Chrysler Group and the UAW announced this morning they have reached a tentative agreement on a new national labor contract. This agreement — which is subject to UAW member ratification — covers approximately 26,000 represented employees. Chrysler noted that at this time, the automaker cannot discuss the specifics of the agreement pending a ratification vote; this […] [Read More]

In addition to launching a paid social media campaign to help spread word, AutoTrader.com announced today that it has added a vehicle search tool to its Facebook page that allows consumers to begin searching for the model they desire immediately. Consumers can also share this app with friends and family. [Read More]

They may not get a whole lot of attention, but used-vehicle leases have gained quite a bit of steam in the past year and may eclipse the 1 million mark for 2011, according to CNW Research. In eight of the first nine months of 2011, the number of used leases has climbed on a year-over-year […] [Read More]

A recent study released by Dealer.com further enforces the fact that social media is increasingly tied to dealers’ daily sales as well as customer loyalty. The  Internet marketing solutions company teamed up with DriverSide and GFK Automotive to conduct a study titled, "The Rise of Loyalty, Advocacy and Influence: Social Media and the New Automotive […] [Read More]

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group is no longer up for sale. Having received no offers that it believes avoid regulatory hurdles, the company announced Tuesday that it is moving on as a standalone company. This apparently ends a heated saga between three rental-car giants that lasted nearly a year-and-a-half. In recent developments in the pursuit of […] [Read More]

The Federal Trade Commission invited the National Vehicle Leasing Association’s legislative coordinator to participate in the next session of roundtable discussions officials have orchestrated since April. The event scheduled for Nov. 17 at the FTC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., will include David Blassingame, who also is NVLA’s Texas chapter chair. Blassingame, senior vice president of […] [Read More]

Online advertising company MAX Systems announced Monday that more than 1,000 franchisees now use its product MAX Ad to help guide “smarter” Web advertising. Furthermore, MAX reached this milestone in less than a year (11months) after its initial launch. “As consumers increasingly turn to the Internet to research purchases, it is becoming more important than […] [Read More]

To capitalize on strengthening consumer smartphone use, Liquid Motors launched a QR code product for dealers Tuesday. The tool can allow dealers to place QR codes — short for quick-response codes — on window stickers and buyer guides. Liquid Motors believes shoppers want more information and QR codes on the window sticker or buyer guide […] [Read More]

Charleston Auto Auction’s “Hoedown Mega Sale” last week not only set a record for new-car dealer trades consigned, the event raised more than $2,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston, S.C. Included in the event were more than 600 dealers, 1,400 vehicles and $50,000 worth of cash and prizes doled out. There were more […] [Read More]

For the second month in a row, the same three brands set all-time records for certified pre-owned sales, according to Autodata Corp., which said the overall CPO market in September beat year-ago figures and continued to outpace 2010 on a year-to-date basis, as well. Overall, certified sales increased 4.6 percent year-over-year and hit 141,516 units […] [Read More]