Across the United States, the number of operating automotive dealerships remained steady in 2017. That's according to the latest Automotive Franchise Activity Report from Urban Science released Tuesday. There were a total of 18,213 dealerships rooftops as of Jan. 1 — a 0.2-percent increase from a total of 18,170 on Jan. 1, 2017, according to the report. The […] [Read More]

Those holiday ads for vehicles — especially for luxury models — evidently stimulated activity not only at dealerships, but also at Swapalease.com. While stores might have moved some extra metal that was a gift, the site's lease-transfer approval rating took a tumble in January. Swapalease.com reported that vehicle lease credit applicants registered a 57.8-percent approval rate […] [Read More]

With more consumers shopping for their next car using their mobile devices, DriveTime wanted to upgrade its offerings in an effort to capture those potential sales. On Tuesday, DriveTime announced the launch of a new mobile site with innovations designed to extend to both the customer experience and the technology DriveTime employed in launching the […] [Read More]

It’s been a busy start to 2018 at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, especially since acting director Mick Mulvaney took office.  First came multiple waves of requests for information about how the bureau is performing. Then on Monday, the CFPB highlighted three primary goals within its five-year strategic plan. Along with other objectives, the bureau […] [Read More]

Our guests this week are Louis Robert Spaeth and Michael Zimmerman, co-founders of TradeAutoX, an online platform for buying and selling wholesale vehicles on demand. Spaeth and Zimmerman, who work together as desk managers at an Atlanta dealership, talk to Joe about how the preimise of their young company and its mission in the online wholesale […] [Read More]

Dumping sedans into fleet sales is certainly a path-of-least-resistance option leveraged by automakers in the past, but experienced used-car market observers understand the severe damage that strategy can do. However, in light of technology advances and consumer preferences — not only in the United States but also globally — pulling the fleet lever doesn’t quite […] [Read More]

Here’s an important update for dealerships that might have 2006 Ford or Mazda compact trucks in their inventory or customers who are still driving these older models. According to announcements from the Blue Oval and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford and Mazda said that they are expanding their “do not drive warning” to […] [Read More]

MetroGistics has been selected by the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association as a Bronze-level National Corporate Partner. NIADA said MetroGistics will offer preferred pricing on vehicle moves, along with extended credit, to the more than 16,000 member dealerships. “With the used-vehicle retail market becoming more digital-oriented, our members are looking for vehicle transport and electronic […] [Read More]

CarMax recently announced that it has renewed its two-year commitment to veterans nonprofit The Mission Continues, which works to address local issues and make meaningful social change. The renewed partnership kicked off with a service project at Houston’s Roderick Paige Elementary School in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day with The Mission Continues and the […] [Read More]

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation announced Monday that it has donated a total of $20 million to food banks over two years as part of its Fill Your Tank initiative, which aims to provide $60 million to address food insecurity in communities served. The companywide initiative was launched in 2016 to celebrate Enterprise's 60th anniversary over […] [Read More]