Merger-and-acquisition activities surfaced again this week in the F&I space. Brown & Brown chief acquisitions officer Scott Penny and DealerMax owners Jim Maxim Jr. and Jim Maxim Sr. announced that Brown & Brown Dealer Services (BBDS) has acquired the assets of DealerMax. DealerMax, founded in 1982 by Jim Maxim Sr. as Maxim Automotive, serves dealer […] [Read More]

MileOne Autogroup has joined Universal Technical Institute’s early employment program for automotive technicians at the institute’s Exton, Pa. and Mooresville, N.C. campuses. Selected UTI-Exton and NASCAR Tech students enrolled in the automotive technology program can work 20-30 paid hours weekly as part of the early employment program. Participants who remain with MileOne after graduation will […] [Read More]

FordDirect’s e-commerce platform has added another vendor to its roster. One Step Secure IT, an outsourced IT company specializing in cybersecurity and protecting customer data from breaches, is the latest company to join The Shop, the e-commerce platform launched in January by FordDirect – a joint venture between Ford and Lincoln dealers and Ford Motor […] [Read More]

Customer satisfaction with the dealer service experience is up, even as wait times for appointments and vehicle service continue to rise, according to the latest research from J.D. Power. The company’s 2024 U.S. Customer Service Index Study found overall customer satisfaction rose by five points on its 1,000-point scale, to 851. The study, in its […] [Read More]

AutoCanada wrapped up its fiscal fourth quarter with stronger new-car sales pushing total year-over-year revenue up by 6.9%. But while demand for new cars and parts, service and collision repairs was high, the dealer group experienced softer used-vehicle sales, especially in the U.S. Chief financial officer Azim Lalani said during the call to discuss fiscal full-year and Q4 results that Canadian same-store used retail vehicle units sold decreased by ... [Read More]

Wholesale vehicle prices continued a slow decline last week with a 0.31% drop, right after finishing February with prices down by 9.0% year-over-year, according to the latest weekly report from Canadian Black Book. The car segments saw bigger price drops last week, with prices declining by just over a half-percent. Trucks and SUVs experienced a […] [Read More]

LegalShield likely wasn’t surprised when bankruptcy filings increased year-over-year for the 19th consecutive month in February. That’s because the platform provider for legal, identity, and reputation management services said its January Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) showed a nearly four-year high in bankruptcy inquiries. John Saltarelli, a LegalShield provider attorney in Texas, cited three prevailing […] [Read More]

About a month before the company welcomed Sharon Mancero as part of its management team, Agora Data CEO Steve Burke made time for the Auto Remarketing Podcast at NADA Show 2024 in Las Vegas. Burke shared his assessment of the financing and securitization markets and how Agora Data is diversifying its offerings. Listen to the […] [Read More]

The “dramatic” declines in used electric vehicles last month no doubt caused some head-scratching for those in the business of remarketing or retailing these cars, but the near 32% drop may open up some opportunities for consumers and dealers alike. The average price of a 1- to 5-year-old used electric vehicles in February was $30,904, […] [Read More]

Vehicle service technology company Vehlo announced it has acquired Shop-Ware, a cloud-based shop management platform catering to independent repair shops in the automotive aftermarket. Vehlo said Shop-Ware’s methodology in addressing industry requirements through automation and cloud-based solutions “stands out” in the market, citing the DVX customer communication interface that supports digital media, live chat, online […] [Read More]