The effects of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the auto industry are well documented, along with a plummet in Japanese automaker loyalty rankings. Now, according to Experian Automotive, Toyota and Honda are rebounding, as each OEM saw strong comebacks in corporate loyalty in first quarter 2012 Toyota finished third in overall […] [Read More]

Reporting second-quarter earnings this morning, Asbury Automotive Group pulled up used retail sales by 6 percent and increased overall used revenue by 7 percent. This was part of a period when Asbury hit its best-ever quarter earnings per share from continuing operations ($0.69), while increasing net income from $14.2 million to $21.1 million on a […] [Read More]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that removes what sponsors call an obsolete federal mandate requiring the distribution of a booklet reporting motor vehicle insurance costs, a measure fervently supported by the National Automobile Dealers Association. NADA says the bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Reps. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) and Bill Owens (D-N.Y.), […] [Read More]

Businesses and communities alike are coming to the aid of victims in one of the most deadliest shootings in American history. And among this group reaching out to those affected by last week’s tragedy in Aurora, Colo. is a local dealer. Bozarth Auto Dealerships announced today that it has started a fund to help assist […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive generated the largest used-vehicle retail volume in company history during the second quarter as the company’s dealerships turned 27,528 units, up from 26,799 units in the year-ago span. The volume jump helped Sonic to post a 4-percent gain in used-vehicle revenue, according to the company’s financial statement released on Monday. Sonic’s second-quarter earnings […] [Read More]

Total Car Score released its newest automotive ranking this week, ranking the class of 2013 entry-level luxury sedans. It awarded the top spot to the 2013 Cadillac ATS. To earn the hands-on ranking, Cadillac’s model excelled over the BMW 3-Series and the Infiniti G in the review, said Total Car Score editor-in-chief Karl Brauer. “After […] [Read More]

AutoNation explained to Wall Street observers on Thursday a strategy many dealers likely are employing nowadays. If a trade-in can be retailed, it’s going to be through any means available. In fact, president and chief operating officer Michael Maroone said the company transported 10,000 used units from one store to another during the second quarter. […] [Read More]

As both American Honda and Honda Canada explained a recall of nearly 200,000 units, Ford discussed the second recall in a week for the 2013 Escape. While the Blue Oval’s previous notice had to do with the Escape clearance for the gas pedal, Ford’s recall revealed on Thursday is even more severe as the automaker […] [Read More]

Officials estimated about 730,000 units — all of which are Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute units from the 2001 through 2004 model years — are now under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation. ODI investigators revealed in documentation this week that they have been monitoring an issue involving the […] [Read More]

As OEMs gear up for summer clearance events, trying to get all the 2012 models off dealer lots, new ads and incentive programs are debuting each week. And just this past week, Chrysler debuted a new ad for its Dodge Dart, while General Motors launched a new “Chevy Confidence” incentive program. Just how did these […] [Read More]