Your store inventory could look more appealing to potential buyers who are shopping online via an expanded strategic partnership Sincro and SpinCar.
The automotive digital marketing firm and provider of digital automotive engagement software announced this week that their enhanced alliance is geared to brings automated 360-degree walkarounds to more than 3,000 U.S. auto dealers.
Through a direct integration between SpinCar’s SpinBuilder CV platform and Sincro’s website platform, the firms said static vehicle images will be automatically converted into interactive vehicle walkarounds for all eligible dealers.
SpinCar and Sincro said virtual 360-degree walkarounds can increase trust and transparency by empowering shoppers to explore every aspect of a vehicle directly from their laptop, tablet or mobile device.
The firms explained the virtual 360-degree tours can enable vehicle shoppers to rotate, pan, or zoom in on every detail of a vehicle’s exterior.
With the expanded Sincro integration, all dealers subscribed to Sincro’s mid- and high-tier website packages will now be able to augment vehicle images with a complete 360-degree viewing experience. Shoppers can access the enhanced experience directly from the vehicle details page (VDP) of the dealer’s website.
Sincro also integrates with SpinCar’s full suite of digital merchandising solutions. Dealers subscribing to SpinCar’s premium products can take advantage of additional merchandising features, including panoramic views of a vehicle’s interior, interactive hotspots that highlight key vehicle details, VIN-specific feature showcases, damage tags and undercarriage images, as well as access to merchandising performance reports and detailed shopper behavioral data.
“SpinCar’s advanced merchandising platform delivers an enhanced shopping experience for prospective car buyers, which means greater engagement and conversions for dealers,” said Jason Jewert, vice president of strategy and solutions at Sincro.
“Sincro and SpinCar share a passion for improving the vehicle shopping process and we have seen the impact that digital merchandising technology has on driving business meaningful results,” Jewert continued in a news release. “We’re excited to bring this new capability to our customers while continuing to work with SpinCar to introduce new innovations and experiences for consumers and dealers alike.”
Devin Daly is co-founder and chief executive officer of SpinCar.
“Sincro has established itself as a trusted provider to the auto industry, delivering proven technology solutions that enhance the car shopping experience and dealership performance,” Daly said in the news release. “Enhanced digital showrooms powered by exceptional digital merchandising technology are critical for dealer success in today’s era of always-on, connected shoppers.
“Our expanded partnership with Sincro will provide even more auto retailers with access to interactive digital engagement solutions that optimize the shopping journey,” Daly went on to say.
SiriusXM already has working relationships with a variety of automakers, including one with Jaguar Land Rover North America solidified earlier this year as well as alliances with Mazda, Kia and General Motors forged in 2020.
On Monday, the satellite radio company announced a relationship in the service space.
SiriusXM and AAA Club Alliance (ACA), the third largest AAA club in the nation that serves more than 6 million members, announced a new agreement that allows ACA’s affiliated shops and car care centers to offer their eligible customers a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM.
Executives said this development marks the first agreement of its kind between SiriusXM and a regional AAA Club.
AAA Club Alliance shops that enroll in the SiriusXM Service Lane for Shops Program can offer a complimentary three-month SiriusXM Platinum Plan subscription to eligible customers with a factory installed SiriusXM radio in their vehicles. This offer enables the customer to listen to SiriusXM on the radio in their vehicle, and also via the SXM App when they are not behind the wheel.
According to a news release, customers who do not have a vehicle with a factory-installed SiriusXM radio may still be eligible to receive a complimentary three-month SiriusXM Streaming Platinum subscription, which will allow them to listen on the SXM App.
AAA Club Alliance owns and operates 89 car care centers and services more than 30,000 members and customers each month. ACA is also affiliated with more than 400 independently owned and operated auto service and repair shops within its defined region, which spans 13 Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states, plus Washington D.C.
