Click-Ins’ damage-identification technology is now patented. The provider of artificial intelligence-powered vehicle inspection systems announced the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted U.S. Patent No. 12374135B2 to its DamagePrint technology, which Click-Ins called “a novel method of creating a unique digital signature of damage from a single image.” The company said the newly […] [Read More]

Eddie Lafferty’s auto industry career began when his friend’s grandfather asked him to help manage his Porsche dealership. “I ended up doing very well and sold out his cars, and then it kind of led to a life in retail,” Lafferty said. He eventually moved to wholesale and is currently general manager at Manheim Seattle. […] [Read More]

AutoNation’s vast collection of dealerships has grown again. The national retailer announced it has acquired two more luxury stores in Chicago, purchasing Fletcher Jones Audi and Mercedes-Benz of Chicago from Fletcher Jones Automotive Group. The additions, which represent some $325 million in revenue and 4,500 retail new and used vehicle sales annually, give AutoNation 10 […] [Read More]

There’s a new head of medicine, so to speak, at CarDr.com. The automotive technology company named Greg Lubrani as its new CEO and president. Lubrani’s 38-plus years of remarketing and diagnostics industries leadership includes time in senior roles with companies like Repairify, ACV, Copart and Manheim, among others. Having experience in both diagnostics technology and […] [Read More]

As it prepares for its first eSTART Modernization Forum next week, the eSTART Coalition has unveiled its inaugural awards program, recognizing two government leaders for playing pivotal roles in modernizing vehicle title and registration systems through legislative leadership and operational innovation. State Rep. Brenden Jones of North Carolina was named the recipient of the Advocacy […] [Read More]

Experts agree the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will trim interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday. How long it will take for that cut to lift the fortunes of dealerships and finance companies is much less clear. That’s the overall assertions from TransUnion, Edmunds and S&P Global Ratings, which shared data […] [Read More]

Less than a week after DriveCentric CEO Matt Leone announced his company was actively seeking integration partnerships to expand its capabilities beyond customer relationship management, the first domino has fallen. And perhaps not surprisingly, it’s the company Leone left to take the helm of DriveCentric just a few months ago. In a news release, DriveCentric […] [Read More]

Automotive marketing firm Mudd Advertising has acquired DealerTrend, a technology company known for its dealer websites, inventory management and application programming interface-driven digital tools. In a news release, Mudd said the Reno, Nev.-based DealerTrend, founded in 2001, was built to help dealers simplify technology and compete more effectively online, and the acquisition adds to Mudd’s […] [Read More]

In an industry that is mostly dominated by large auction chains and independent auction owners, the McConkey Auction Group is one of a few small auction groups that are making big strides in the auction business. CEO Bob McConkey opened his first auction in 1992 in Spokane, Wash., and since then has bought and sold […] [Read More]

PureCars, which provides digital marketing technology and services for the auto industry, has a new CEO. Promoted to the role is Lauren Donalson, who was most recently the company’s president. Aaron Sheeks, previously the CEO, has left the company to pursue other interests. PureCars has also hired Jason Wiley as president. Donalson joined PureCars in […] [Read More]