Following a successful fundraiser for United Way last December, Chrysler dealers will now repeat the sales promotion efforts with the goal of doubling donations. This week, Chrysler Group announced that the company and its 42 Detroit metro dealerships will re-launch a fundraising initiative for United Way for Southeastern Michigan during the month of March, after […] [Read More]

In a certified pre-owned market that keeps gaining steam, the CPO programs of at least nine brands enjoyed their best February on record last month, based on reports from automakers. February records were set for the Ford/Mercury, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz brands, as well as the Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen brands. How did […] [Read More]

Stemming from success through a deal consummated last fall, Penske Automotive Group is diversifying further beyond the retail market, as the company announced today that it has acquired the assets and franchise rights to become the operator of Hertz rental car locations in certain markets throughout Indiana. Penske said it will now operate more than […] [Read More]

Dealers in the Lone Star State have a newly-endorsed option for dealer management systems. This week, Dealertrack Technologies and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association announced TADA’s endorsement of Dealertrack’s dealer management systems, inventory management, sales and F&I, registration and titling, and interactive solutions for use by Texas dealers. Bill Wolters, president of TADA, said, “Dealertrack […] [Read More]

Fresh off the best January in the history of the certified pre-owned market — which had followed record full-year CPO sales in 2012 — dealers had the most successful February ever in their certified operations, according to Autodata Corp.  Not to mention, it was also the strongest daily selling rate ever, Autodata indicated. The firm […] [Read More]

It appears those highly anticipated off-lease vehicles not only are making their way through the wholesale market, but they’re providing a lift to retail used-vehicle sales, according to CNW Research’s rundown of February’s activity. As last month’s retail sales ticked up by more than 4 percent, CNW highlighted used sales of units from 1 to […] [Read More]

Thirty-three dealerships have been honored as Center of Excellence sites by BMW of North America LLC. The company awards this recognition annually to its top performing dealerships in the nation, and said because of the outstanding work of the dealer network, BMW Group achieved its best sales ever in the U.S. in 2012. Of 338 […] [Read More]

With new dealership acquisitions in the U.K. as well as purchase of one of Brazil’s largest auto retailers, a new board member appointment, and a Douthern hail storm that affected four of its New Orleans dealerships, news was streaming from Group 1 Automotive last week.  Unfortunately, the Feb. 24 hail storm was not the first […] [Read More]

Larry H. Miller Dealerships announced a chief financial officer appointment late last week, as another dealer group launched a sales drive for the month of March. Dean Fitzpatrick, president of Larry H. Miller Dealerships, named  Rourk Kemp CFO for the dealership group. Kemp previously served as vice president of finance for Miller Automotive Operations. In […] [Read More]

For their respective certified pre-owned programs, Hyundai and Volkswagen both celebrated their best February ever, and Mercedes-Benz pushed its CPO sales up 26 percent. These are just a few of the storylines that were developing in the certified market as automakers began reporting monthly CPO sales late last week. Starting with VW, its 7,301 certified […] [Read More]