Volkswagen of America recently shifted one of its parts and services executives to serve in the role of region director to oversee the OEM’s franchised dealers in the Northeast. Tapped for the position is David Durant, who will be based in Woodcliff Lake, N.J. In his new role, Volkswagen explained Durant will be responsible for managing and […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive declared today that the company’s used-vehicle department posted record annual sales volume in 2011 as used-vehicle volume climbed 11 percent for the quarter and 14 percent for the full year. The used-vehicle performance helped Sonic generate fourth quarter adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $25.4 million for a 46-percent increase over the prior-year […] [Read More]

Dealership service department diagnostic solution provider MPi is again orchestrating a skills competition to determine who is the best service technician. With Lexus of Henderson serving as the host, MPi is expecting 7,000 technicians from 455 dealerships nationwide to compete in REV It UP — a series of four races designed to test technicians’ skills […] [Read More]

Late last week, Mercedes-Benz USA and Sonic Automotive announced a settlement of all legal disputes between the two companies effective immediately. Both companies declined to provide details of the settlement, but a report in the Charlotte Business Journal might have shown where the litigation began. [Read More]

With much of their attention dedicated to new-vehicle sales projections, TrueCar.com gave a glimpse as to where February’s used-vehicle sale total might land when it released estimations at the same time as Edmunds.com. TrueCar estimated this month’s used sales figure to land at 2,099,298 units, a sum that would be 16.5 percent higher than February […] [Read More]

Just a few years ago, store closures permeated the entire car business throughout the U.S. amid slumping sales and the bankruptcy of two Big 3 automakers. Now — in sharp contrast to those troubling times — one of those OEMs that went through bankruptcy is adding stores left and right in the country’s most populous […] [Read More]

The Ontario Automobile Dealers Association and the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association are officially merging. Announcing the combined association on Friday, officials claim the new Trillium Automobile Dealers Association will be the largest of its kind in Canada. It also marks the first time that all new-vehicle dealers in the province will be under the same […] [Read More]

Along with recall details on its Odyssey and Pilot, Honda revealed several changes in its U.S. executive ranks on Wednesday, moves the OEM insisted are designed to strengthen its North American regional operations to further speed decision-making and increase efficiency and competitiveness within the region. [Read More]

Infiniti leadership had one message for its franchised dealers when they gathered for the brand’s national retailer meeting earlier this month in Phoenix. Without hesitation, brand officials declared, “there is no better time to be an Infiniti retailer.” Part of the reason for Infiniti’s optimism is the brand’s new CUV — the Infiniti JX. Officials […] [Read More]

The son of a millwright, Michigan native Eric Swanson’s family background in the car business is strong. Following the footsteps of his father and both of his grandfathers, Swanson now heads up the certified pre-owned program for Chrysler. As part of an Auto Remarketing Special Profile Series, Swanson shared more about his days growing up […] [Read More]