When vehicle owners opt for branded audio systems, the cost is worth the value it brings to those owners and the manufacturers. That is according to Brent Gruber, who is the senior director of the automotive quality practice at J.D. Power. “Specifically, when consumers are happy with their branded audio system experience, it ultimately moves the […] [Read More]

Peter Kelly says OPENLANE, a business unit of KAR Auction Services, is celebrating its 20th anniversary and sharing its success by helping the cause of the United Food Bank of Mesa, Ariz. “We’re honored to commemorate our landmark anniversary and share our success by contributing to their efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty,” said Kelly, […] [Read More]

Fair said Thursday it is buying Ford Motor Credit’s Canvas vehicle subscription service. Terms were not disclosed. Customers using Canvas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Credit established in 2017, will transition to Fair, if they so choose. The Canvas team itself will make the move to Fair, as well.  Fair said in a news […] [Read More]

A dealer lands a potential customer who has changing vehicle preferences; wanting a sporty model for a while before switching to a hulking SUV. That scenario makes signing a vehicle lease or a retail installment contract prohibitive. DriveItAway says its mobile tool that has developed traction in the “gig” economy for ride-sharing services such as […] [Read More]

Kroll Bond Rating Agency spotted typical season deterioration when analysts compiled their observations of the August auto loan indices based on performances in the auto asset backed securities (ABS) market. Analysts said in their report released this week that collateral performance in KBRA’s Non-Prime Auto Loan Index continued to “underperform.” For August, KBRA determined annualized […] [Read More]

There appeared to be a bit of a dichotomy in the wholesale vehicle market last month. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index reached a record high (141.3) and was up 1.2% year-over-year. Mix-, mileage- and seasonally adjusted, there was a 0.62% bump up in wholesale prices from July. But the comparison to last August is […] [Read More]

Many TV viewers know him as “Jaime” on the HBO series, “Game of Thrones.” But many of those fans might not know that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau travels the world as the United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador for climate change and other social issues. Now, Coster-Waldau is teaming up with electric vehicle and advanced mobility products […] [Read More]

As a new study from IBM describes it, you’re heading to work in your new vehicle. The vehicle wishes you a happy birthday and shows social media greetings from family and friends. The vehicle starts driving you to your destination while also checking your health vitals, checking your house to see if you left any […] [Read More]

Along with finalizing its lineup of keynote speakers for NADA Show 2020, the National Automobile Dealers Association is making its award-winning educational training programs more readily accessible to members and their staffs. NADA said its training offers, such as the Professional Series classes and Academy seminars, are now available to all dealership employees through the […] [Read More]

Mitsubishi Motors North America has appointed former AutoNation vice president, parts operations Scott Smith as vice president of aftersales. Smith brings more than 30 years of automotive experience to the role. Mitsubishi said Smith offers what it describes as “a rare portfolio of experience” on the manufacturer and dealer sides of the business. On the […] [Read More]