The auto industry has been slow to go all-in on technology in the past, but the posting big financial growth numbers of some booming automotive technology companies could be a signal that’s changing. Deloitte’s 2025 Technology Fast 500, a ranking of North America’s fastest-growing tech companies, includes a number of entries from the automotive sector, […] [Read More]

Black Book’s monthly measure of wholesale used-vehicle values fell to its lowest level in nearly five years last month, with price depreciation “outside normal seasonal expectations.” Specifically, the company’s Used Vehicle Retention Index came in at 140.3 for November. The last time it was that low was January 2021, during the throes of COVID. November’s […] [Read More]

In December 2022, Carvana’s stock plummeted to the depths amid talk of bankruptcy. Three years later, the online used-car retailer is being welcomed into the S&P 500, an announcement that’s driving its stock price to record levels. S&P Global said Friday that Carvana will be included in its index of 500 of the nation’s largest […] [Read More]

The automotive industry in 2025 was defined not by a single dominant trend, but by a complex interplay of affordability crises, global trade adjustments, and a bifurcated consumer market. For auto dealers, addressing this landscape means accepting that the traditional business model is over, and the F&I department is no longer just a profit center. […] [Read More]

A dealership M&A transaction announced last week includes a case of two dealership groups headed in the same direction. South. For the buyer, Canada-based Go Auto, the acquisition of Car Pros Hyundai Renton, Car Pros Kia Renton and Car Pros Kia Tacoma in Washington is a part of a plan to expand its presence in […] [Read More]

For independent dealers, the view inside the dealership looks like recent business as usual. For franchised dealers, it looks … empty. According to Cox Automotive’s Q4 Dealer Sentiment Index, customer traffic in dealerships overall during the past three months matched its lowest level since the depths of the COVID pandemic in the second quarter of […] [Read More]

For many general managers, running a dealership feels like the pinnacle of a career in automotive retail. You’re steering sales and service, balancing gross margin against expenses, and managing a team while keeping customers satisfied. But for those with bigger ambitions, there’s another step: ownership. Becoming a dealer principal is a defining leap. Your operational […] [Read More]

This week, Flexcar, a month-to-month car lease company, announced a partnership with Carrington Labs, a leading provider of credit risk analytics and cash flow underwriting models. Through this partnership, Flexcar said it will strengthen its credit risk capabilities and enhance its underwriting performance, helping more drivers access the flexibility and convenience of month-to-month car leases. […] [Read More]

Ascent Dealer Services, a provider of F&I performance, training, and profitability solutions, recently named Rob Johnson as its new vice president of acquisition. Johnson possesses more than eight years of specialized experience in the automotive and F&I sector. He began his career with Protective Asset Protection, one of the largest insurers in the F&I industry, […] [Read More]

There’s a new captain at the helm of AutoCanada. And even with “interim” attached to his title, Sam Cochrane is very clear about the course he’s set for the Edmonton-based dealership group. Having navigated stormy seas as chief financial officer for the past year and a half under former executive chairman Paul Antony, the interim […] [Read More]