Awards Archives | Page 43 of 52 | Auto Remarketing

PAR North America receives TD Auto Finance award

Officials announced recently that ADESA subsidiary PAR North America has been selected as TD Auto Finance’s Repossession Vendor of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The company highlighted PAR’s selection was based on outstanding ratings on performance, compliance and communication. PAR was the segment leader in key performance areas, including:

— Repossession rate
— Time to repossession from placement
— Accuracy and resolution rate.

The award was presented at TD Auto Finance’s collection vendor conference in New Orleans last month, an event held to inform, reward and recognize its collection support vendors.

“We are honored to again be chosen for this award as a leader in the industry,” PAR North America president Jerry Kroshus said.

“We’ve been consistent in our performance, and I’m proud of our team’s ability to deliver and follow through. Receiving this award from TD Auto Finance means so much because TD Auto Finance is an excellent business partner and is so well respected in the industry for their ethics and high standards.”

PAR North America is a nationwide provider of vehicle transition services, including repossession placement, remarketing, titling, skip-tracing and end-of-term lease services. The company uses the latest in Web-based technology to connect clients and vendors with customized, real-time remarketing solutions.

Ally to sponsor TIME Dealer of the Year through 2021

On Wednesday, Ally Financial announced that it will renew its exclusive sponsorship of the TIME Dealer of the Year program through 2021.

Ally and TIME also officially opened the nomination period for the 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year program, encouraging nominations at last week’s annual Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE) Summer Conference in Dearborn, Mich.

The TIME Dealer of the Year is an annual program that aims to recognize and honor franchised dealers around the country who make outstanding charitable contributions to their communities.

“We continue to be impressed and inspired by the tremendous efforts of the TIME Dealer of the Year nominees,” said Tim Russi, president of auto finance at Ally.

“In recognition of these dealers’ dedication to their communities, Ally is proud to have committed more than $315,000 in charitable grants over the past four years to further amplify their local efforts,” Russi continued.

The 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year winner and finalists will be selected by a panel composed of faculty from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan. The panel will choose the finalists from each of the four National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) regions, and from those four finalists, the judges will then select the national winner.

ATAEs, who represent state and metro area dealer associations throughout the country, can begin the process of selecting and nominating extraordinary dealers within their regions for the upcoming 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year award by visiting www.timedealeroftheyear.com.  

Ally further recognizes each TIME Dealer of the Year nominee with a $1,000 grant to the qualified nonprofit organization of their choosing, and provides additional grants for the finalists and winner.

The ATAE who nominates the 2016 TIME Dealer of the Year winner will also receive a $5,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

“The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious accolades and we are honored to continue to be a part of it,” said Andrea Riley, chief marketing officer at Ally. “Automotive dealers play an integral role in their communities and we’re proud to recognize their efforts on a national stage.”   

Earlier this year, Andy Crews of AutoFair Honda in Manchester, N.H., was named the 2015 TIME Dealer of the Year. Crews was nominated by the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association for his unique “Make the Grade” program, which helps motivate high school seniors to get better grades for a chance to win a car, and his contributions to numerous local charitable organizations in New Hampshire.

Nominees for the 2016 award will be announced in October and the winner will be named at the NADA Convention and Expo in Las Vegas, being held March 31 through April 3.

J.D. Power APEAL study shows growing interest in safety features

J.D. Power announced the results of its 2015 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study this week, the rankings of which show the growing usage of safety technologies in new vehicles make them more attractive to shoppers and vehicle owners.

The APEAL study, which allows owns to evaluate their vehicles across 77 categories, combines these numbers into an overall APEAL Index score based on a 1,000-point scale. Overall, the APEAL score for the industry has spiked by four points year-over-year coming in at a score of 798.

On a brand basis, Porsche ranked the highest out of all brands with an APEAL score of 874 index points. This is the 11th consecutive year the luxury nameplate has made the No. 1 spot for the study.

Among the non-premium segment,  Mini is the highest-ranking brand in the study with a score of 825.

And Porsche, as well as Chevrolet and Ford, each received three segment level awards.

