Projected growth in plug-in electric vehicles means challenges and opportunities for distribution utilities, according to Navigant Research. If PEVs are not managed intelligently, they can threaten overall grid reliability. But if they are aggregated and optimized with smart controls, they can offer grid services under new business model platforms such as microgrids and virtual power […] [Read More]

In a few special editions of the show, we’re sharing some of the presentations from the recent Auto Remarketing Canada Conference in Toronto. Next up is Michael Cirillo of FlexDealer and The Dealer Playbook podcast, who spoke during the Dealer Training Tuesday portion of the event. The full discussion can be found below. Download and […] [Read More]

Vehicles that maintain high residual/resale values deliver unmistakable benefits to all segments of the automotive ecosystem. Stronger values give manufacturers the ability to offer the market a competitive total cost of ownership advantage that can have a tangible effect on consumers and dealers alike. But what vehicles have the best residual values today? Which ones, […] [Read More]

After announcing on April 24 that it would launch what it says is the U.S. car rental industry’s first subscription service, Enterprise Holdings came out with a related announcement on Wednesday: The company revealed the three states where the service will initially launch. Enterprise Holdings, which is the parent company to the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car […] [Read More]

Especially for independent dealerships who have service drives catering to any vehicle that ends up in a bay, a new resource from the Auto Care Association could help find parts more efficiently. This week, the association announced a new data product designed to connect parts data for nearly 1.4 billion vehicles, making going global easier for […] [Read More]

Buy a car, sell an existing car, access a vehicle subscription. Finance, insurance and service a car. The ability to take care of all those tasks at one place is the promise of the latest used-car offering from Holman Automotive. The dealership group has launched Holman GO in Princeton, N.J., taking an “all-in-one approach” and giving […] [Read More]

May opened with a pair of economic updates that should be pleasing to dealerships and finance companies with interest rates remaining steady and unemployment declining. The developments came in light of the Federal Reserve chairman refuting thoughts that policymakers are succumbing to political pressure from the White House or other federal lawmakers to make certain […] [Read More]

This week, AUL Corp. launched a new suite of F&I products. President and chief executive officer Jimmy Atkinson described the offering as giving dealers “a one-stop shop for all of their F&I needs.” AUL’s collection of products now includes: • GAP coverage • Theft • Pre-paid maintenance • Key/fob replacement with roadside assistance • Scratch […] [Read More]

“Used cars” is a top search term in the automotive industry, but many know that the term is difficult to rank organically, says automotive website and digital marketing company Dealer eProcess. The company says that customers interested in pre-owned vehicles often do not type in a specific year, make or model as they do when searching […] [Read More]

Amid tight gross profits, dealers would be wise to pay close attention to trade-ins and their used-car operations to make up for lost ground. That’s according to a survey of more than 430 dealers late last year that MAXDigital conducted with Erickson Research.  “It’s tougher than ever to capture gross profits in today’s market, but […] [Read More]