After climbing for two months in a row, the latest RDN Monthly Analytics Update indicated December recovery volumes decreased 1 percentage point from the November level, leaving 2012 closing on a trend of consecutive month-over-month dips. However, the December reading came in flat against year-earlier levels. Countering that downward movement, RDN indicated December recovery orders […] [Read More]

As the regulator who handed out the single highest civil penalty amount ever paid to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this morning that he would not be staying on for the second term in President Barack Obama’s cabinet.  LaHood’s time as secretary included last month’s agreement […] [Read More]

As $45,000 went to support a children’s charity, ADESA Phoenix recently wrapped up its Annual Legendary Sales Week with more than 1,600 dealers participating in the three-day event. Attendees were able to access a diverse selection of inventory during the auction’s regular weekly fleet and consignment sale as well as several special events. In addition […] [Read More]

More than 600 Volkswagen dealers across the U.S. will soon employ Xtime as their cloud-based, customer relationship management and scheduling platform.  Xtime on Tuesday announced an enterprise-wide agreement with Volkswagen of America to deploy Xtime’s ServiceCRM to all 600-plus dealers in its U.S. network. Currently, more than 200 Volkswagen dealers use Xtime; Xtime reports that […] [Read More]

As the average age of vehicles on the road continues to rise, it seems people are looking to keep their rides longer than ever.  According to a recent KBB.com home page poll, a third of respondents said they intend to keep their next vehicle purchase for 10 years or more. And this is quite a […] [Read More]

On Monday, the Michigan Wolverines and Kansas Jayhawks became the latest in a revolving door of teams taking the No. 1 spots in the NCAA men's college basketball rankings this season. But consistency seems to be the name of the game in the used-car market. The Honda Accord has continued its reign as the used […] [Read More]

Though 2013 may have started out slow in the lanes, Rick Beggs of Black Book says “the tide may have started to turn.” After experiencing strength in the middle of November — due in part to demand created by Hurricane Sandy — auction activity “took a slight step back” during the first couple of weeks […] [Read More]

The Federal Trade Commission’s Southwest Region Office recently warned 11 dealerships in Jonesboro, Ark., that their sales practices violate the FTC’s Used Car Rule, which requires dealers to display a “Buyers Guide” detailing warranty and other important information on the vehicles they sell.    Officials recapped that FTC staff inspections in Jonesboro allege that eight dealers […] [Read More]

Looking to the service lane for sales leads may not be a new idea in the dealership world, but two companies have joined forces to offer a new way to automate the process. MPi and TEGA Technologies on Monday announced their partnership and the introduction of Service Turn, which they say is an automated way […] [Read More]

In a push to help automakers influence buyers at what KBB.com is calling a “crucial point,” the site revealed its new ad program: Accelerator.  The new offering provides an ad package that includes a one-week exclusive advertising placement on Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com home page, which the company shared sees more than 14 million monthly […] [Read More]