In the last five years, the Costco Auto Program has sold approximately 200,000 vehicles through its Select Pre-Owned and Costco Certified Pre-Owned offerings. This year alone, however, Costco is on track to move more than 50,000 SPO/CPO vehicles. As explained by management, the SPO program — a relatively new offering from Costco — consists of cars that are […] [Read More]

Gubagoo has announced its new phone-lead generating platform. Integrated into the company’s communications platforms, TalkSmart uses the customer’s communications from dealership websites to give them a call if they wish to speak to a live person. The Gubagoo agents — available at all hours of the day — can speak with customers, if they choose to speak […] [Read More]

Dealership intelligence platform provider String Automotive highlighted that the latest enhancement to its dealer positioning system (DPS) now integrates rich demographic and psychographic information drawn from Experian Automotive’s Auto Market DNA database. String Automotive explained the dealer positioning system now can empower dealers to get a full picture of what is happening in their market […] [Read More]

MBSi Capital Corp. acknowledged that interpreting compliance is not simple, especially when it comes to repossessions and recovery. The company compared it to trying to assemble a product from IKEA without directions. While agreeing on a single, completely comprehensive definition of compliance can be an elusive goal, MBSi Capital insisted repossession agents who show they […] [Read More]

On Tuesday, ADESA promoted Zach Hallowell to president of its subsidiary, Recovery Database Network (RDN). The company indicated Todd Hodnett, who most recently served as RDN’s president, is leaving RDN to pursue another business venture. However, Hodnett will remain in an advisory capacity for RDN through the end of the year. Hallowell joined RDN as […] [Read More]

After its chairman passed away unexpectedly last week, Banco Santander announced this morning it has entered into an agreement to acquire Carfinco Financial Group Inc. for $298 million (CDN) in cash in a deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. Per the agreement terms, each Carfinco shareholder will receive cash consideration of […] [Read More]

The seasonally adjusted annualized rate of new-vehicles recently eclipsed a more-than-eight-year high, reaching 17.5 million units in August, according to the latest edition of Guidelines from NADA Used Car Guide. And one of the offshoots of a stronger new-car market has been a boost in trade-ins, and this impact has trickled down into the auction […] [Read More]

Autobytel took to the digital world in the third installment of its Autobytel Dealer Insight Series launched this past week, providing the latest in a quarterly training program designed to help dealers improve the car buying experience and increase sales. The third installment will focus on the key drivers behind car purchases among online consumers, […] [Read More]

With the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration’s online database of vehicle recalls now up and running, the National Automobile Dealers Association is hosting a webinar with a top NHTSA official to highlight how stores can use this Web resource. Designed for dealers and their staffs, NADA highlighted the safety recall webinar will review the purpose […] [Read More]

On Monday, Manheim launched this year’s national fall promotion titled “Raise Your Game,” a campaign the company said is designed to educate customers on how they can best tailor Manheim remarketing solutions to fit their needs and take advantage of a wide range of service offerings. With Labor Day weekend in the past and millions […] [Read More]