Looking at the overall results for the study, J.D. Power explained safety features can contribute to a significant boost in APEAL scores.

"Unlike other technologies, such as voice recognition, that can be challenging to operate, most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security," said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. "Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall."

In fact, owners of vehicles touting blind-spot monitoring and warning systems scored their vehicles 38 points higher than among those without them. And the study found that 69 percent of vehicles owners with these features said they use them every time they drive.

And it seems automakers are catching on, as these safety features become more prevalent in vehicles. The study found that 36 percent of owners have blind-spot monitoring and warning systems in their cars, which is up 7 percent from 2014.

Taking a look at brand performance this year for the APEAL study, J.D. Power noted that the gap between premium and non-premium brands is “narrowing.”

This year, the average APEAL Index score in the non-premium segment came in at 790, which is up five points since 2014. The average score for the premium segment is 841, which is only up by one point over last year.

The gap is the smallest it’s been in 10 years, down 16 percent since 2006.

"Over the past several years, we have seen non-premium brands increasingly offer the types of in-vehicle technologies that used to be available only to premium buyers," said Stephens. "The positive impact these technologies have on owners is more pronounced among non-premium owners. In fact, owners of non-premium vehicles that include the latest technology¹ register higher APEAL scores by 50 points, compared with just a 29-point increase among owners of premium vehicles with the same technologies."

Among the luxury nameplates, of course, Porsche came out ahead, followed by Jaguar (855), BMW (854), Mercedes-Benz (853) and Audi (852).

Among the non-premium brands, Chevrolet and Ford received the most segment awards. Chevrolet notched top spots for its Colorado, Corvette and Sonic, while Ford won for its C-Max hybrid, Expedition and F-150.

Below you will find the full APEAL Index ratings for 2015 as well as a list of the segment award winners, provided by J.D. Power:

2015 APEAL Nameplate Index Ranking
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)

Top Three Models per Segment

City Car*
Highest Ranked: Fiat 500

Small Car
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Sonic
Kia Rio
Ford Fiesta

Small Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Audi A3
BMW 2 Series
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Compact Car
Highest Ranked: Volkswagen Golf
Subaru WRX
Volkswagen Beetle

Compact Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: MINI Cooper
Compact Premium Car
Highest Ranked: BMW 4 Series
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Lexus RC

Compact Premium Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Porsche Cayman
Porsche Boxster

Midsize Car
Highest Ranked: Mazda MAZDA6
Hyundai Sonata (tie)
Nissan Altima (tie)

Midsize Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Dodge Challenger
Ford Mustang

Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: BMW 6 Series
Audi A7
Infiniti Q70

Midsize Premium Sporty Car*
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Corvette
Porsche 911

Large Car
Highest Ranked: Dodge Charger
Chevrolet Impala
Chrysler 300 (tie)
Toyota Avalon (tie)

Large Premium Car*
Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Small SUV
Highest Ranked: MINI Countryman
Volkswagen Tiguan
Buick Encore

Small Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Audi Q3
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Compact SUV
Highest Ranked: Mazda CX-5
GMC Terrain
Subaru Forester

Compact Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Porsche Macan
BMW X4
Audi Q5

Compact MPV*
Highest Ranked: Ford C-Max
Kia Soul

Midsize SUV
Highest Ranked: Nissan Murano
Toyota Highlander
Buick Enclave

Midsize Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Porsche Cayenne
BMW X5
Audi Q7 (tie)
BMW X6 (tie)

Midsize Pickup*
Highest Ranked: Chevrolet Colorado
GMC Canyon

Minivan
Highest Ranked: Kia Sedona
Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna

Large SUV
Highest Ranked: Ford Expedition
Chevrolet Tahoe
GMC Yukon

Large Premium SUV
Highest Ranked: Infiniti QX80
Land Rover Range Rover
Lincoln Navigator

Large Light Duty Pickup
Highest Ranked: Ford F-150
Ram 1500 LD
GMC Sierra LD

Large Heavy Duty Pickup
Highest Ranked: GMC Sierra HD
Chevrolet Silverado HD (tie)
Ford Super Duty (tie)

* No other model in this segment performs above segment average.

