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]

Annette Sykora said providing assistance is an auto industry hallmark. Sykora, who is chair of the NADA Foundation and dealer principal of Smith South Plains Ford Lincoln in Levelland, Texas, was discussing a recent $25,000 donation from global lifestyle and housing services provider Assurant to the National Automobile Dealers Association Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. “The Emergency […] [Read More]

Continuing efforts to help build a strong pipeline of minority talent for the automotive industry, CDK Global and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, or NAMAD, have opened the application process for an annual scholarship program. The program is called the Fueling Careers Scholarship Program, and it is the fifth year of the program. […] [Read More]

AutoNation sold fewer retail used vehicles last year, but closed 2020 with a bump in pre-owned sales during the fourth quarter. And the dealer group’s used-vehicle retail sales were more profitable. Here’s a recap of some of the used-car specifics in AutoNation’s full-year and Q4 earnings released Tuesday, including what it has in store for […] [Read More]