In my conversations and travels, I encounter two different types of dealers. The first group often struggles with aged units in their used-vehicle inventories, persistent wholesale losses and an as-yet unfulfilled desire to increase their sales volumes and overall profitability. [Read More]

The same state that passed a pair of laws last year that intensified regulation of buy-here, pay-here dealers now is taking up a measure that would modify how a certified pre-owned vehicle can be sold. A bill that currently is in the California Assembly would include manufacturer’s safety recalls on the list of prohibited conditions […] [Read More]

We left off in our series with the first two keys to consumer relevance; in this post, we’ll explore the third key: MARK. MARK sums up the key factors that influence a consumer’s decisions when shopping for a car: Mission, affordability, risk and key differentiators. We’ll go deeper into detail about each of these in […] [Read More]

Hertz Global Holdings announced Thursday that the Federal Trade Commission has issued a final consent order regarding its acquisition of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. The acquisition has been in the news for the past year, as Hertz acquired Dollar Thrifty in November 2012, pursuant to an interim agreement and proposed consent order entered into between […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive went live on Wednesday with its technology strategy to use iPhones, iPads and corresponding apps to boost efficiency throughout the dealer group, especially in the sales and services departments at its franchised dealerships. Sonic president Scott Smith emphasized that iOS devices and in-house apps have helped drive the company’s rapid expansion by streamlining […] [Read More]

The used-car market saw increased interest in a somewhat unusual segment in June, according to the latest Kelley Blue Book Hot Used Car Report: Hybrids. With gas prices holding at relatively steady rates for the month of June, price drops in hybrids are credited for a 4.1 percent growth in shopping activity on KBB.com, month-over-month. […] [Read More]

With women accounting for more than two-thirds of all dealership service visits, Women-Drivers.com notes that it’s wise for dealers to address the specific needs of these customers.    The company, which captures dealer reviews from women about their dealership experience, has released its mid-year report on the top auto brands for service, with scores measured […] [Read More]

Honda Financial Services reported a milestone this week using its upstream sales platform provided by OPENLANE.  This past June, HFS celebrated the sale of more than 200,000 vehicles through OPENLANE. Commenting on the news, Jean-Marc Leclerc, vice president and chief compliance/risk officer, and secretary at Honda Financial Services Inc., said, “We are very excited to […] [Read More]

June saw mixed results for CPO sales from automakers in Canada — some saw double-digit sales gains, while others continue to feel the impact of tightening used supply. But one luxury automaker seemed unaffected by the inventory environment. Audi of Canada sold 494 CPO vehicles, marking an 23.5 percent increase over last June’s results (400 […] [Read More]

Today, General Motors confirmed to Auto Remarketing the details listed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about a recall of late-model Chevrolet and Buick sedans. The campaign covers 42,904 vehicles, including the Chevrolet Malibu Eco from the 2013 model year and the Buick Regal and LaCrosse from the 2012 and 2013 model years. All […] [Read More]