The idea, as the good ones often do, came up in a casual office conversation with Cherokee Media Group president Bill Zadeits. It was mid-March 2017, and I was headed to Illinois to cover the grand opening of ADESA Chicago. While in the Windy City, Bill suggested I pay a visit to this relatively new […] [Read More]

A new initiative from vehicle-cleanliness and hygienic consulting company NuVinAir Global supplies free product, marketing materials and customer service to the company's franchisees who can assist frontline workers in combating COVID-19. The program is called NuVinCARES, and for one of its activities, NuVinAir's North Carolina franchisees provided law-enforcement officials with free products and services to treat […] [Read More]

Automated imaging company Black Widow has named automotive industry veteran Steve Greenfield as board director. Greenfield, who brings more than 20 years of automotive technology experience to his new role, will advise Black Widow on strategy, business development and marketing. Black Widow offers a drive-through camera system that blends images and 360-degree virtual tours. He […] [Read More]

It’s not quite a celebration, but Black Book found a few reasons to be a bit upbeat when compiling its latest Market Insights report. While vehicle values still continued on a downward path, Black Book vice president of automotive valuations Laura Wehunt mentioned one part of the auction world that seems to be recovering. “After […] [Read More]

After the retirement of two of its “most accomplished and admired leaders” in early March, Manheim has promoted several of its veteran team members to Market Center leadership positions. The company promoted JD Daniels to vice president and general manager of the Manheim Orlando-Central Florida Market Center. Manheim also promoted Emily Decker to Arizona Market […] [Read More]

Only two more days remain in April; what’s likely to go down as the most destructive month ever experienced by the U.S. economy. More than 26 million American workers already have filed for federal unemployment benefits. Billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds are being pushed to consumers and businesses, so the economy didn’t completely throw […] [Read More]

Tricolor chose an executive who has past experience with companies such as Dealertrack and DealerSocket to be its chief product and strategy officer. On Monday, the used-vehicle retailer focused on the sale and financing to Hispanic consumers announced Jennifer Lee has been named to this position with an eye toward becoming more digitally enhanced. “Now more […] [Read More]

Before the coronavirus pandemic, a significant portion of dealership training happened in a classroom or face-to-face setting. While the crisis put a halt on that particular education delivery, Dave Worrall certainly does not want improvement of store personnel to become stagnant — especially in the valuable F&I department. The senior director of global training and […] [Read More]

Chances are, even the best preparedness efforts by world class companies didn’t include a plan for this level of uncertainty we’re all experiencing with COVID-19. It has, in many ways, been a level-setting moment that has put the auto industry on its heels. The situation isn’t pretty; there’s no spinning the reality of widespread furloughs, […] [Read More]

Auction sales volume is still extremely soft, but continues to improve, according to J.D. Power Valuation Services. And there are a number of other positive signs emerging in the auction community, says National Auto Auction Association chief executive officer Frank Hackett. During the week ending April 19, there were close to 28,000 sales of vehicles […] [Read More]