As he often does during his series, “Think Tank Tuesday,” the chief operating officer and founder of Potratz Partners Advertising started the video off with a few questions for viewers: “Do you have a dealer in your market that’s spending a whole lot of money? Don’t know how to compete?” he asked. This week’s video […] [Read More]

In an effort to better connect dealers with car lease shoppers, a new online marketplace was launched this week. The creator of www.WantALease.com — Cincinnati-based Joseph Automotive Group, which also founded Swapalease.com — contend that although dealers already offer lease deals on a variety of platforms, the site helps them to sell locally as well […] [Read More]

On Monday, NextGear Capital released what the company described as new mobile and online account management applications for customers designed to radically simplify management of their inventory finance accounts. NextGear Capital highlighted that the applications include new features and a dynamic new dashboard that is designed to be easy to navigate and provide rapid access […] [Read More]

In what officials contend is a first by a major third-party automotive classified website, AutoTrader.com is launching a new feature that will alert vehicle shoppers via text or email when there are updates to saved vehicle listings or searches. Officials highlighted that when shoppers save a search or vehicle listing to their My AutoTrader account, […] [Read More]

When taking the short Thanksgiving week out of the equation, auction volume in November was nearly 4 percent higher than the total coming through the lanes in the last three weeks of October, according to NADA Used Car Guide. An AuctionNet data set from NADA in the latest issues of Guidelines indicates that auction volume […] [Read More]

After October’s wholesale price tumble, the rate of decline softened in November to 1.5 percent, according to NADA, and the trend is continuing as December’s auction price movement is predicted to mirror the previous month. NADA is forecasted that auction prices will fall 1.5 percent this month, matching November’s rate, in the December edition of […] [Read More]

In a move the company said will nearly double its capacity and make it the second-largest car hauler in North America, United Road Services — in partnership with its owner (Charlesbank Capital Partners) and investors — announced that it has acquired the auto transport division of Waggoners Trucking. The expanded United Road will now have […] [Read More]

This morning, ARI announced two new executive appointments, including a senior vice president whose area of responsibility will include remarketing. The company appointed Tim McHugh, previously the vice president of supply chain and compliance at ARI, to serve as senior vice president, North American supply chain. In his new role, McHugh will head up vehicle […] [Read More]

While it might be that traditional advertising venues are where dealers go to reach consumers, here’s the interesting twist: digital is where consumers are trying to reach dealers. Hence, the biggest take-away from FordDirect’s latest Consumer Marketing Survey: dealers need to invest in digital. After all, that’s where the customers are, said FordDirect vice president […] [Read More]

“Good things come to those who wait,” Edmunds.com chief economist Lacy Plache wrote in a blog post last week. And it seems the automotive industry has waited long enough. In highlighting industry expectations for 2014, Plache touched on a plethora of positive points, including expected boosts in new sales, lease returns and more selection for […] [Read More]