Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and corporate travel restrictions, the International Automotive Remarketing Alliance has “revised its strategy” for its 2020 IARA Summer Roundtable Conference and will produce the “2020 IARA Virtual Summer Roundtable.” “IARA’s first consideration is the health and safety of its members and guests,” IARA president Paul Seger said in a news […] [Read More]

Both Black Book and Cox Automotive released their monthly wholesale indices for May in recent days, each remarking how some stabilization arrived in the space when compared to the COVID-19 induced turbulence seen in April. Cox Automotive reported wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) increased 8.96% month-over-month in May; a […] [Read More]

Manheim is allowing consignor representatives back on the auction block this week to rep their vehicles during sales, which remain in Simulcast-only mode. The auction company is also looking at ways to safely bring bidders back to the auction arena and could be piloting those plans at locations towards the end of June. These updates […] [Read More]

Warren Byrd not only is departing his executive role with KAR Global; the wholesale industry veteran also is giving up his leadership position with the National Auto Auction Association. On Monday, NAAA announced that Byrd has decided to step down from the association’s board of directors after more than a decade of service on the […] [Read More]

Two fleet management companies announced vehicle maintenance initiatives this week, one that addresses COVID-19 challenges by providing contact-free vehicle maintenance services for cars and light-duty vehicles. Fleet management and driver mobility services company LeasePlan USA on Wednesday said it has partnered with automotive mobile maintenance and repair services provider YourMechanic to provide those contact-free maintenance services […] [Read More]

KAR Global announced on Friday morning that long-time senior executive Warren Byrd will step down after 23 years with the company. Byrd most recently served the company as executive vice present of corporate development and real estate for the past 10 years, overseeing all corporate development projects and real estate acquisitions within its portfolio, including […] [Read More]

Dan Kennedy, senior vice president of business development at Jack Cooper Diversified, chats with Cherokee Media Group president Bill Zadeits about the state of the wholesale auto industry, challenges dealers are facing, key elements of weathering past auto industry crises and more. Kennedy spent four decades with General Motors, including 31 years with the automaker's […] [Read More]

Manheim has named four new general managers at locations and market centers across the country, stating it was making those moves at a time “when leadership is crucial.” The moves take place in Florida, Minnesota and Cincinnati, and Manheim said in a news release that the leaders were starting in their new positions “as clients, […] [Read More]

Direct Automotive Services has named Steve Watson as chief financial officer. Direct Automotive Services, formerly named Direct Auction Services, serves wholesale auto auctions, retail auto dealerships and final mile logistics companies throughout the lifecycle of vehicles, including local pickup and deliveries, vehicle reconditioning, auction labor and vehicle inspections and production optimization. Watson was previously with […] [Read More]

How does managing health and safety happen at a large corporation during a pandemic, with so many varieties of enterprise? Kenny Jones, senior director of health and safety at Cox Automotive, joins the Auto Remarketing Podcast to talk about just that. He discusses collaboration in health/safety efforts in the various entities of parent company Cox Enterprises, […] [Read More]