Lithia & Driveway’s aggressive approach to the dealership M&A market remains intact. In fact, it’s racing ahead at full speed. The giant dealership group, which operates more than 400 locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., has acquired Stivers Decatur Subaru in Decatur, Ga., from Stivers Automotive Group. In a news release, the company […] [Read More]

Private equity firm Astira Capital Partners has acquired CallRevu, which provides a call intelligence platform for the auto industry. Boston-based Astira, which focuses on technology-enable and data-driven services, was founded by Azra Kanji in 2023 and invests out of a $675 million Fund 1. Its portfolio also includes Altus (commercial receivables management solutions) and ConData […] [Read More]

Lauren Donalson joined PureCars in 2015 as a sales associate, later serving as regional manager, national director and senior vice president before moving up to chief operating officer in January 2023. She was promoted to the new role of president in February 2024. And last month, Donalson became the company’s CEO. She joins the Auto […] [Read More]

Sales enablement and consumer experience software platform TradePending has become a partner in the Mazda Digital Certified Program, the company announced. The certification gives Mazda dealers access to TradePending’s tools through MDCP, which offers dealers programs and technologies from a selection of certified providers. The company said those tools include Trade+, designed to convert website […] [Read More]

Signals about what happens before and after a vehicle is delivered and financed aren’t so rosy. Cox Automotive chief economist Jonathan Smoke pointed out that the initial October reading of consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan showed, “Consumers’ views of buying conditions for vehicles improved modestly but remain worse than a year ago.” Smoke […] [Read More]

Ken Tape understands the value of a certified pre-owned program to a dealership. The general manager of Windsor Chrysler in Windsor, Ontario, knows CPO can draw customers and reassure them about the value of a used vehicle, as well as increasing profit and customer retention and loyalty. There’s just one problem. Tape is a Chrysler […] [Read More]

When he’s not on the clock as a director of remarketing services at Ally Financial, Rawlin Mallet enjoys traveling with family. In fact, the fam recently ventured to Spain and Portugal, and they regularly visit Napa Valley in California. A Texan, hunting is “just in my blood,” said Mallet, who’s looking forward to white-tailed deer […] [Read More]

When it comes to cars, old is in. In its Q3 2025 Quarterly Review, CarGurus found auto sales overall are holding up in the face of economic and affordability pressures, but the U.S. market has shifted toward older vehicles as consumers adjust to make the finances work. “On the whole, new- and used-vehicle demand has […] [Read More]

TruDecision chief executive officer Daniel Parry detailed an executive promotion and an industry partnership late last week. On the personnel front, Parry revealed via social media that David Knightly has moved from chief revenue officer to chief operating officer of the credit risk analytic solutions provider. Parry also highlighted TruDecision has entered into a partnership […] [Read More]

MeridianLink likes how RouteOne operates. So MeridianLink, which offers DecisionLender, recently became the latest integrated loan origination system (LOS) to certify its platform with RouteOne’s advanced eContracting functionality, known as The Digital Deal. The companies highlighted this solution can enhance efficiencies for both finance sources and dealers, featuring a required forms list and automated document […] [Read More]