Fueled by significant turn increases for vehicles 5 years old and newer as well as financing to subprime borrowers, the used-vehicle industry closed the last month of the third quarter with 4.3 percent sales gain. CNW Research determined September contained more than 3.8 million used-vehicle sales among turns at franchised and independent dealers and private-party […] [Read More]

Many automakers in Canada have been reporting record months for CPO, but Kia topped the list this September. Kia Canada almost doubled its CPO sales from September 2013, selling 284 certified sales, compared to 143 sold during the same period of last year. As CPO results started coming in for September, several other automakers’ performances […] [Read More]

Mercedes-Benz Canada is expanding its presence in the Greater Toronto area by appointing a new dealer. Company executives and the dealership’s new management recently turned over the first shovelful of soil of the future Brampton-based facility. Mercedes-Benz Brampton will be run by Sam Eltes and Jonathan Eltes, dealer principles, as well as Gary Williams, the […] [Read More]

Following a campaign with the OEM from 2013 that generated more than 21,000 sales, the Costco Auto Program announced it has rolled out another offer with General Motors that will provide deals on 17 of the most-requested models from Costco customers. Through the 2014 Holiday Sales Event — which began Wednesday and runs through Jan. […] [Read More]

General Motors rolled out an ambitious strategic plan on Wednesday, insisting that in 2015, about 27 percent of GM’s global sales volume is expected to come from products new or refreshed within 18 months. Does it mean when that new metal becomes used — or more specifically, certified pre-owned — the growth prospects still will […] [Read More]

I’m not here to tell you your dealership needs to embrace social media. Every dealer’s heard it; most dealers have come to believe it; and many are already actively engaging customers in a variety of social channels. I’m here because out there, it’s getting more and more competitive by the day. Customers are gaining more […] [Read More]

KAR Auction Services’ business unit ADESA announced this week the new fee structure for open sales on DealerBlock. Those using the company’s 24/7 online marketplace for bid-now events or buy-now inventory should expect to find the fees, in effect for the fourth quarter, to be simpler to calculate and, in some cases, lower. Stephane St-Hilaire, […] [Read More]

Enterprise Holdings announced Wednesday its annual Auction Achievement Award winners, honoring nine auctions in the U.S. “Our relationships with local auction partners are a critical part of our auto remarketing strategy, and each year we look to recognize some of those partners who excel at what they do,” said Nate Lattimer, vice president for vehicle […] [Read More]

By now, online advertising has permanently rooted itself in the Canadian automotive industry. It’s pretty much mandatory for legitimate dealers, as clean criminal records are for legitimate babysitters or judgmental tones are for dental hygienists. And it’s not going anywhere. Over the past four years we have seen an explosion of growth in this format […] [Read More]

Vendor Transparency Solutions and Weltman, Weinberg & Reis are joining forces again for another free webinar — this time focusing on what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s larger participant rule proposal means for nonbanks in the auto financing market. Partner Michael Dougherty plans to ask two important questions: Are you now regulated by the CFPB, […] [Read More]