A colleague passed along a 2013 year-end report from the United Kingdom-based dealer IT research firm Woods and Seaton. The report details some of the high-profile acquisitions that occurred in the past year as DMS and specialty vendors vie to provide dealers here and abroad with integrated solutions to increase efficiencies and profitability in their […] [Read More]

Pickups enjoyed strong price retention throughout 2013, spurred by high demand and low supply. And it seems consumer interest isn’t waning.   According to the latest Automotive Shopper Intensity report from Dataium, there was a large increase in in online auto shopping activity towards full-sized trucks last month. But not just any trucks; those “capable […] [Read More]

The Federal Trade Commission included a total of 10 dealers in a nationwide regulatory sweep focusing on advertising the sale, financing and leasing of vehicles. On Thursday, the FTC announced nine dealers agreed to settle deceptive advertising charges, and the agency is taking action against a 10th dealer that is still being litigated. According to […] [Read More]

RedBumper founder Bruce Thompson has launched a new company called CarOffer that allows dealers to buy vehicles directly from consumers online. Through the CarOffer mobile app — which is being rolled out by the RedBumper team at this month’s NADA Convention and Expo — consumers can scan, photograph and submit vehicles for sale; then, dealers […] [Read More]

DriveItNow — a monthly payment marketing technology service of Automobile Consumer Services Inc. — announced a partnership that will allow it to include real monthly payments in their vehicle inventory videos. Through an agreement with Flick Fusion Technologies, consumers can see realistic monthly payments on vehicles they are interested in when watching the video featuring […] [Read More]

The emphasis on advertising in December focused around performance and innovation, according to Phoenix Automotive’s latest “Auto Insights” report. And it seems to be attracting consumers, as the percentage of shoppers in the market for a new car and planning to purchase a in the next three months grew in December. That number increased slightly […] [Read More]

More than a couple handfuls of import brands posted all-time bests for certified pre-owned sales last year, according to Autodata Corp., which said that the collective full-year sales totals for both Asian- and European-brand sales were up by double-digit percentages. Joining Ford/Mercury/Lincoln as best-ever full-year CPO achievers were Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, […] [Read More]

Many dealers are suffering from the “big squeeze” in used vehicles. The effects of the “big squeeze” are easy to identify. Dealers are paying higher costs to acquire and recondition used vehicles, and seeing a greater degree of pressure on retail prices and front-end gross profits. We can thank increased competition among dealers to find […] [Read More]

Though the overwhelming majority of brands across the spectrum showed certified pre-owned growth, 2013 was an especially promising year in the CPO business for domestic automakers. The Big 3 grabbed an additional 2.3 points of CPO market share in 2013 and lifted their full-year certified sales by nearly 24 percent, according to preliminary industry results […] [Read More]

AutoNation’s chief financial officer Mike Short is leaving the company. The move was effective Tuesday, and the company has appointed Cheryl Scully, vice president and treasurer, as interim CFO, as the company searches for a new exec to fill the position. Mike Short said, "I've enjoyed my seven years at AutoNation, and I am proud […] [Read More]