MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. — AutoTrakk, a vehicle leasing company specializing in the subprime market, recently was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Patent No. U.S. 7860764 B1 officially recognizes the AutoTrakk method and system for leasing vehicles to credit-challenged consumers "as exceptional and unique within the auto leasing industry." AutoTrakk explained its […] [Read More]

EDINA, Minn. — CarHop, a buy-here, pay-here dealership group, is now advertising that its underwriters can get customers financed with as little as $249 down through the end of March. The company has stores in 11 states throughout the U.S., and officials say that for many people a big down payment car be a hurdle. "This […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kicking off next month, the Federal Trade Commission will host roundtable discussions with dealers, financial experts and the public to explore consumer protection issues related to the sale, financing and leasing of light vehicles. Basically, federal officials are seeking to educate themselves on whether stricter guidelines should be instituted under the new Dodd-Frank […] [Read More]

Manheim announced Monday that one of its top executives recently made the “Atlanta’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence” list. Receiving the recognition from the Atlanta Business League was Lilicia Bailey, the company’s senior vice president and global chief people officer. ABL gave the award to Bailey at its recent 16th annual Women of Vision […] [Read More]

Federal Trade Commission officials recently announced they will host a public workshop to examine how debt collectors are using new technologies and how this affects consumers. The workshop, titled “Debt Collection 2.0: Protecting Consumers as Technologies Change,” will feature consumer advocates, industry representatives, technologists, academics and government officials. It’s set for April 28. As noted […] [Read More]

The recent North American Repossessors Summit incorporated what you might expect  — insights from industry leaders, training sessions and advice on improving your repossession agency. However, the element that stirred the greatest reaction from American Recovery Association executive director Les McCook came from repossessors’ response to a tragedy that happened just before the event. ARA […] [Read More]

Along with listing which brands fared best, J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 U.S. Customer Service Index Study refuted an industry stereotype that dealerships routinely pressure customers to accept unnecessary maintenance or repair services. Turns out, the study says very few service customers indicate experiencing upselling by the dealer. In fact, overall J.D. Power found only […] [Read More]

AutoTrader.com analysts sought to answer a question that inventory managers probably are considering. Where is the tipping point in gas prices where consumers shift their interest to more fuel-efficient vehicles? According to the February Trend Engine Report, AutoTrader.com discovered consumers haven’t reached that tipping point yet, but they may be close based on information gleaned […] [Read More]

Nissan revealed a few shifts in the senior leadership of the sales, marketing, communication and purchasing organizations within its Americas region, including a new director of customer and sales satisfaction. Named to that post is Billy Hayes, who is the current director of market representation and strategy. He has been with Nissan since 2004. Hayes’ […] [Read More]

TOYOTA CITY — In light of the massive earthquake in Japan and subsequent tsunami that wreaked havoc there, Japanese automakers halted production at several plants in the island nation late last week. Several Japanese automakers with major U.S. presence  — including Toyota and Nissan — released statements detailing work stoppages and providing details about the […] [Read More]