Marking continued production revival, Nissan Motor Co. chief executive officer Carlos Ghosn visited the quake-hit factory town of Iwaki earlier this week, calling the automaker’s Fukushima plant comeback a “symbol of Japan’s recovery.” The company explained the factory saw broad structural damage in the devastating March 11 earthquake, which prompted other plants to rally to […] [Read More]

With energy and food costs rising and the economic outlook remaining murky, auto shopping activity fell sequentially for the first time in six months during April, according to Dataium, which said it hopes this decline is just a blip on the radar. The company’s Auto Shopper Intensity index had tapered somewhat in February before becoming […] [Read More]

On Tuesday, General Motors broke ground for a new electric motor plant, which it said will be the first plant dedicated to making the critical components for vehicle electrification by a major U.S. automaker. The plant scheduled to open in 2013, is an addition to GM’s Baltimore Operations Complex, which houses the company’s two-mode hybrid […] [Read More]

To celebrate the launch of the ninth generation Honda Civic and help generate some interest, the automaker is encouraging its Facebook fans to submit and vote for original songs inspired by the new model. Submissions for the 2012 Civic songwriting competition are now being accepted and the pool will be open until June 5. The […] [Read More]

LAS VEGAS — In its latest round of acquisitions, AutoTrader.com announced Wednesday evening that it has entered into an agreement to buy VinSolutions. This is in addition to revealing the results of a special buy-here, pay-here study that AutoTrader.com teamed up with the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers to complete. The company did not reveal terms […] [Read More]

SARASOTA, Fla. — Leedom Group is rolling out its next round of educational "boot camps" specifically tailored for managers and collections personnel at buy-here, pay-here dealerships. The two days of training are scheduled to be held in Orlando, Fla., with the manager's boot camp set for June 15 and the collections boot camp on tap […] [Read More]

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Rocky Mountain Tracking recently introduced a new Smart Tracker Payment Reminder Buzzer that will make it much harder for vehicle owners to forget about making payments. The GPS tracking company that introduced the Smart Tracker anti-theft tracking device to the market has now turned its attention towards fixing what can be […] [Read More]

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. — FinCo Management, an emerging provider of consumer finance solutions to the used auto industry, announced during the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers conference that it is now purchasing subprime and deep subprime consumer contracts. Toby Reiley, FinCo's chief executive officer, discussed the launch of his company's Buy-Here, Pay-There Hybrid product during the […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Credit recently launched a program targeted to retail investors. What officials are calling Ford Credit Notes are designed to offer senior unsecured Ford Credit notes through broker-dealers and registered investment advisers. The company explained Ford Credit Notes became available on Monday. They are senior unsecured obligations of Ford Credit with […] [Read More]

LAS VEGAS — Finance Express announced during the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers conference that it is launching an iPhone and Android mobile app. When Ken Shilson, NABD founder, had the exhibitors line up for Dealer Academy attendees to introduce themselves and their companies, the Finance Express representative jumped on the chance to announce the […] [Read More]