls of pushing parameters in those areas as the spring market intensifies in both the wholesale […] [Read More]

It was a record year for Sonic Automotive’s standalone used-car store program, as EchoPark pulled in all-time highs for revenue and retail sales volume. Specifically, EchoPark generated $1.42 billion in total revenue during 2020, beating 2019 figures by 22.1%. EchoPark retailed 57,161 used vehicles last year for a 15.4% hike. And the standalone stores closed […] [Read More]

Just like the National Automobile Dealers Association, the American International Automobile Dealers Association hosted its annual meeting virtually, in the process handing off the chairman’s gavel and revealing its board of directors. Set to serve as its 2021 chairman, AIADA bestowed the role to Steve Gates of Richmond, Ky., who is the owner of Gates […] [Read More]