SEATTLE — Positioned as a tool dealers can embed into their websites, officials from CLCalc.com recently launched a versatile tool with five different calculators aimed at making vehicle loan amounts more understandable. The site contends its tool can help dealers show potential buyers understand the true cost of a purchase after taxes, interest and depreciation […] [Read More]

DETROIT — Ally Financial's board of directors recently declared quarterly dividend payments for certain outstanding preferred stock, continuing a stream heading to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.  Officials indicated these dividends are payable on Nov. 15. The company explained a quarterly dividend payment was declared on Ally's Fixed Rate Cumulative Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, […] [Read More]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — The most recent RDN Monthly Analytics Update showed August recovery volumes increased 3 percentage points from July levels. However, the reading also ended up 17 points below year-ago levels. RDN indicated August recovery orders rose 4 percentage points from the previous month, but dropped 10 percentage points year-over-year. The RDN Recovery […] [Read More]

Not only was the third quarter the strongest quarter ever for the certified pre-owned market, the period’s final month saw two brands notching all-time sales records. According to Autodata Corp., both Mazda and Porsche achieved their respective strongest months ever for certified sales, September or otherwise, as Mazda moved 2,811 units and Porsche sold 871 […] [Read More]

Due to higher-than-expected registration numbers for the Used Car Week conferences, and projected record-breaking attendance, The Phoenician resort has sold out of rooms for the entire week of the conferences. However, conference organizers have established an alternate hotel option nearby for those who still need to make room reservations, and have negotiated an even lower […] [Read More]

One of the primary findings from a case study based on data collaboration between Autobytel and Polk indicated that dealers and automakers should place even more emphasis on their certified pre-owned and used programs when following up on online consumer leads. Why? Autobytel and Polk found that nearly 46 percent of consumers who planned to […] [Read More]

Experian Automotive said Thursday that BMW of North America has named it as a provider of vehicle history reports for its BMW certified pre-owned and MINI NEXT programs. BMW and MINI dealers certifying vehicles with an AutoCheck report may extend to customers Experian Automotive’s buyback protection, which safeguards against major hidden title brands on AutoCheck […] [Read More]

Transportation coatings company PPG Industries this week released its annual automotive color popularity and trend data and found a repeat winner. Still ranking as globe’s most popular color choice for cars is white. That being said, based on 2012 automotive build data PPG forecasts that the overall use of color is on the rise. According […] [Read More]

DrivingSales tapped a veteran executive who has been on its advisory board since 2009 to be its president and chief operating officer. On Thursday, the company revealed that former Dealer.com executive Kevin Root will take on these roles for DrivingSales, a rapidly growing business intelligence and performance improvement company on a mission to deliver insights […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association recently named its choice for the 2012 Auto Auction of the Year award. Announced as the honoree by NIADA was Brasher’s Northwest Auto Auction of Eugene, Ore., in a ceremony held during the National Auto Auction Association Convention held in Orlando, Fla., last week. Steve Jordan, NIADA chief operating officer, […] [Read More]