Mobile service technology provider Curbee announced the full nationwide launch of its software-as-a-service platform, making it available to all U.S. vehicle manufacturers and dealers. The platform was launched to dealers on a limited basis in January. Curbee also announced it has closed on additional funding that raises the total raised externally by the company to […] [Read More]

Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service sent a reminder to dealers to be vigilant of digital criminals portraying themselves as representatives from the federal agency. This week, another federal agency — the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) — delivered a similar message to transportation providers. FMCSA officials said in an online update that […] [Read More]

RoadVantage modified its leadership team in multiple ways this week, welcoming John Lutman as president of the F&I company, which offers a full portfolio of vehicle service contracts and ancillary products through certified agents. With Lutman coming aboard, RoadVantage slid previous president Randy Ross into the role of executive advisor. Lutman comes to RoadVantage following […] [Read More]

AutoPayPlus has good reasons to be in a celebratory mood this summer. The payment processing company recently hosted an employee gathering because AutoPayPlus’ workforce has grown by 30% year-over-year, sparked in part because of “innovative business process enhancements, increasing customer satisfaction and operational capabilities.” AutoPayPlus also highlighted its service has seen a 25% increase in […] [Read More]

Affordability is an issue car dealers have been battling daily over the past couple of years as retail prices for used and new vehicles soared to unprecedented highs. This year, though, those prices have been falling steadily while, as noted by Cox Automotive’s analysts in their 2024 midyear review, consumers’ incomes are rising. And yet sales growth has been slow. Turns out it’s not just about the price of the car ... [Read More]

There were 3.41 million units sold at auction in the first half of the year, which is an 8% hike, according to AuctionNet data from the National Auto Auction Association. But the oldest contingent of that group showed even steeper growth: Auction sales of vehicles 11 years and older climbed 11% in the first half of 2024, NAAA said. The reason? It’s repo. [Read More]

Bell Canada and Hyundai Motor Group announced a multi-year extension of their strategic partnership to provide Canadian customers with in-car connected infotainment services, powered by Bell’s network. Through Bell’s IoT connectivity, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis customers in Canada will receive data-centric infotainment features, Bell said. The partnership will also explore additional services such as over-the-air […] [Read More]

SmartGroups is expanding its 20 group program for dealerships into the buy-here, pay-here and lease-here, pay-here spaces. The company said on Thursday that its inaugural meetings for these new groups are scheduled for October in Charlotte, N.C. “At SmartGroups, we are committed to providing our members with the peer collaboration, tools and eco-system they need […] [Read More]

PassTime is celebrating more than recovered vehicles this week. The company announced that Encore has received a 2024 IoT Evolution Product of the Year Award from IoT Evolution World, a leading website covering internet of things technologies. PassTime Encore is a wireless GPS solution engineered for asset tracking and protection. With its self-powered technology, Encore […] [Read More]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is blowing a whistle, so to speak, about whistleblowing. On Wednesday, the bureau issued a circular to law enforcement agencies and regulators explaining how companies may be breaking the law by requiring employees to sign broad nondisclosure agreements that could deter whistleblowing. Officials said the circular explains how imposing […] [Read More]