“The future of automotive retail,” says LaFontaine Automotive Group CEO Ryan LaFontaine, “is about meeting customers wherever they choose to shop while delivering an experience built on trust, transparency, and convenience.” And the dealer group is now meeting those customers on Amazon Autos. The Michigan-based retailer said Friday that its 40-plus dealerships have joined the […] [Read More]

Wholesale vehicle values have cooled after a spring season peak, with seasonal depreciation and affordability front and center — though with some variance by segment. That’s the major takeaway from the latest monthly used-car price indices released by Black Book and Cox Automotive, respectively. Starting with Black Book, its Used Vehicle Retention Index came in […] [Read More]

EchoPark Automotive, which is Sonic Automotive’s chain of standalone used-car stores, said Thursday it has relocated its North Houston dealership. EchoPark recently opened a new state-of-the-art facility at 18310 North Freeway in Houston, a move that broadens the retailer’s footprint “in one of the region’s fastest-growing communities, bringing its signature car-buying experience closer to residents […] [Read More]

Matt Babcock, who heads up digital lending product strategy for Wolters Kluwer, returned for another visit on the Auto Remarketing Podcast. Wolter Kluwer recently released its latest quarterly Auto Finance Digital Transformation Index. Babcock recapped the sustained upward trajectory the industry continues to travel along with how else artificial intelligence can boost auto financing. Listen […] [Read More]

Findings from a dealer survey orchestrated by AutoPayPlus showed issues stores are still having in the F&I office. The survey revealed that while many dealership owners recognize the potential value of their F&I product offerings, challenges around consistent presentation, product adoption, and operational execution continue to limit opportunities for growth. AutoPayPlus conducted its online survey […] [Read More]

This week, CarShield finalized the acquisition of its primary contract administrator, American Auto Shield, in a move that transitioned the vehicle-protection company into what it called “a fully integrated end-to-end service provider.” Leadership explained this strategic move centralizes the customer lifecycle, from the initial sale to claims processing and final payment, under one corporate roof. […] [Read More]

BHPH United, which is comprised of six service providers that organize an annual conference and other training opportunities for buy-here, pay-here dealerships, announced members of its 2027 Dealer Advisory Board. The group includes: —Travis Allison of Vamos Auto in Arlington, Texas —Ryan Miller of AutoNow in Olathe, Kan. —Matt Koury of Gene Koury Auto Sales […] [Read More]

Perhaps this data point shared by TransUnion on Thursday epitomizes how much used-car financing has changed during the past five years. In the auto-finance segment of TransUnion’s Q2 2026 Credit Industry Insights Report (CIIR), analysts indicated that just 8% of used-car financing originations in the second quarter of 2021 were booked with a loan-to-value ratio […] [Read More]

CarDoor has launched a consumer car-selling platform, MarketCheck, where a consumer can post their car for sale to hundreds of dealers and receive offers in real time. Once an offer is delivered and the consumer accepts, CarDoor handles paperwork, arranges vehicle pickup/dropoff and provides payment to the consumer. Meanwhile, the company’s CarDoorX platform provides an […] [Read More]

Sonic Automotive posted an all-time quarterly gross profit record in the second quarter, thanks largely to gains in the retailer’s diversified operating segments. That includes its EchoPark Automotive used-car stores, where revenues climbed 15% year-over-year and total gross profits reached a Q2 record. And in the fourth quarter, Sonic anticipates EchoPark’s expansion will resume. Overall, […] [Read More]