AutoNation retailed 58,103 used vehicles in the first quarter, down 0.9 percent from Q1 of 2015, according to the company’s earnings report released Friday. Revenue per used unit retailed was $19,274, up 3.3 percent year-over-year. Gross profit per retail used vehicle, however, was down 7.7 percent at $1,613. Looking at overall results, total revenue climbed […] [Read More]

One of the largest recent recall campaigns not associated with Takata air bags nor Volkswagen’s diesel units came to light late on Friday as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is voluntarily recalling an estimated 811,586 midsize SUVs and full-size cars in the U.S. The automaker explained the move is being made to reduce the effect of potential […] [Read More]

As one industry observer put it, Volkswagen dealers might be working within a “fairly sketchy framework” on how to handle about 500,000 diesel vehicles with compromised emissions systems the automaker has agreed to potentially buy back through various means based on negotiations brokered between the OEM and federal regulators. A deadline-mandated preliminary agreement came to […] [Read More]

Lithia Motors appears well on its way to hitting its annual projection of a 9.5-percent jump in used-vehicle sales thanks to the lift, especially in same-store performance, the dealer group posted during the first quarter. Lithia reported this week that its Q1 used-vehicle retail same-store sales increased 12 percent year-over-year during a quarter that saw […] [Read More]

Greg Miller is embarking on his own dealership journey. Independent of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies (LHM Group), Greg Miller announced the acquisition of his first dealership on Wednesday with the purchase of Bob Baker Toyota in San Diego. This dealership will be renamed Greg Miller Toyota and will be operated under his […] [Read More]

It seems like everywhere you turn, there is an immense amount of conversation and pressure to drop your current dealer marketing strategy and throw all your eggs into a new basket, such as direct marketing, social or mobile. These “wave of the future” strategies have promise, and there’s even some decent ROI associated with each. […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book launched two all-new integrated marketing campaigns on Monday aimed at both franchised and independent dealerships as well as informing consumers about how much information and experience the company has to help buyers through the vehicle selection and purchase experience. With more than nine decades of experience to leverage, Kelley Blue Book insisted […] [Read More]

The stretch of NADA Convention expo floor space between the low 1100s and low 1800s resembles Cox Automotive’s version of 5th Avenue. But in place of shops like Saks, the Apple Store, J. Crew and Gucci are booths bearing car-biz-familiar brands like Dealertrack, Manheim, vAuto and Autotrader. Inside a typical convention hall makeshift office within […] [Read More]

Editor's Note: This updates the April 15 story with updated data and clarifications from NADA.  There were 18.9 million used-car sales (including retail and wholesale) by the franchised dealership body last year, of which 14.6 million units were retailed.  That’s according to the latest NADA DATA report from the National Automobile Dealers Association, a portion of which was […] [Read More]

Currently, used-car certification programs are now available through most, if not all, major car manufacturers and are joined by numerous warranty companies touting their own versions of vehicle certification. The certified pre-owned market has broken sales records in each of the past five years, and all data point towards 2016 as another record-breaking year for CPO sales. […] [Read More]