MVTRAC president receives Leukemia & Lymphoma Society honor

MVTRAC president Luke Smith recently was named the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2015 Man of the Year. Collectively, Smith along with the other candidates from the Illinois chapter raised more than $600,000 to help cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

The 10-week campaign held in more than 80 cities across the nation required candidates to raise donations through selling tickets to LLS events, hosting private fundraisers and procuring items for the silent and live auctions during the Grand Finale Gala.

“Regardless of winning, it was an immense privilege to be nominated as a candidate and represent a foundation that is essential towards the eventual cure of blood related diseases,” Smith said.

“All of the candidates for the event are tremendous individuals and it is an honor to have competed alongside them towards a great cause," he added.

Over the years, officials highlighted contributions toward LLS events have been responsible for blood cancer advancements that have doubled, tripled, and in some cases quadrupled the survival rate for certain blood cancers.

Furthermore, many LLS supported therapies not only help blood cancer patients, but are also now used to treat patients with rare forms of stomach and skin cancers and are in clinical trials for patients with lung, brain, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers. LLS-funded drugs, targeted therapies and immunotherapies are now saving thousands of lives every day and are only possible through the generous donations derived from events such as MWOY.

“I want to express a sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone for the endless support, contributions and encouragement throughout the campaign,” Smith said.

“Only through the backing of family, friends and colleagues does anyone have a chance at achieving tremendous results,” he continued. “The fact that we’re close to the cure for blood diseases is a true testament to what you have all committed, and for that, I am grateful. On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you for your support.”

For more information about LLS, or to continue supporting LLS research and cures, visit www.lls.org.

Beggs joins NIADA Ring of Honor

Ricky Beggs, formerly the senior vice president at Black Book, was recently named to the  National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s Ring of Honor.

NIADA awards this honor each year to an executive demonstrating outstanding performance and leadership, while also helping the auto industry grow.

Beggs retired in April after 34 years with Black Book. One of the most respected leaders of the remarketing business, Beggs has been a key voice and provider of insight to the industry. He is the fourth person from Black Book to earn Ring of Honor distinction, which has now been awarded to 24 people.

“I am truly honored to have been able to have some influence on Black Book and the automotive industry and honored to be amongst this group of past recipients that have had a major impact on the way used cars are sold,” said Beggs. “I would not be receiving this special award without the efforts of all of the Black Book associates and especially the solid work by the entire editorial team.” 
 

Texas dealer wins Innovation Award at NAMAD

Cox Automotive and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers presented its Innovation Award to a Texas dealer principal during its awards dinner at the 2015 NAMAD Conference on Thursday.                                                     

Cox Automotive’s vice president of customer and industry marketing, Kevin Filan, presented the second annual Innovation Award to Carlos Liriano, the dealer principal at Lost Pines Toyota in Bastrop, Texas.

The award is given to industry leaders chosen for positive impacts on their organizations and the industry. Liriano was chosen for his leadership contributions in environmental and energy efficient design and operations.

“I am deeply inspired by Bastrop’s commitment to the environment and preservation, and I believe that a facility that embodies a community’s core values has the potential to touch thousands of lives,” Liriano said. “It was this idea that led us to design and build Lost Pines Toyota with a focus on environmental and energy efficiency standards, ensuring that the impression we leave is a positive, lasting one.

“This is a huge undertaking that wouldn’t be possible without my tremendous team that is equally as committed to seeking new ways to decrease its environmental footprint and reflect positively on our community in Bastrop County.”

Liriano has maintained a sharp focus on green energy practices since opening the dealership in 2012. Lost Pines Toyota is the only Gold LEED Certified dealer serving the Austin, Texas market. Through Liriano’s guidance, the dealership has aimed at operating as cleanly as possible, even cutting down paper consumption by two-thirds by utilizing digital technology.

“Dealerships play an immeasurable role in their communities, and it is heartening to see how Carlos and his staff have built a strong foundation and successful business that embodies the ideals of their local community,” Filan said. “So to Carlos, we say thank you for being an inspirational example of how thoughtful innovation can have a lasting impact.”

For more information on NAMAD, visit its site here.

