EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — GE Capital Fleet Services is offering a free online seminar this week that will delve into how companies have utilized benchmarking to keep track of fleet performance and the benefits of doing so. The Webinar — which falls under GE's Spotlight Series — is slated to begin at 1 p.m. EST on Tuesday and will run until […] [Read More]

DETROIT — In June, General Motors had 6,049 dealerships selling eight brands, with 87 brand combinations. After the arbitration process and Letters of Intent were sent out, the automaker says the new, smaller dealer network will be much simpler with about 4,500 dealerships, selling 15 brand combinations and four brands. While the new network is about […] [Read More]

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — After what has been a very busy period for Avis Budget Group as new developments continue to emerge in its efforts to acquire Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, the company's top executive said this week that in the second quarter Avis moved closer to achieving its margin and profitability targets. Avis' net income came in a $26 […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Leadership from the American International Automobile Dealers Association touted the higher sales performance member dealers posted in July. AIADA indicated international nameplate franchises accounted for 56.3 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States in July. The figure moved higher than the June mark, which was 53.4 percent. Looking at the specific […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — As Porsche celebrates 60 years in America, the German automaker is unveiling several promotional initiatives, including the launch of a new website. Company officials indicated the website is set to go live next week with contests, videos, stories and images. They stressed this new site is meant to "celebrate the cars and people that […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors announced this week that a member of its board of directors who helped the company steer through its bankruptcy proceedings has retired. That member is Kent Kresa. In accordance with company guidelines, GM said members are ineligible for re-election after the age of 72. Kresa, who is 72, was appointed to the […] [Read More]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — AutoNation enjoyed both month-over-month and year-over-year gains in retail new vehicle unit sales for July. Executives said Wednesday that the amount of new vehicles moved in July totaled 19,688. They indicated this amount represents a 5-percent climb from July 2009, a month the company mentioned had the benefit of Cash for Clunkers. AutoNation […] [Read More]

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A focus on self-evaluation and self-improvement has permeated the culture at Chrysler since it went through bankruptcy and reorganization last year, and this mentality is particularly evident in the automaker's manufacturing segment, said Scott Garberding, the automaker's senior vice president of manufacturing/world class manufacturing.  Garberding was a speaker Monday at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — J.D. Power and Associates doesn't think the sharp improvement in new-vehicle retail sales experienced during the first half of July kept enough steam to drive up full-month results by a large factor. This is why firm analysts believe a slowed sales pace during the final two weeks of July likely will pull down the […] [Read More]

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Ford announced Tuesday that at the end of this month it will kick off an initiative to bring the best performance possible for both current and past buyers of its 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup. For customers who already purchased this vehicle earlier this year, they will be sent a letter […] [Read More]