And just like that, Sonic Automotive has become the nation’s largest Jaguar Land Rover dealer. The Charlotte, N.C.-based dealership group staked that claim by acquiring four California JLR dealerships — Jaguar Land Rover Los Angeles, Jaguar Land Rover Newport Beach, Jaguar Land Rover San Jose and Land Rover Pasadena — from US Auto Trust, a […] [Read More]

Operating a multi-brand automotive dealership business is complex, spanning sales, service, parts, financing, rental fleets, and more. Each brand within the dealership portfolio brings its own manufacturer requirements, operational risks, and compliance obligations. In such a high-stakes environment, insurance isn’t just a regulatory box to tick. It’s a cornerstone of risk management and financial stability. […] [Read More]

Mark Strand, senior economist and senior director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, and Brent Carmichael, director of education at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, brought up an event that might have made veteran store owners shiver while generating puzzled looks from younger operators who weren’t turning vehicles at that time. Cash for Clunkers. […] [Read More]

Axis Auto Finance has taken its latest step toward going away. The Mississauga-based direct-to-consumer subprime lender, which sold its auto finance business to Fionic Canada in December, announced it has completed the process of going private by consolidating the company’s common shares so all shareholders other than president Ilja Troitschanski held a fractional Axis common share. […] [Read More]

North American dealer-owned finance and insurance provider Tricor Automotive Group has joined with Signal Technologies in a strategic partnership designed to streamline and optimize Canadian dealers’ used-vehicle sales in the U.S. Tricor, based in Ontario, serves more than 220 Canadian dealerships, as well as U.S. dealers. In a news release, Tricor said partnering with Signal, […] [Read More]

Whether the dealership has only about 10 units or more than 1,000, managers now have an opportunity to make their used-car inventory more appealing through certification. Last week, Gold Standard Automotive Network and Trusted Sale announced a strategic alliance to introduce the Gold Standard Certified Used Car Program, a turnkey solution designed to enhance dealership performance by […] [Read More]

Agora Data’s Steve Burke is one of the most upbeat executives you can find in auto finance. When asked about his outlook for the car business during a conversation at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s annual convention last week in Las Vegas, Burke didn’t hesitate to say 2026 could be one of the best […] [Read More]

In a business environment that seems uncertain and chaotic, auto dealer optimism is rising, according to the latest research from The Presidio Group. Despite concerns about tariffs and their effect on prices and the economy in general, The Presidio Midyear 2025 Dealer Direction Survey found 72% of the dealers surveyed said they expect profitability to […] [Read More]

A former college quarterback has scored his first victory as an NFL player before ever playing a pro game. Dillon Gabriel, the ex-Oregon star and Cleveland Browns third-round draft choice, has signed a major endorsement deal with the Chrysler brand and its Pacifica minivan. Gabriel, who finished third in the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting, famously […] [Read More]

The retail used-car market is proving to be a stable and solid force this year, especially the certified pre-owned segment, Cox Automotive said in its Mid-Year Review last week. On a week-to-week basis, used retail sales have consistently ... [Read More]