An on-demand, live video platform developed by Los Angeles-based startup DropIn, gives dealership product specialists a tool that brings customers to car lots and showroom floors — without the shopper having to leave home. “Nobody wants to come down to the dealership and be sitting in the chair and feel that high pressure anymore — those […] [Read More]

With the motivation being on empowering OEMs, LotVantage recently announced the addition of Dave Yeargin as vice president of strategic initiatives. The company indicated Yeargin will assist in the growth of LotVantage’s Brand Manager customer footprint, with a particular focus in the powersports vertical where he has participated for the past 20 years. LotVantage’s Brand […] [Read More]

Frost & Sullivan’s mobility team pegged how much the automotive industry is expected to invest in blockchain technology during the next eight years. As the digitization trend sweeps across industry verticals, analysts acknowledged blockchains have begun to capture a bigger share of IT budgets. By 2025, Frost & Sullivan projected the total automotive industry's spending […] [Read More]

Flexdrive is now a joint venture.  Cox Automotive has entered into a joint venture with Holman Enterprises that, essentially, takes its Flexdrive vehicle subscription platform from an incubator to the mainstream, the company explained Thursday. With the joint venture, each will have a 50-percent ownership stake in Flexdrive, a business model that was created at Cox […] [Read More]

In yet another major purchase officially announced Wednesday, Experian Automotive confirmed in a blog post by its president that it has acquired String Automotive. The purchase was first reported by The Banks Report earlier this week. “Today is a great day for Experian and our automotive clients,” Experian Automotive president John Gray said in a blog post […] [Read More]

Motormindz has announced that Jim O'Sullivan, former president and chief executive officer of Mazda North America Operations, will join the company as a managing partner.      “We are elated to have Jim join the motormindz team and the timing could not be better,” motormindz founder and chief executive officer Jeff Van Dongen said. “He further strengthens […] [Read More]

Since adding Kelley Blue Book to its list of data providers, PERQ said the addition has increased the number of trade-in leads generated by PERQ’s FATWIN Web Engagement platform for its dealer customers by up to 300 percent. The integration of Kelley Blue Book’s data with FATWIN provides online visitors both increased confidence in the […] [Read More]

Carvana has expanded its footprint to include South Carolina, adding the Columbia and Greenville markets on Wednesday. Customers in these markets can choose to have their purchase delivered to their home or pick it up at one of Carvana’s five “Car Vending Machines.” The Carvana “Fly and Drive” program subsidizes $200 in airfare for the […] [Read More]

CDK Global announced Wednesday morning that it has signed a deal to acquire Auto/Mate Dealership Systems, a DMS provider. CDK said in a news release it will integrate the Auto/Mate DMS into its product offering. Each of the company’s boards has approved the deal, which is subject to customary closing requirements and regulatory approval. The […] [Read More]

izmocars recently announced that former CDK Global sales director Dan Crowley has joined the company as a senior field sales consultant. He will oversee all sales and the business development partnerships for FrogData, the company’s data analytics platform. In his new role, Crowley will specifically focus on growing and launching new offerings for FrogData, according to […] [Read More]