Perhaps it’s jumping to conclusions, but the only segment in Black Book’s tracking to squeeze out a wholesale value uptick last week might relate to vehicles in position to solve one of the pressing current challenges to get cars financed and retailed. Cox Automotive chief economist Jonathan Smoke said last week that “retail vehicle demand […] [Read More]

Third-party logistics brokerage Montway Auto Transport has introduced real-time vehicle shipment tracking in partnership with technology provider Ship.Cars. Montway said the service offers its customers 24/7 real-time visibility of their shipment status and access to inspection and delivery documents for “increased control and visibility from pickup through delivery.” Ship.Cars announced the launch of its real-time […] [Read More]

After decades of keeping time like a steady drumbeat of automotive market analysis, Tom Kontos enters his swan song as chief economist at ADESA. Kontos is retiring next month, with his official last day at ADESA being Aug. 16, marking the coda to a 40-year career, the last 30 of which were spent as an […] [Read More]

Almost four months after introducing its new president, Gulf States Toyota has added another member to its leadership team. Mike Brennan, a 28-year automotive veteran, has been named chief operating officer and senior vice president, effective Aug. 5. The company said he will oversee field operations, marketing, dealer relations, fixed operations and supply and demand. […] [Read More]

Retail My Ride is using everyone’s favorite four-letter word: free. The auto retail consignment sourcing platform has launched a new initiative called “Get Free Inventory”, which, it said, “offers used car dealerships the opportunity to access free high-quality vehicles of all makes, models and ages through retail consignment from private party and institutional sellers.” “We […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association makes its annual pilgrimage to Capitol Hill in September, and National Write Your Congressman (NWYC) gave another view about how those operators might be feeling when they travel to Washington, D.C. NWYC, another organization that strives to give small businesses a voice in government, recently released its Q2 2024 […] [Read More]

Earlier this month, a Pennsylvania man already on parole was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Conner following his conviction for odometer tampering and forging vehicle titles. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania recently announced that Earnest Fry of Harrisburg, Pa., was also ordered to pay […] [Read More]

Jody Lambert acknowledged that it often is surprising when a sizeable down payment or trade-in value arrives as part of an application for auto financing. Lambert is vice president of dealer risk management for Anderson Brothers Bank, which is based in South Carolina. Lambert explained his position about down payments as a part of a […] [Read More]

Secure Collateral Management (SCM) hired a new vice president of business development this week, welcoming a veteran executive who served in a similar capacity within the skip-tracing and repossession management solutions industry. Joining SCM’s executive team is Sam Van Scoyoc, who was vice president of sales and client services for nine years at MBSi. SCM […] [Read More]

Even as inventory levels recover, affordability is still the biggest challenge facing dealers and auto finance companies in Canada, industry participants and analysts told Auto Remarketing Canada. “I would say while it is not unique to Canada, the biggest challenge (auto finance companies are facing) is simply the affordability factor,” said Mike Buckingham, managing director, auto finance at J.D. Power. Vehicle prices are up 30% since the third quarter of 2020 and interest rates have ... [Read More]