Manheim NY wins LEEP award, Copart starts 2nd rebuild challenge

Manheim New York was one of 18 organizations recognized by the Light Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign for its efficient lighting.

The Manheim location was awarded the “Highest Absolute Annual Savings in a Retrofit at a Single Parking Area” award. The location honored replaced its medium and high-wattage metal halide fixtures with LED fixtures, reducing its energy consumption by 1,761,687 kilowatt-hours (kWh), a nearly 70 percent energy savings.

“We’re honored to be recognized with this award,” said Mark Pester, Manheim New York’s general manager. “The LED retrofit project has had a positive impact on our facility, not only by significantly reducing our energy consumption, but also improving the lighting quality. We’re proud of our contribution to Cox’s sustainability initiatives, and hope that the success we’ve achieved influences other businesses to consider more efficient lighting alternatives in their facilities.”

Manheim Pennsylvania was the recipient of a LEEP award in 2014. As a part of Cox Enterprises, the Manheim locations participate in Cox Conserves, the company’s national sustainability program that aims at sending zero waste to landfills by 2024 and becoming carbon and water neutral by 2044.

To put the savings in perspective, the 18 recipients of the 2015 LEEP awards along with the 12 winners in 2014 have saved nearly 30 million kWh and $3 million per year by upgrading to higher efficiency lighting in over 200,000 parking spaces nationwide.

“It might only take one person to change a light bulb, but it took dedicated efforts by the many thoughtful leaders of LEEP award winners to demonstrate how much can be gained through advanced, cost effective lighting technologies in parking lots and garages,” said David Danielson, the assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. “These innovative solutions also enhance safety and improve working conditions for customers, tenants and employees.”

More information about LEEP can be found here.

In other auction-related news, Copart has begun taking entries for its second annual Copart Rebuild Challenge, a contest designed for car enthusiasts and automotive rebuilders to show how they restored, customized or rebuilt a vehicle.

The contest began taking submissions on Monday and will be open through July 27 here.

“We’re excited to bring the Copart Rebuild Challenge back,” said Michelle Hoffman, the company’s senior director of marketing. “There were so many amazing entries that came in last year, and we are ready to see what our talented Members will show us in 2015.”

After the entry period ends, an expert panel from Copart will judge the entries and choose up to 10 finalists, who will then enter a voting stage open to the public to determine the top three. First place will receive $2,000, second place $500 and third will receive a one-year Copart Premier Membership or $200 if the participant already has a membership. 

Account Control Technology receives charity accolade

Account Control Technology (ACT), a provider in delivering debt recovery and business process outsourcing solutions, recently was named the 2015 Corporate Partner of the Year in the Non-Profit & Corporate Citizenship Awards sponsored by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The award is given to a “for-profit organization in recognition of its impact to single or multiple nonprofit organizations through financial contributions, fundraising efforts or non-financial contributions.”

Founded in 1990 by Dale and Debbie Van Dellen, ACT highlighted that it has made community involvement and charitable support a part of its culture for 25 years.

In 2013, ACT established the Account Control Technology Foundation, which each year awards $50,000 in college scholarships in addition to donating to other charities and community programs.

To date, the ACT Foundation has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships and other donations.

The ACT Foundation also works to build financial literacy and debt management awareness. In 2015, the Foundation launched a new site at www.AccountControlFoundation.org which provides young people direction into managing their finances, particularly when it comes to funding their education and controlling student debt.

In 2014, ACT and its employees donated $32,014 to Susan G. Komen to support the organization’s work to end breast cancer, and they contributed nearly $5,000 to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Additional organizations recently receiving support from ACT and its employees include local Boys & Girls Clubs, food banks and hunger programs, health and emergency charities, local schools, children in need, local women’s shelters, Toys for Tots, Project Graduation events, animal welfare organizations and additional charities.

And because of those efforts, ACT now has this award on its mantle.

“It’s an honor to receive this distinction as part of an awards program that recognizes organizations working to make the world a better place,” said Dale Van Dellen, chairman of ACT Holdings.

