If you’re a dealer, protecting your customers is about more than protecting your business; it’s about contributing to the overall wellbeing of your community. So with issues on a large scale as huge as the potential risks caused by Takata’s airbag inflator ruptures, the more you know, the more you can potentially protect yourself, your […] [Read More]

Although vehicle technology is progressing at a rapid rate — even self-driving cars are no longer just an idea — it seems some of this very same tech evolution is continuing to cause vehicle owners problems. According to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study released Wednesday, technology continues to affect vehicle reliability. The […] [Read More]

Carvana has launched a trade-in and valuation tool called Cardian Angel that is designed to generate a guaranteed written appraisal and video explaining why the value is what it is — all within two minutes, the company says. Carvana said in Wednesday’s news release that through the Cardian Angel website, a consumer can punch in […] [Read More]

Like any dealership that turns used vehicles, Sonic Automotive is keeping close tabs on what might be one of the most important metrics — gross profit per unit. Sonic closed the year with a 3.1-percent dip in gross profit per used vehicle retailed, as the figure landed at $1,384. The slight annual dip didn’t alarm […] [Read More]

As voters are driving out to participate in primaries and caucuses, do you ever wonder what they’re driving? The folks at BestRide, a car-shopping website, and CarTalk, a nationally syndicated radio program, have done the legwork for you — and some of the results from the more than 10,000 respondents they polled may surprise you. […] [Read More]

Carfax announced Wednesday that it has broadened its role in General Motors’ certified pre-owned program. With the expanded role, every certified Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicle will include a Carfax vehicle history report that consumers will receive for free from the selling dealer. Also, Carfax Used Car Listings will include all CPO Chevy, Buick and […] [Read More]

Operating successfully in the buy-here, pay-here industry has become more challenging due to increased regulatory pressures and competition. Independent BHPH dealers have lost approximately 33 percent of their market share during the last 24 months, and best operating practices are not working like they used to. In this article, I will discuss what is “driving” […] [Read More]

In light of the economy developing what analysts called a “split personality,” the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices showed the auto loan rate for January remained stable on a sequential comparison. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian, the January auto loan default rate came in at 1.04 percent, just 1 basis point higher […] [Read More]

CDK Global has acquired NewCarIQ and RedBumper from Pearl Technology Holdings. CDK said Wednesday it will combine the solutions of NewCarIQ (which focuses on new-car stocking and management of OEM incentives for dealers) and RedBumper, which focuses on used-car inventory management. This will give dealers a combined platform offering “a comprehensive set of tools for […] [Read More]

This week, CUNA Mutual Group announced it is investing in a new direct-to-consumer lending platform SpringboardAuto.com. Officials indicated the relationship means this new technology solution can provide a direct online auto loan platform so credit unions can lend to members with below-prime credit ratings without creating additional credit or operational risk for the credit union. […] [Read More]