Experian Automotive discovered that new-vehicle leasing continued on a steady pace during the second quarter, coming in with a level similar to what the industry has generated outside of the worst point of the recent recession. Analysts determined leasing represented 24.40 percent of all new-vehicle financing during the second quarter. That level was on par […] [Read More]

As new- and used-vehicle sales strengthened, the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index for August showed that wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage- and seasonally adjusted basis) declined for the fifth consecutive month. The August reading slipped to 120.7, which is down 2.4 percent from a year ago. However, when looking month-over-month, Manheim chief economist […] [Read More]

During a span that included recalls and ramifications from the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Kelley Blue Book discovered the Toyota brand dominates new-vehicle shopping activity on Kbb.com when examining shopper loyalty and share-of-voice data from the past three years. Since the first quarter of 2010, KBB indicated, Toyota has claimed the top spot for shopper […] [Read More]

How will Facebook help me with sales? Does social networking really make a difference when it comes to customer/dealer relationships? How can I best engage customers through posts? As many dealers continue to ask similar questions amid Facebook gaining more and more popularity among vehicle shoppers, digital solutions company Jumpstart Automotive Group aims to address […] [Read More]

As gas prices rise again, consumers may be turning towards hybrids, as a few of these units are being identified as having a lower total cost-of-ownership than their all-gasoline counterparts, according to Vincentric’s Hybrid Analysis released late last week. In the study, 11 of 25 hybrid vehicles came in as costing less to own over […] [Read More]

Toyota dealership employees will have a new place to train, as the OEM broke ground last week on a new classroom and service bay facility. Executives and associates at the Chicago Regional Office of Toyota Motor Sales, USA broke ground on the $4.9 million training center in Aurora, Ill., as part of a campus-wide building […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — New developments in the buy-here, pay-here industry are happening at an unprecedented pace, and new operators are entering the business in record numbers. Both new entrants and experienced operators are seeking exceptional profit opportunities in the low yielding economic environments of today. Caution — the old ways aren't working like they used to, […] [Read More]

NAPA, Calif. — California-based non-prime auto finance company United Auto Credit recently selected fellow Golden State operation AUL to be its national service contract provider, creating what top executives described as a formidable team based on the combined strength of field representation and dealer base the two companies possess. Currently in the national rollout phase, […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute reported total bankruptcy filings in the United States for the month of August increased 7 percent compared to July, according to data provided by Epiq Systems. Officials tabulated August bankruptcy filings totaled 104,336, up from the 97,104 filings registered in July. They indicated the 99,417 total noncommercial filings […] [Read More]

DAYTON, Ohio — Reynolds and Reynolds has announced the availability of integration between the Reynolds ERA and POWER dealership management systems and the Provider Exchange Network, or PEN, which it calls a "digital pipeline" connecting F&I product providers with the dealer management systems or other dealer point-of-sale systems. Available as of this month, Reynolds said […] [Read More]