I’m a passionate guy. Aside from the obvious loves of my life (my children, wife and family), I’ll admit that I’m one of those guys that loves his job — engaging in the game of the used-car sales industry. I also love sports — especially golf and hockey. I’m not a very good hockey player and I […] [Read More]

It’s not necessarily the volume of auto loans that commercial banks are generating that has the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) troubled. It’s the volume of paper that has defaulted and been charged off that has bank regulators concerned. During a speech on Tuesday, Darrin Benhart, the OCC’s deputy comptroller for credit […] [Read More]

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Policaro Automotive Family, which on top of adding another dealership to its franchise network, also recently won a global dealership contest for marketing innovation. The Policaro Automotive Family, who runs franchises in Brampton and Oakville, Ontario, grew its lineup to eight stores, breaking ground last week for a […] [Read More]

This year has brought with it the highest number of recalls the U.S. automotive industry has ever seen. Consequently, this has put considerable pressure on dealerships’ technicians and service departments to rise to the occasion. And AutoNation, the largest auto retailer in the country, is no exception. Mike Jackson, AutoNation’s chairman and chief executive officer, […] [Read More]

Calling the customer reaction to the launch of the standalone used-car stores “overwhelmingly positive,” Q auto president Casey Coffey said the emails, letters and phone calls flowing in have expressed an appreciation for the experience at Q auto’s stores, with customers saying “that it was like none other that they’ve experienced in a car-buying atmosphere before.” […] [Read More]

Having a shared platform appears to have a positive effect on the auction prices of salvaged vehicles. That’s according to Insurance Auto Auctions' recent 2014 Industry Report Six-Month Update, where it has begun to look into the long-term consequences, both positive and negative, of the ever-increasing trend of cross-platform and modular-platform use in vehicles. The […] [Read More]

On Tuesday, CU Direct launched the next generation of its online auto shopping program, CUDL AutoSMART. With more than 1.5 million vehicles in dealer inventory, officials highlighted the program offers a host of new features designed to dramatically transform members’ experience and engagement with credit unions. The new CUDL AutoSMART can enable credit unions to […] [Read More]

Off-lease vehicles have come streaming in recently after dealers put up with tight used supply for years after the recession. But some automakers are selling so many certified pre-owned vehicles — evident through this year’s overall soaring CPO sales — that sourcing still remains a challenge. Take Kia Motors America, for example. “While the statement […] [Read More]

Expanding supply means lower used prices. And with a new flow of off-lease vehicles expected to hit the market in the coming years, many in the industry are wary of the impact on used-vehicle retail sales. But AutoNation, who just experienced a 7.5-percent boost in  third-quarter used-vehicle retail sales, as well as a successful overall quarter, […] [Read More]

Do you have questions about how to generate leads, online and otherwise? Are you unsure about the effectiveness of your marketing and advertising strategy? How can you improve your social media strategy? If you’re a dealer (and even if you’re not!) and any of these questions linger at your store, Used Car Week’s next DealerChat […] [Read More]