“We are very excited to welcome AAA Club Alliance to our Service Lane for Shops Program and for Club Alliance to become the first participating regional AAA Club,” said Gail Berger, senior vice president of automotive remarketing for SiriusXM. “AAA Club Alliance has a very large territory in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and eligible customers bringing their vehicle in for maintenance can now enjoy all that SiriusXM has to offer inside their vehicle and out of it.”
AAA Car Care president Craig Sumerel added, “We are thrilled to promote this offer from SiriusXM and look forward to its success.”
Shops interested in more information, or to enroll in the Service Lane for Shops Program, can visit www.siriusxmforshops.com/AAAShopEnroll.
Finalized just ahead of Used Car Week, Ship.Cars and Montway Auto Transport announced a partnership on Friday.
The automotive transport technology firm and third-party logistics brokerage company said in a news release that their customers will gain increased exposure to extra carrier capacity with additional focus on visibility and automation in the post-dispatch process.
As used-vehicle prices surge and the automotive transport industry faces significant supply chain challenges and disruption, Ship.Cars’s goal is to simplify and streamline the entire transport process for all stakeholders with user-friendly technologies, including LoadMate for Shippers, Market Load Board and Carrier Transport Management System (TMS).
“Today’s disruptive supply chain environment exemplifies an auto transport industry that is ripe for innovation,” said Eftim Eftimov, vice president of strategy at Ship.Cars. “Montway’s partnership demonstrates how vital integrated TMS tools are for the future growth of leading auto transport companies.”
As part of the agreement, Montway and its customers will leverage Ship.Cars’s full suite of technology products, including LoadMate, Market Load Board, Carrier TMS and a new customer portal.
In addition to granting access to thousands of carriers, LoadMate’s features include in-app chats with carriers and drivers, AI-based tools for accurate load pricing and tracking loads in real time.
Market Load Board can enable bookings to be negotiated and confirmed online, provides instant dispatching and delivers enhanced electronic proof of delivery – all without the need of phone calls.
Carrier TMS can provide real-time updates for vehicle hauling partners, robust tools for load management, advanced car hauler dispatch software, and modern tools for payments and invoices.
“Further integration with the Ship.Cars platform enables Montway to provide our customers and trusted carrier partners with new tools for even faster and more dependable transport services,” Montway Auto Transport president and chief executive officer Dimitre Kirilov said in the news release.
“Our company’s significant growth in the past few years highlights how important user-friendly technologies are for providing excellent customer service while seamlessly managing thousands of auto transport shipments each year,” continued Kirilov, whose company is among the exhibitors at Used Car Week, which begins on Monday at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
To learn more about Ship.Cars, visit Ship.Cars, and to learn more about Montway Auto Transport, visit montway.com.
HyreCar has an ambitious goal it wants to reach in four years. On Thursday, HyreCar took another step toward it with moves that include increased financing capacity for one of its key partners.
The carsharing marketplace for ridesharing, food and package delivery services announced an expanded strategic partnership to significantly increase vehicle supply in key markets on the HyreCar platform.
The formal partnerships include AmeriDrive Holdings, a leading automotive mobility fleet manager, and Cogent Bank’s specialty finance group.
According to a news release, Cogent has agreed to expand its lending capacity so that AmeriDrive can continue to build its fleet exclusively on the HyreCar platform.
Executives said this fleet will include electric vehicles in key markets which builds on a strategic commitment of HyreCar to provide EV cars to rideshare and delivery drivers in the United States.
“HyreCar’s expanded relationship with AmeriDrive and Cogent Bank utilizes an established platform to help our partners grow their business,” HyreCar chief executive officer Joe Furnari said in the news release.
“This expanded partnership will continue to fortify HyreCar’s ecosystem that serves the gig economy on a national scale and will help us meet our goals to add and utilize over 50,000 cars by 2025 on HyreCar’s platform,” Furnari continued.
Carlos Hernandez is CEO of AmeriDrive.
