As a domestic nameplate enjoyed its best May in three years, foreign brands slid down somewhat as overall new-vehicle sales softened a bit. Based on tallies from AutoData Corp. cited in a report from the American International Automobile Dealers Association, May sales actually finished down 3.7 percent from the same month last year. The sales […] [Read More]

On Thursday, ServNet announced that another auction has joined its network of independent auto auctions. Brasher’s San Jose Auto Auction, which opened in Silicon Valley in the summer of 2010, was approved for membership by both ServNet and the National Auto Auction Association. The weekly auction includes consignments from new- and used-car dealers, rental companies, […] [Read More]

An investment analyst asked Copart chief executive officer Jay Adair Thursday whether the company’s vast amount of ongoing technology and infrastructure changes should be viewed as ways to improve efficiencies or secure market-share gains. Adair didn’t hesitate to say the reason was to boost both. In a conference call to discuss the company’s third-quarter performance […] [Read More]

AutoNation’s new-vehicle unit sales for May saw a significant decrease year-over-year due in part to a sharp decline in import sales. The automotive retailer announced Thursday that its new-vehicle unit sales totaled 16,347 vehicles during the 24 selling days of May, marking a 15-percent decrease as compared to May 2010. Contributing to the decline in […] [Read More]

Thanks to significant dealer input, Cobalt announced on Thursday the immediate availability of its Dealer Command Center for all Cobalt customers. The company explained Dealer Command Center can provide dealers with insightful performance analytics together with an integrated suite of digital marketing management tools. Officials explained this major enhancement of the Cobalt platform was guided […] [Read More]

General Motors revealed a newly created position earlier this week: director of digital strategy and integration. Appointed to the post is Jon Beebe, whose most recent post was digital marketing manager for Ford and Lincoln. In the new position, Beebe reports to GM’s global director of digital and social engagements Liz Boone. “We want to […] [Read More]

General Motors dealers could have a choice for new inventory floor planning besides Ally Financial. Auto Remarketing confirmed Wednesday that GM Financial intends to create its own floor planning program for franchise dealers. The company hopes to have at least a pilot program in place by the end of this year. “There are not many […] [Read More]

Know the rules and document everything. That, in a nutshell, is the advice dispensed by Keith Whann — an Ohio attorney who is the chief executive officer of Columbus Fair Auto Auction, general counsel for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and a Buckeye fan, himself — when asked what dealers can do to avoid […] [Read More]

May’s used-vehicle sales total is either up or down, depending on which way you look at the numbers released Wednesday by CNW Research. CNW tabulated there were 4,126,844 used-vehicle sales last month, combining activity at franchise and independent dealerships as well as private-party sales. That figure represents an 11.9-percent gain from April, but a 1.4-percent […] [Read More]

HookLogic, a company that provides incentive programs to help increase traffic for various lead-driven businesses, including auto dealerships, announced today a newly appointed president of its automotive business unit. Tapped for the job is David Metter, who previously served as chief marketing officer for dealer group MileOne Automotive and as director of sales for Autobase, […] [Read More]