Evidently dealers who participate in the monthly survey orchestrated by KeyBanc Capital Markets did not see the same conditions in subprime vehicle financing during December as leadership from CarMax noted. KeyBanc's survey results showed 50 percent of respondents indicated subprime lending availability is loosening and the remainder indicated availability is unchanged. When CarMax conducted its […] [Read More]

According to at least one respected industry observer — Manheim's Tom Webb — the major cause of an auto loan delinquency remains a job loss. And Fitch Ratings' latest analysis of the labor market showed a rebound in a nationwide employment is not proceeding quickly enough to drive a significant pick-up in U.S. economic growth. […] [Read More]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reiterated its uneasy assessment of how the dealer participation system operates when one of the agency's top officials made prepared remarks and answered a handful of submitted questions during the American Financial Services Association's Vehicle Finance Conference on Thursday. Patrice Ficklin spoke to a spillover gathering of more than 600 […] [Read More]

As the first month of the new year draws to a close analysts are predicting January’s SAAR will be the highest seen for the month since 2007, easily reaching pre-recession levels. The January forecast translates into a SAAR of 15.7 million new-car sales, up 2.1 percent from December 2013 and up 3.3 percent over January […] [Read More]

Though tax season will most likely ramp prices up in the near future, for the time being, winter weather is contributing to a “softer” auction market. Black Book’s Ricky Beggs reported both the car and truck segments saw larger price declines last week than experienced during the last few weeks of 2013. The car segments […] [Read More]

Results from a new study from FordDirect show that consumers are sitting up and paying attention to advertising in the digital space. And many of these shoppers are turning toward mobile devices for their auto shopping needs. The results of its Automotive Digital Advertising Survey show the growth of digital advertising channels and its impact […] [Read More]

PureCars recently announced the company has achieved Google Partnership status. What this means is the company has earned Google’s seal of approval through a series of requirements that include, “having an advanced knowledge of Google's AdWords, an established track record that demonstrates ability to maximize clients' performance, and a healthy amount of spending management across […] [Read More]

DataOne Software, a division of Dominion Dealer Solutions, released a new tool that is designed to provide auto shoppers with a unique vehicle shopping experience built around their “values and needs,” the company explained. The new tool also allows dealers to analyze behavioral data from potential buyers' vehicle searches.  PerfectFit Vehicle Shopper software uses DataOne’s […] [Read More]

Dataium revealed at the NADA 2014 Convention and Expo a new tool to help dealers better understand how their customers use their store’s websites. Shopper Engagement Check-Up is designed to help dealers fully understand and capitalize on their online visitor engagement, the company said. On top of providing information on how shoppers use dealership websites […] [Read More]

As NADA 2014 geared up late last week, DMEautomotive announced the release of an eBook that focuses on the importance of mobile in today’s automotive industry. The new offering, The Big Picture Book of Mobile Marketing Strategy, is a follow up to their 2013 eBook, The Pocket Revolution: The Complete Guide to a Killer Mobile […] [Read More]