One way your dealership could see customers beyond when they take delivery is by guiding them toward a vehicle that’s more affordable to insure and maintain. That vehicle could be one of the 2023 model-year brand and category winners of the 5-Year Cost to Own Awards recently given by Kelley Blue Book. Examining ongoing costs […] [Read More]

Michael Manley said AutoNation decided to “realign, reposition and reduce” its used-car inventory in the first quarter of 2022. That appeared to be a wise move as the year went on, said Manley, who is AutoNation’s CEO. “It did, however, set us up for a tough comp per unit volume in Q1,” Manley said during AutoNation’s first quarter 2023 earnings call on April 20. Manley said during the call that the company will “remain nimble” in its approach to used vehicles. “And expansion of our AutoNation USA footprint remains ... [Read More]

This week, PureCars announced new data and insights regarding dealers’ knowledge of third-party cookie deprecation, customer database health and using first-party data for targeted marketing, as well as familiarity with customer data platform (CDP) technology. Key survey insights from respondents representing franchised dealerships across the U.S. included: Google’s cookie deprecation: —58% of dealers were unaware […] [Read More]

In a deal involving two Texas groups, Doggett Automotive Group has purchased Kinsel Toyota and Kinsel, Ford Lincoln and Mazda from Kinsel Motors, according to a news release from Kerrigan Advisors, which represented Kinsel in the transaction. Kinsel is based in Beaumont and Doggett is based in Houston. “We were honored to work with the […] [Read More]

Todd Caputo, president of Todd Caputo Consulting, joins the show from last month’s Auto Intel Summit in Raleigh, N.C. Caputo talks with Cherokee Media Group senior editor Joe Overby about how dealers can correct bad habits, keys to standalone used-car store success and much more. The full conversation can be found in the window below. […] [Read More]

AutoNation will have a new chief marketing officer on May 15. Hired for the role is former Macy’s executive Richard Lennox, who will report to AutoNation CEO Mike Manley in the new post. Current chief marketer Marc Cannon will retire at the end of 2023, but will serve in a new role focused on corporate […] [Read More]

Here’s another option for franchised dealers to generate revenue either via an F&I product or in the service lane. Radiant Ride, specialists in professional cosmetic restoration services and customer retention, announced the launch of its certified dealer network for franchised dealership service departments. The company highlighted on Monday that participating dealers are certified to provide […] [Read More]

Performance Brokerage Services recently helped to facilitate two more dealership transactions in the Midwest. The M&A firm announced this week the sale of Haasz Auto Mall of Dalton in Ohio from Kevin Haasz to John and Joe Sarchione of Sarchione Automotive Group. Performance Brokerage Services also highlighted the sale of Genthe Honda in Southgate, Mich., […] [Read More]

Why is it that it can sometimes takes dramatic events to cause real change? Are we stubborn, arrogant, greedy — or just slow to change? Take, for example, the sales and service relationship in a typical auto dealership. With rare exception, sales and service not only don’t communicate, but they don’t even like each other. […] [Read More]

Ed Morse Automotive Group has expanded its Missouri footprint with the purchase of Putnam Chevrolet in California, Mo., from Bill Campbell. The store, which will be renamed Ed Morse Chevrolet, is the group’s sixth in the state. The Delray Beach, Fla.-based retailer has 37 dealerships throughout Florida, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma. “When our […] [Read More]