CINCINNATI — Swapalease.com reported continued increases this year for customer credit approval on lease transactions through the end of July. According to website data, total year-to-date credit approvals stood at 75.6 percent through July, up from 73.9 percent through the end of June and the highest cumulative average recorded so far this year. Analysts indicated […] [Read More]

Dealerships and aftermarket shops are expanding their service departments and offerings, and it seems customers are taking note. In its 2013 Canadian Customer Commitment Index Study, J.D. Power and Associates reported that customer satisfaction with automotive service at dealerships and aftermarket shops has improved. The study — based on responses from more than 21,600 owners […] [Read More]

After dropping most of the spring and seeing slight increases starting in late summer, dealers and buyers will most likely see prices staying much the same this week in the lanes. NADA Used Car Guide predicts wholesale prices to remain at an average of $15,300 this week. Interestingly, even as gas prices return to more […] [Read More]

Swapalease.com reported continued increases this year for customer credit approval on lease transactions through the end of July. According to website data, total year-to-date credit approvals stood at 75.6 percent through July, up from 73.9 percent through the end of June and the highest cumulative average recorded so far this year. Analysts indicated that historical […] [Read More]

Sirius XM Radio has officially launched its Service Lane program that aims to build on the momentum of the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Vehicle program while providing participating dealers an extra selling point for their service shops and a chance to drive customer loyalty. Service Lane offers a free two-month subscription to SiriusXM for qualifying customers who […] [Read More]

Auto dealers may find a new avenue for reaching nationwide customer pools, with an announcement this week by eBay Motors. The company has launched a fixed-rate, national subscriptions program it says can enable small and mid-size dealerships to reach millions of car shoppers. With the subscription program, dealers can leverage a consistent monthly online sales […] [Read More]

Direct Auction Services founder and chief executive officer David Nutter announced Wednesday that the company has reorganized its leadership team.   As part of the reorganization, the company named appointees to the newly created roles of chief financial officer and vice president of operations. Taking on duties in the CFO position is David Rush, who […] [Read More]

Social media, third-party online car buying sites, dealership websites, YouTube — all examples of Web-based outlets an increasing number of consumers are turning to when in the market for a new vehicle. And automakers are responding to these changing consumer shopping dynamics. According to PwC’s Autofacts Analyst Note for August, automakers are investing more time, […] [Read More]

Ask a dealer or general manager where most of their leads come from. “Newspaper,” some will say, and still others, “Radio.” Occasionally, a dealer cites their own website or credits an online classified site like AutoTrader or Kijiji Autos. Most likely, no one will say “a pediatrician’s office” or, “minivans at the stop light by […] [Read More]

This week, Canadian vehicle history reports provider CarProof revealed a couple of new developments. On top of announcing a minority stake sale, the company said that Steve Macaluso, director of corporate accounts, is leaving the company to assume the role of managing director at Copart Canada. Macaluso has been with CarProof since 2010 and brought […] [Read More]