Auto industry training platform RockED is teaming with NCM Associates, a provider of 20 Groups, consulting, coaching, training and data reporting in a partnership that will bring RockED to automotive dealerships nationwide. In a news release, RockED said the collaboration will give dealers training content intended to “close productivity gaps and drive greater efficiency at […] [Read More]

If there’s one thing Lithia & Driveway is not doing, it’s standing still. The industry’s most active dealership group in the buy-sell market continued its aggressive approach this week with the acquisition of two Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the South. The purchase of Mercedes-Benz of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., and Mercedes-Benz of Collierville in suburban Memphis […] [Read More]

Sometimes things can be too easy. That’s the premise of a new national ad campaign for Carvana starring actor Jon Hamm, designed to show how easy it is for consumers to sell their car to the online used-car retailer. In the campaign’s first 30-second spot, titled “Excuses,” Hamm tries to get out of an awkward […] [Read More]

The automotive retail industry is experiencing fundamental modernization. While much of the conversation has centered around electrification and digital retailing, another powerful force is quietly changing the way dealerships operate — intelligent machines. Often associated solely with sales or advertising automation, machines are increasingly being used to optimize back-end dealership strategies in areas like inventory […] [Read More]

Lithia & Driveway is handing Pinewood Technologies Group the keys to their North American joint venture. The companies announced the U.K.-based software provider has acquired Lithia’s controlling 51% stake in the operation in a $76.5 million transaction with LAD subsidiary Lithia UK Holdings Limited. The deal also includes a five-year commitment to using the Pinewood […] [Read More]

A New York-area dealership illustrated its commitment to its local community with a contribution aimed at supporting its youth. Rockland Nissan in Blauvelt, N.Y., donated $2,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County for the organization’s mentorship programs, empowering young people and providing them with the tools to succeed. “Community support is at the […] [Read More]

Work Truck Solutions saw the need for a new executive position, so the commercial vehicle specialist filled the role with a professional whose career includes time with TrueCar. On Tuesday, the company said Alex Young has joined Work Truck Solutions as its first chief product officer to emphasize a continued commitment to innovation in the […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive’s latest marketing partnership has put EchoPark on the fast track. Literally. Sonic’s used-car operation has teamed with Speedway Motorsports to put its name on the racetrack formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway in a seven-year, multi-million-dollar agreement. The 66-year-old facility in Hampton, Ga., which hosts two NASCAR Cup Series races each year, is […] [Read More]

With the used electric market poised to grow in coming years, CarMax — where website searches for EVs have more than doubled since January 2022 — is taking steps now to become the leader in that space. The used-car retailer announced a series of initiatives on Wednesday designed to improve the used EV buying and ownership experience, including measures around EV education, battery health assessment and at-home charging, and tax rebates. Those steps include ... [Read More]

Reynolds and Reynolds Company, Volkswagen Group of America and LaFontaine Automotive Group have come together to create something new, combining kiosk technology with Volkswagen mobile service. Reynolds installed a GoMoto kiosk at Volkswagen’s operations facility in Auburn Hills, Mich., and partnered with LaFontaine’s Volkswagen dealership in nearby Dearborn to provide mobile service via a system […] [Read More]