It’s a larger-than-expected and highly engaged crowd here at the inaugural eSTART Modernization Forum, with attendees and speakers running the gamut of constituents involved in the vehicle title and registration processes. Companies providing title and registration management technology, auto finance and fintech providers, auto auction/wholesale platforms, software companies, vehicle transport providers and government agencies. And […] [Read More]

Showing there’s plenty of turbulence happening in multiple parts of the automotive industry, First Brands Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday. The global supplier of aftermarket automotive parts filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, saying the move was to stabilize its business operations and facilitate a value-maximizing […] [Read More]

AutoNation offered an update on the progress of its longstanding Drive Pink initiative for 2025, noting the fundraising efforts of the company, its dealers and their employees and customers have generated more than $2 million so far this year to support pediatric cancer causes. Those efforts include a nationwide fundraising campaign for Children’s Miracle Network […] [Read More]

Two Hyundai dealerships joined with the manufacturer during the past week for events to benefit charity and the local community. In Holyoke, Mass., Gary Rome Hyundai hosted a car safety seat check, providing free education and inspections for local families as part of Hyundai Motor America’s partnership with Baystate Health Foundation to expand child passenger […] [Read More]

Work Truck Solutions has completed the first phase of a program aimed at making the commercial vehicle bailment pool process more efficient and transparent for the entire supply chain. The commercial vehicle industry technology platform said its Bailment Pool Pilot involved a major OEM, three upfitters and a group of dealerships, with the goal of […] [Read More]

Shottenkirk Automotive Group has entered new territory. The dealership group, based in Texas and Iowa, has acquired Subaru of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Fla., from the Porter family, according to Heritage Capital Group, which represented the seller in the transaction. The dealership is the first in Florida for Shottenkirk, which now operates 28 dealership locations in […] [Read More]

PureCars has released a case study it conducted to show the impact of first-party data and real-time audience targeting. The company used Robyn, an open-source marketing-mix modeling tool from Meta to analyze the effectiveness of using both its AutoMiner customer data platform and digital advertising platform, and found a 20% increase in ad efficiency on […] [Read More]

AutoNation showed off its newest showpiece with a grand reopening ceremony. The national vehicle retailer debuted its new Porsche Newport Beach retail and service center in Newport Beach, Calif., last week following a “ground-up redevelopment” designed to deliver an “unparalleled luxury automotive experience.” The grand reopening included “curated culinary stations” and comedy from America’s Got […] [Read More]

Dealer Alchemist has conjured up a new partnership with an OEM. The automotive digital marketing company announced it has been certified as a website, digital advertising and search engine optimization partner for Mitsubishi Digital Solutions, Mitsubishi Motors North America’s managed services program, allowing U.S. Mitsubishi dealers to access Dealer Alchemist products directly through the MiDS […] [Read More]

Dealership technology provider Kenect has introduced Voice AI, an artificial intelligence system designed to improve service department operations and customer interactions. Voice AI serves as a virtual receptionist, available 24/7 to handle inbound calls, answer routine questions, schedule service appointments and route inquiries to the appropriate department. The company said automating those tasks allows dealerships […] [Read More]