With J.D. Power recently saying certified pre-owned vehicles are “again quietly emerging as an important strategic play for both automakers and their dealers,” the newest data from Cox Automotive showed the CPO sales market is making upward strides. Cox Automotive estimated May’s CPO sales came in at 231,137, down only slightly from the strong April […] [Read More]

Remember when compliance experts spent years discussing the Safeguards Rule? You know, the mandate that requires non-banking financial institutions, such as car dealers, to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive security program to keep their customers’ information safe? Well, the Federal Trade Commission brought it back to the automotive industry’s attention again on Monday. The […] [Read More]

“It’s just a chunk of ice.” I’m sure that’s what the captain of the Titanic thought. In all seriousness though, they were given seven different warnings before their impending collision. So, with that being said, who’s truly steering the ship that is the dealership? Well, in a perfect world, the dealer principal would happily take […] [Read More]

The Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers are bullish about their prospects for competing for consumer business in the car-repair industry after releasing multiple annual forecasts and reports last week. According to the 2026 Auto Care Factbook, the car care industry grew in 2024 and in line with expectations. Despite continued challenges throughout the […] [Read More]

A trio of domestic franchised dealerships changed hands, with the Tim Lamb Group facilitating the transaction involving Germain Motor Co., and Chesrown Automotive. The sale involved Germain Chevrolet-GMC, Germain Ford, and Germain Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Sidney, Ohio going to Jim Gill, Ryan Gill, and Joseph Gill of Chesrown Automotive. According to a news […] [Read More]

A Florida-based startup that’s “set to disrupt the vehicle acquisition software business and the traditional used-car inventory supply chain standards,” gained another $4 million in funding last week. Founded by Anthony Monteiro, a group of automotive industry legends and technology professionals, AutoAcquireAI has successfully raised $5 million in total seed funding, all from angel investors. […] [Read More]

Tropic published findings from a recent survey last week, showing that finance and procurement teams are preparing for a massive shift toward artificial intelligence adoption, with 86% planning to implement or scale AI initiatives by 2026. With 50% reporting they’re at the beginning of their AI transformation, Tropic’s survey of 100 finance leaders revealed that […] [Read More]

Experts from Comerica Bank and S&P Global Ratings expect the Federal Reserve to maintain a steady course involving interest rates during this week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. But experts and policymakers are keeping close watches of the job market, which is experiencing some turbulence judging by the newest Conference Board Employment Trends Index. […] [Read More]

Fast-growing America’s Group is adding to its leadership team with two new vice presidents. The parent company of America’s Auto Auction and AXLE Funding has promoted Melissa Miller to vice president of marketing and Summer Ernsberger to vice president of customer experience, moves the company said reflect its “ongoing commitment to recognizing talent and advancing […] [Read More]

Experian and Plaid want to make consumer activities involving cash more useful for auto-finance companies and other lenders. The companies recently announced a strategic collaboration aimed at lowering barriers to accessing cashflow solutions and expanding financial inclusion. Now, banks, credit unions and consumer lenders can leverage Experian and Plaid’s combined expertise in real-time cashflow data […] [Read More]