“AmeriDrive is the number-one fleet in the United States focused on gig drivers,” Hernandez said. “We are on track to scale the business into three new markets over the next four months as we further align with HyreCar’s growth objectives and obtain a vote of confidence from our banking partner at Cogent Bank.”
Michael Skat is executive vice president of specialty finance at Cogent Bank.
“Working with the respective teams, our group created an innovative debt structure that provides the necessary working capital and certain vehicle acquisition support to help achieve success for all parties,” Skat said. “We sincerely look forward to watching the progress made by these dynamic groups.”
Auction Edge and Carbly have teamed up to launch the Pipeline Market Report, a vehicle pricing guide powered by sale data from independent auctions.
The data is composed of near real-time results from Auction Edge partner auctions, with pricing based on actual transactions, the companies said in a news release.
“Independent auctions are moving so much metal for dealers, commercial accounts and beyond,” Auction Edge chief executive officer Dan Diedrich said in a news release.
“Through this partnership, we believe we are delivering timely and relevant pricing data for sellers and buyers,” Diedrich said. “In less than a year, our partnership with Carbly continues to provide valuable tools and services for our customers.”
Diedrich will be among dozens of speakers on hand for Cherokee Media Group’s Used Car Week later this month at Red Rock in Las Vegas.
He is a panelist on the “Remarketing Technology: The Industry Adapts, Changes and Succeeds” discussion that also includes senior executives from Manheim, SmartAuction, EBlock, ACV, KAR Global and IAA.
As for the new Pipeline Market Report, it is available on Carbly via desktop and mobile devices.
The service provides VIN-level sales comparisons, actual sale details, condition reports and pricing.
It draws the data from more than 175 independent auctions moving roughly 50,000 vehicles a week.
The report shows historical trend lines in the wholesale market data set, as well, along with daily transaction updates.
Auction Edge is a remarketing technology provider for independent auctions; Carbly describes itself as a platform aiming to help dealers “make informed, data-driven decisions regarding vehicle sourcing, valuation and inventory management.”
KAR Global said Monday that Black Book’s VIN decoding and pricing algorithms have been integrated with KAR’s digital offerings.
This means that automakers, dealers and others in the auto industry will be able to provide consumers with instant, VIN-specific guaranteed trade-in values on their respective websites or mobile apps.
The expanded relationship between KAR and Black Book also includes an element that involves BacklotCars, which is KAR’s digital dealer-to-dealer marketplace.
The partnership will utilize BacklotCars to help dealers wholesale those trade-in vehicles that don’t fit their needs.
“Today’s retail consumers want a more digital car buying experience, and KAR is uniquely positioned to help dealers deliver on those expectations,” KAR chief executive officer Peter Kelly said in a news release. “Together with Black Book, we can provide dealers with AI-driven pricing tools that allow them to make firm, accurate and real-time offers on consumer trades.
“By guaranteeing those prices, we de-risk the trade-in process so dealers can focus on and accelerate their retail transactions,” Kelly said. “And for those unwanted trade-ins that aren’t the right fit, we’ll provide near-instant liquidity by launching those vehicles on BacklotCars directly from the dealer’s lot.”
All the dealer needs to make the trade offer is the VIN or license plate. Black Book’s VIN decoding is designed to provide “more accurate deciphering of trim and installed options, resulting in more precise offers,” KAR said in the release.
The trade-in offers are shared through a QR code and are valid for a limited time. The consumer can then redeem the offer at a participating dealership.
The dealer then validates the condition of the vehicles. They can either choose to keep the car, accepting the trade-in amount, or sell the vehicle wholesale.
If the pick the latter, the dealer would enter the redemption code on BacklotCars to begin the paperwork and sales process.
“At Black Book, we use data to help OEMs, dealers, industry-related providers, and consumers make the best, most informed buying and selling decisions possible,” Black Book executive vice president of revenue Jared Kalfus said.