“ACT employees have been active in charitable and community activities throughout the company’s history, and receiving the award for corporate citizenship recognizes our employees’ volunteerism, generosity, community spirit and dedication to service,” Van Dellen added.

NIADA roundup: DealerRater partnership & annual awards

DealerRater is now a National Member Benefit Partner of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, NIADA announced this week. 

In this capacity, DealerRater will aim to help NIADA dealers “connect with active, in-market consumers,” according to DealerRater’s chief executive officer, Gary Tucker.

DealerRater’s suite of solutions, including CertifiedEssentials, LotShot, Resolution Advantage, ServiceEngage and ReviewBuilder, will be available to NIADA members.

“DealerRater is completely focused on the automotive industry and offers dealers several tools other consumer review sites cannot,” said Scott Lilja, senior vice president of member services at NIADA. “Our members will embrace the opportunity to work with a provider like DealerRater and take advantage of their expertise in building online reputation.”

More information on DealerRater’s offerings can be found here.

NIADA Awards

Elsewhere at NIADA, the association wrapped up its annual NIADA Convention & Expo last week. The organization recognized many in the industry for their individual contributions to the auto sector.                                                                            

Darla Booher, the president of Deal Depot in Greer, S.C., was named the 2015 National Quality Dealer of the Year during the event, chosen from the 20 State Quality Dealers nominated.

Selected by a panel of judges from Northwood University based on factors such as contributions to the industry and community involvement, Booher becomes the second woman to win the award since 2002 recipient Wanda Lewark.

“Over the years, Darla Booher has earned an exceptional reputation not only with her customers and staff, but throughout her community and within our industry,” said Steve Jordan, NIADA executive vice president. “Giving back to her community has always been a team effort for her and her staff.”

Other professionals honored by NIADA at the event include:

• NIADA Association Executive of the Year: Todd O’Connell, Colorado IADA.
• Crystal Eagle Award winners: Kimberly New, Style Financial Acceptance Co.; Dennis Pope, People’s Financial; Glen Reeves, Reeves Insurance Agency; Julie Colgate, Independent Dealers Advantage; Guy Padgett, Sterling Credit Corporation; Roy Daniel, ALS Dealer Funding; and J. Wayne Meagher of M D Auto Sales.
• Honorary Crystal Eagle Award winner: Frank Fuzy, owner of Century Motors of South Florida, who was also named as the association’s president during the event.

According to the NIADA, O’Connell earned the award by putting his previously struggling organization on solid financial footing, creating an association charity that raised more than $100,000 in the first year, starting a dealer defense fund to protect against frivolous lawsuits, adding an association Ambassador group to promote CIADA information, and establishing relationships with state officials.

For more NIADA awards, stay tuned to Auto Remarketing. 

NIADA announces 5 scholarship winners

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association announced today the recipients of the organization’s 2015 Scholarship Awards at the 69th Annual NIADA Convention and Expo at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

The NIADA Foundation, each year, sponsors a student in each of the association’s four regions with a $3,500 scholarship to the college or university of his or her choice. The foundation and Cox Automotive also award one $10,000 national scholarship once a year for an exceptional student to help them attend or continue his or her education at Northwood University in Midland, Mich. in an automotive-related field.

Here are this year’s 5 scholarship winners:

• NIADA/Cox Automotive National Scholarship: Alesandra D’Agostino, who just completed her first year at Northwood University.
• Region I: Emma Hammer of Indianapolis.
• Region II: Philip Hetzler of Matthews, N.C.
• Region III: Cash Forster of Washington, Okla.
• Region IV: Maxence Weyrich of Boonville, Calif.

All of the students’ entries were judged by Northwood University.

In related news, ADESA, AFC and IAA helped raised $27,500 for the NIADA Foundation on Wednesday. Andy Gabler, of Lakeside Auto Sales in Erie, Pa., won a bidding war for a Mercedes C250W during the NIADA Convention. The three auction companies donated the vehicle where all proceeds of its sale will be used to help the NIADA Foundation.

Over the past three years, ADESA/AFC/IAA-sponsored auctions at the NIADA Convention have raised a total of $69,700 for the NIADA Foundation.

For more on this year’s NIADA Convention, click here.