Sonic Automotive has EchoPark and Penske Automotive Group has CarSense; specific store branding initiatives to turn used vehicles. Now another of the large publicly traded groups is venturing down this road, too, as Group 1 Automotive recently explained the principles of its latest used-car project — Val-U-Line — a proprietary brand for high mileage pre-owned […] [Read More]

J.D. Power's new president and chief executive officer Dave Habiger was named Wednesday. The news comes after preceding president and CEO Finbarr O’Neill in October informed the J.D. Power board of directors of his intention to retire from his post. “J.D. Power is fortunate to have a leader and operator of Dave’s caliber to execute on this next […] [Read More]

FCA US announced Tuesday that it has awarded 468 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT dealerships with Customer First Award for Excellence designations this year. The winning group of dealerships achieved the highest level of customer experience recognition in the program's five core areas: people, facility, processes, customer performance metrics and training certification. “The fact […] [Read More]

Spring is here, and so are fresh sales for certified pre-owned vehicles. Autotrader has come out with its latest list of top deals that shoppers can jump on throughout March. The list includes Volvo’s CPO program, which offers qualified buyers interested in 2015 S60 models zero-percent interest for up to 24 months this month. “With the […] [Read More]

Kerrigan Advisors identified a trio of reasons why the dealership buy/sell market surpassed 200 transactions for the fourth consecutive year in 2017. According to the firm’s latest Blue Sky Report released on Monday, the factors driving market activity included dealership consolidation, profitability, and the growing number of sellers coming to market. Kerrigan Advisors determined many […] [Read More]

At a recent AIADA board meeting, I took over as the AIADA chairman from my friend, Maryland dealer Paul Ritchie. In just a few weeks, I look forward to formally accepting the chairman’s gavel at the NADA convention in Las Vegas during AIADA’s Annual Meeting & Luncheon. As a Volkswagen dealer I am particularly interested […] [Read More]

Millions of vehicles are flowing out of leases into the used-car marketplace, and many will land on dealer lots. Challenging? Yes. But a blessing, too? Perhaps a huge one, if managed right. “The return of a record number of off-lease vehicles will be one of the biggest challenges dealers will face, but it’s also one […] [Read More]

Wes Lutz lives in what he considers to be a “relatively rural area.” So the president of Extreme Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, RAM in Jackson, Mich., owns a car that gets him where he needs to go. But when Lutz drives that car to another home he has in downtown Chicago, he keeps it parked and takes an […] [Read More]

Auto Remarketing’s Q&A with 2018 NADA chairman Wes Lutz — president of Extreme Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep, RAM in Jackson, Mich. — also covered his thoughts on the current climate and happenings in Washington, D.C., as well as Detroit. His responses to questions on the political/legislative environment and automakers, respectively, are below. Auto Remarketing: Is the political/legislative climate […] [Read More]

At the official grand opening of its new 200,000 square foot headquarters in Sandy Springs, Ga.,  Mercedes-Benz USA announced plans to launch a new global innovation hub called Lab1886 in Atlanta this summer. Along with MBUSA president and chief executive officer Dietmar Exler, the ceremony included Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal; Mayor of Atlanta Keisha […] [Read More]