“KAR’s digital marketplace capabilities and strong relationships make them the perfect partner to extend and enhance the value Black Book delivers to our automotive community,” Kalfus said.
“This partnership will empower industry-related companies, helping them engage with consumers across the digital continuum — from first click through engagement, pricing, trade-in and sale. There is strong and growing national interest throughout the automotive sector, and we look forward to operationalizing and scaling this solution with them over the coming months.”
As activities outside someone’s home confines continue to intensity, DRAIVER announced a deeper partnership with Uber for Business, with direct benefits for automotive industry clients.
According to a news release distributed on Friday, the announcement opens a gateway for the entire automotive industry to a comprehensive mobility solution. Any business that needs to move vehicles, people, or parts from one location to another efficiently can now do so by utilizing DRAIVER’s logistics platform and its integration with Uber for Business.
DRAIVER reiterated that it is a foundational API partner with Uber for Business, and this deeper API integration now extends to Uber Vouchers, enabling a business to cover part or all of the cost of rides with Uber for their customers and employees.
DRAIVER said it also plans to expand its offering with Uber for Business to include Uber Direct, a solution that can help businesses meet increased customer demand for parts and package delivery.
DRAIVER added that the enhanced partnership also can give automotive software companies of any size the ability to tap into this unified platform to extend their own offering to include both vehicle logistics and personal mobility via API integration.
“This partnership with Uber for Business allows any company that sells, services, or rents vehicles to move vehicles, customers and employees where they need to be, when they need to be there,” DRAIVER founder and chief executive officer Zarif Haque said in the news release. “The combination of our patented logistics software platform with Uber for Business’ world-leading mobility platform unlocks incredible value for the entire industry.”
Christopher Howard, global head of channel partnerships at Uber for Business added, “Uber for Business is proud to bring the best of Uber’s innovations to more than 150,000 organizations around the world.
“With DRAIVER, we look forward to bringing enhanced functionality to our partnership and opening up exciting new opportunities for mobility, cost savings, and flexible logistics capacity for the automotive industry. Across all of Uber for Business’ solutions, our goal is to help companies tackle some of the biggest business challenges they face,” Howard went on to say.
Perhaps those certified pre-owned Fords currently in your inventory might have become even more valuable thanks to a relationship the Blue Oval made with LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
On Thursday, Ford and LexisNexis Risk Solutions announced they have entered into a strategic agreement so that Ford connected vehicle data can be available to U.S. auto insurers via the LexisNexis Telematics Exchange.
According to a news release, Ford and Lincoln customers with an eligible 2020 model year or newer vehicle can opt in to participate in usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, which has the potential to save customers money through more personalized insurance offerings.
“We’re excited about this agreement with Ford,” said Adam Hudson, vice president and general manager of U.S. connected car at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “As a trusted steward of data for more than 20 years, LexisNexis Risk Solutions continues to bring the insurance and automotive industries together with market-leading solutions to provide consumers with a better experience during insurance shopping and renewal.
“We want to continue delivering on our mission of providing unparalleled driving-related insights and benefits to insurers, automakers and their drivers,” Hudson continued in the news release.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions explained that it gathers and normalizes connected car data through its data platform, the LexisNexis Telematics Exchange, to create driving behavior insights for U.S. insurance carriers to use within their existing auto insurance workflows. This process can enable insurers to more accurately segment risk, while providing consumers the opportunity to reduce the overall cost of vehicle ownership by taking advantage of good driving behavior.
By leveraging data sourced through the Telematics Exchange, insurers can have an easier path to access driving behavior data for point of quote, underwriting and renewal, whether or not they have an existing insurer-led UBI program.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions said it works with 95 of the top 100 U.S. auto insurers. Its U.S. Connected Car business offers telematics solutions and advanced analytics, including LexisNexis Telematics OnDemand and its next-generation LexisNexis Drive Metrics scores, which can allow insurers to seamlessly leverage driving behavior insights during the insurance shopping process at the point of quote, as well as at underwriting and renewal.
