IRVINE and SANTA MONICA, Calif. — When it comes to generating shoppers' interest via Super Bowl advertisements, it appears this year's big winner was Hyundai, whose commercials Sunday night appear to have generated significant Web traffic boosts for some of the automaker's models, according to separate analyses from Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com and Edmunds.com. The Hyundai […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — GOSO, a Web and social media marketing suite, shared research it conducted about how many dealers use Facebook and Twitter. Company executives believe 25.5 percent of all dealerships have a page on Facebook. They calculated the exact figure at 5,155 dealerships. GOSO also contends that 10.9 percent of dealers, or 2,195, have a […] [Read More]

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Dealer.com recently named a new chief financial officer. Bringing more than 20 years of senior management experience in finance and investment banking to the role is David Stetson. Most recently, Stetson served as senior managing director and head of the investment banking department for Caris & Co., a San Diego-based investment bank focused […] [Read More]

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — DealerTrack on Monday rolled out comprehensive service price guides designed to aid in offering quick, accurate and consistent estimates. The guides are connected through DealerTrack's current dealership management system for its roster of dealer clients. The guides are available for all major manufacturers. The company indicated that DealerTrack DMS clients can purchase the guides for subscription […] [Read More]

DALLAS — Liquid Motors recently launched customized Web sites that make it easier for consumers to scan inventories and more on their mobile devices, which can help dealers connect with these shoppers more effectively. Company executives contend that a dealer's traditional Web site can be difficult to navigate on a mobile device. Liquid Motors explained that […] [Read More]

FORT WORTH, Texas — What could be described as "the perfect storm" has recently hit the recovery industry. Over the last few years, a significant increase in defaulted consumer loans has created both opportunity and need within the realm of the recovery and automotive finance industries. The opportunity to recover an increased volume of "lost" cars […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Dealers who list their inventories on Cars.com now can reach consumers who use the iPhone because as the device's slogan goes — there's an app for that. Late last week, Cars.com rolled out a free iPhone vehicle shopping application that can help mobile shoppers search dealer inventories and private-party listings. The app, which also can […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — Autobytel recently announced it brought back a former executive who will now serve as executive vice president of corporate development. Making his return to the company is Steve Lind, who has a total of almost 15 years of industry experience. For almost a decade, Lind worked at Autobytel, helping the company secure what […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Automotive Internet Media announced this week that it has purchased Cartango, a female-oriented automotive shopping site. While terms of the deal were not disclosed, Tony French, president of AIM, did say, "We realized there is a huge female market that is going virtually untapped. There are many sites that cater to men but Cartango is […] [Read More]

DALLAS — Executives from eLead plan to roll out a new price structure for their CRM and marketing solution. They indicated the structure will be a bundle of solutions packaged together. It's aimed at improving dealership performance and strategic relationships within every department. Because of this new plan, eLead contends that dealers can lower costs and […] [Read More]