WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW Group Financial Services announced this week the launch of a  three-part series of viral videos to promote its extended vehicle protection program. Also this week, the company released a new mobile app for customers and gamers alike. Returning to its vehicle protection program, the new campaign is call "Natural." It incorporates both "humor […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute discovered that the total number of U.S. bankruptcies filed during the first half of this year fell 8 percent when compared to the same period in 2010. This was due largely in part to the deleveraging of household debt, as well as improving consumer credit conditions, officials noted. According to data […] [Read More]

In the last few years, Ron Bloom has been instrumental in shaping some of the federal government’s most influential policies regarding the U.S. auto industry, including the restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler and the recent agreement to bump up gas-mileage standards. And on Tuesday, it was revealed that President Obama’s top manufacturing policy chief […] [Read More]

Dealer.com announced today that it has chosen a new vice president of marketing that brings more than 15 years of experience in the communications field to the company. Tapped for the position is Eliza Kelly, who will be responsible for marketing strategy, corporate communications and solutions marketing programs “to support the company’s significant investment in research and […] [Read More]

In pitching what it finds to be the 2011 Top 10 Back-to-School Cars, Kelley Blue Book threw in a little bit of a change-up. This year, Kbb.com selected five used cars and five new cars, ranking each category separately. To compile the lists, editors recommended new and used rides that allow high school and college […] [Read More]

Vehicle service contract provider AUL Corp. recently celebrated the company’s 1 millionth deal by giving this customer a break and refunding the amount paid for coverage on a 2008 Buick Enclave.  AUL president and chief executive officer Luis Nieves personally presented the check to the customer during a ceremony held at the dealership that sold […] [Read More]

Top dealers from throughout the country have confirmed that they will be attending and participating at the 2011 Certified Pre-Owned Forum, a part of Used Car Week and presented by AutoTrader.com, which will be held Nov. 14-15 in Las Vegas. Featured dealers at the event include: —Brian Benstock, Paragon Honda/Paragon Acura —Chris Little, Hendrick Automotive Group […] [Read More]

Spurred by high demand and shrinking supply, asking prices for certified pre-owned vehicles surged in July, according to AutoTrader.com, which saw a year-over-year price bump in 17 of the site’s 20 most popular CPO models during July. What’s more, 13 of those increases were greater than $1,000. The CPO price hike was particularly evident at […] [Read More]

The sustained decline in wholesale prices dealers have been eager to see might have finally come. Last week, Black Book watched all 24 vehicle segments it tracks — 10 cars and 14 trucks — all drop. Managing editor Ricky Beggs indicated it has been more than three months since all declined in the same week. […] [Read More]

Though the July Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index made its steepest decline thus far this year, the reading still represented a 5.9-percent increase from its year-ago level. Manheim determined this week that between June and July, wholesale used-vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis) fell 1.3 percent, leaving July’s index reading at […] [Read More]