DealerRater announced the official release of CustomerConnect, a new product that aims to connect the in-market shopper and a top-reviewed dealership salesperson in real time — and before the showroom visit. DealerRater found through a recent survey that 97 percent of prospective car buyers would rather choose a salesperson or service advisor to work with […] [Read More]

When the automotive market came out of the recession’s tailspin, new-car demand picked back up quicker than used-car demand, a special report from TD Economics explains. Household balance sheets were getting healthy, consumer confidence and financing conditions were stronger. And there just wasn’t a whole lot of used-car supply, the report said. But now there […] [Read More]

The shopper is on your dealership lot. Game over, right? The shopping and research process: done and done.   Not anymore it isn’t. In an interview here at the NADA Convention & Expo, Jeni Pecard of Cars.com said that, “because of these mobile devices and having this information available to you at all times, the […] [Read More]

TruePartners USA announced last week that its TrueFrame business unit has changed names to CARSPX. The inspection services provider also has a new website: www.carspx.com. Company management and staff have not changed. “As part of our heavy focus for consumer awareness throughout the country, our success will be directly measured on how well we embrace […] [Read More]

 eBay Motors has been doing online car sales since 2000. Before you could post on Facebook (launched in 2004) or watch a video on YouTube (2005) — or do either on an iPhone (2007) — you could buy a car online.   So, the Web-based car sales model that has mushroomed throughout the auto industry is nothing new for the San […] [Read More]

It’s a September evening at Epcot in Florida. In a virtual reality theater, of sorts, park patrons sit in what can best be described as large ski lifts. The IMAX screen in front of them displays rolling video of California landmarks, as the contraption moves to reflect what is being shown on the screen and […] [Read More]

There’s a seemingly ironic sign in the lobby of McGeorge Toyota. “This could be the last time you ever set foot in our showroom,” the sign reads. No, the dealership is not shying away from repeat business. Nor is it trying to keep customers out. Quite the contrary. In fact, the store — located in […] [Read More]

Cloud-based customer engagement solutions provider GoMoto recently finalized integration with Kelley Blue Book to help dealership customers and shoppers see trade‐in values right on the showroom floor as part of the overall vehicle‐buying experience. By integrating GoMoto’s customer experience platform with information from Kelley Blue Book, dealers can offer the appraisal tool as part of […] [Read More]

Thanks to a partnership between AutoIMS and Chrome Data announced Wednesday, wholesale consignors will be able to tap into what the companies described as more accurate and standardized vehicle content data straight from the AutoIMS platform. The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance’s Standards Committee has called for a centralized vehicle data repository, and the chair of that […] [Read More]

CDK Global believes more than 73 percent of consumers prefer to do business with brands that make their shopping experience more relevant. With that metric in mind, CDK Global contends the company now can personalize the online consumer experience for dealerships’ new- and used-vehicle sales endeavors as well as their parts and service profit centers […] [Read More]