When it comes to calling the service department, Acura dealers are providing the industry’s best customer service. That’s the conclusion of Pied Piper’s 2024 PSI Service Telephone Effectiveness Study, which ranked Acura first among the 34 automobile brands analyzed for the efficiency and quality of service telephone calls from a customer’s objective of quickly and […] [Read More]

If your service-drive volume dips slightly this week because of Fourth of July, don’t fret. Those ROs might jump noticeably next week and beyond. And rental cars currently in service might be getting quite a holiday workout, too. AAA projected 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day […] [Read More]

In today’s digital age, a wave of innovation is surging through nearly every sector. The trucking industry is no exception. Artificial intelligence combined with machine-learning algorithms are finally harnessing the data trucking companies have been collecting for years. This no-longer dormant data is now being transformed into actionable insights that are improving efficiencies, streaming workflows, […] [Read More]

What are a dealership’s most effective weapons against identity theft crimes? Terry Dortch, CEO of Automotive Risk Management Partners and a longtime expert in dealership compliance, says it’s human eyes, hands and experience. “No dealership can be 100% secured from compliance lapses and data breaches, even when computer systems oversee digital networks,” he said. “But […] [Read More]

Wheels just got a big push forward — in part from one of America’s largest dealership groups. The fleet management company last week received what it termed “a significant minority investment” from mega-retailer Lithia & Driveway and Japan’s Marubeni Corp. Marubeni has been investing in the U.S. automotive sector since 1958, the companies said in […] [Read More]

As President Joe Biden and Donald Trump had their first debate last week, LegalShield used its latest Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) to take a closer look at what’s happening with consumers in battleground states as well as providing an analysis of overall consumer financial status. Nationally, LegalShield’s benchmark CSLI remained almost flat in May […] [Read More]

Last week, Carleton announced the promotion of Sarah Way Milovich to general counsel and vice president of compliance following Jeff Buysse’s retirement after nearly a 40-year career managing Carleton’s compliance services. The provider of compliant financial calculations and lending document generation software said Buysse has been advising finance companies, lenders and regulators nationwide on the […] [Read More]

Electric vehicles have become extremely polarized along political lines, said participants on “The Charged EV Debate in the 2024 Election” panel during Industry Day at the Electrify Expo in May. To overcome that polarization, EV marketing should focus strongly on ... [Read More]

Central Dispatch has taken the first step in its coming “transformation.” Cox Automotive’s logistics marketplace has launched Central Dispatch Enterprise, which it calls “a customizable package of end-to-end capabilities” aimed at large automotive shippers and brokers. That package, the company said in a news release, includes a private marketplace structure, market intelligence powered by an […] [Read More]

The downward trend in wholesale used-vehicle prices continued through May and the first half of June – but there are signs the rate of decline in the coming months could be slower than the steep drop of last summer. In his latest Kontos Kommentary, ADESA chief economist Tom Kontos said wholesale prices averaged $14,329 in […] [Read More]