Group 1 Automotive increased its U.S. used-vehicle sales by more than 6 percent in the first quarter, retailing close to 27,000 units. Specifically, it sold  26,831 used retail units, up 6.7 percent year-over-year. Used retail revenue in the U.S. was up 9.1 percent at $558.76 million. Gross margin percentage on used retail sales was 7.8 […] [Read More]

On Wednesday, General Motors Financial highlighted the winners of its nationwide Auction of Excellence program. This year marks the first time GM Financial has recognized two winners — one for open and one for closed sale performance. Recipients were chosen after reviewing each of the company’s 46 auction partners’ performances in customer service, marketing promotions, pre-sale […] [Read More]

General Motors Financial continues to move away from a company that predominantly generates subprime paper. During the first quarter when the company saw its net income rise to $164 million, representing a climb of 14 million, GM Financial president and chief executive officer Dan Berce highlighted how much more prime paper the company originated during […] [Read More]

F&I program provider RoadVantage recently announced a new GPS anti-theft tracking system to provide greater security and safety for both dealers and their customers. RoadVantage claims it’s one of the first F&I providers to offer a GPS System coupled with a vehicle theft protection benefit. “The RoadVantage GPS Anti-Theft System benefits both dealers and their […] [Read More]

The National Auto Auction Association will be taking its Auction Standards Training northward. NAAA is hosting this two-day training at Manheim Toronto on May 10 and May 11. The first day will delve into damage analysis, touching on everything from exterior/interior damages and prior repairs to the parameters of inspections and much more. Day 2 will […] [Read More]

Earlier this week, autoTRADER.ca and Mobials announced the launched of a program that rewards dealers who consistently receive positive reviews from consumers. Dealers participating in this Consumer Trust Certified Program receive badges to display on their lots and online. The partnership between the two companies is designed to integrate Mobials’ Reviewsii product and TRADER’s marketplace and […] [Read More]

The National Auto Auction Association is now providing its member auctions with free courses on Auction Safety Certification and Lane Safety Training. NAAA added the safety series, which includes video courses, to its website on Monday. It is designed to promote safety awareness and prevent accidents. The courses are based on a two-tiered system for […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive reported record first-quarter pre-owned unit sales and its EchoPark standalone used-car outlets moved more than 900 vehicles. Sonic, one of three publicly traded dealer groups to release quarterly results Tuesday, said it retailed 29,333 used cars during the quarter, a 4.3-percent year-over-year improvement. The EchoPark stores sold 941 cars. In a news release, […] [Read More]

Melinda Zabritski watched her credit-market workload at a previous post steadily increase with responsibilities in the automotive space. The topic, as well as the people connected to vehicles and how they are financed, prompted Zabritski to seek her current position as senior director of automotive finance at Experian Automotive. “No offense to other areas of […] [Read More]

While an enthusiastic NASCAR follower, Kathy Williamson acknowledged she had never been to an auto auction prior 2003. Although the vehicles in the auction lanes don’t travel nearly 200 mph, the pace at which Williamson helped to develop technology leveraged in the wholesale vehicle space still moves pretty fast, too. Williamson and her husband purchased […] [Read More]