And now Blue Oval dealers can present this opportunity to their potential vehicle buyers who are considering models with this technology.
“Ford owners who opt-in to usage-based insurance have the potential to reduce their total cost of vehicle ownership through more personalized insurance offerings and be rewarded for good driving habits,” said Kari Novatney, general manager of connectivity strategy and partnerships at Ford.
“LexisNexis Risk Solutions is helping Ford customers more easily pursue the advantages of their vehicle’s connectivity for potential insurance benefits,” Novatney went on to say.
Work Truck Solutions certainly appears to be getting the job done on the partnership front.
About a week after forging a relationship with Ryder System, Work Truck Solutions on Wednesday announced that it has expanded its partnership with Charlotte-based Hendrick Automotive Group to now include 30 dealership locations, further strengthening the company’s joint online presence in the commercial vehicle marketplace.
With more than 1,400 trucks and vans to choose from at Hendrickcars.com, Work Truck Solutions highlighted the expanded partnership marks a significant uptick in vehicle search availability for Hendrick Automotive Group commercial customers.
Work Truck Solutions’ rotating inventory carousel is designed to provide Hendrickcars.com customers vocational search capabilities, and once a selection is made, they see a complete price listing, with line-item costs associated with the entire purchase (original chassis, body upfit options, etc.) on a single vehicle page.
“As anyone familiar with the Hendrick Automotive Group name knows, they are a top-notch organization and we’re extremely pleased to build on our commercial business relationship with them, providing the tools they need to serve their customers,” Work Truck Solutions chief executive officer Kathryn Schifferle said in a news release.
“Each Hendrick Automotive Group store on our platform is including the detailed body invoice information we provide, transparently displaying increases to their base prices, providing their customers with the ‘full picture’ when searching for a commercial vehicle, and making the process of finding the right truck or van easier than ever,” Schifferle continued.
“And with our group reporting, their management team can track trends, as well as details for specific markets, helping them achieve their commercial goals,” she went on to say.
In addition to online search tools, Work Truck Solutions mentioned that it’s giving Hendrick Automotive Group the ability to further connect with customers through a Two-Minute Prospecting tool, communicate options and offers through social media and better understand customer origins and metrics through advanced insight tools.
“Work Truck Solutions is truly unique in what they are able to provide our commercial customers,” said Brian Johnson, Hendrick Automotive Group vice president of marketing. “Most buyers start shopping for their next vehicle online and our commercial clients are no different.
“By working directly with body upfit manufacturers, our Work Truck Solutions’ websites offer our clients the most detailed and accurate chassis, body and pricing information available,” Johnson continued in the news release. “When you combine that with the incredible support, training and advanced prospecting metrics, Work Truck Solutions is the perfect partner for us.”
Work Truck Solutions recently expanded its partnership with Ryder System, a leader in supply chain, dedicated transportation and fleet management solutions.
The partnership means Work Truck Solutions is offering Ryder used truck inventory on the commercial vehicle channel, Vehicle Acquisition Search Tool (VAST).
The companies said these trucks will provide users with much needed inventory to help meet the needs of their buyers.
“During this unique time, dealers require an efficient way to find commercial vehicles their business customers need,” Work Truck Solutions founder and chief executive officer Kathryn Schifferle said in a news release.
“We are excited that Ryder has joined us as a major source of inventory for our dealers, providing a one-stop-shop for the unique commercial inventory they need to acquire,” Schifferle continued.
Eugene Tangney, vice president of global used vehicle sales for Ryder, added in the same release, “We have worked with Work Truck Solutions for more than a year and have seen a considerable increase in buyer leads from its national marketplace of Comvoy.com.
“We now have the ability to display our inventory to both the end-user on Comvoy.com and directly to customers on VAST through this expanded partnership with Work Truck Solutions,” Tangney continued.
