In light of the growing changes within the industry, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s Certified Master Dealer course has been updated. NIADA and Joe Lescota, Northwood University’s chairman of automotive marketing, have adjusted the course so that dealers can respond to the changing landscape. [Read More]

General Motors said Friday that it has finished pumping about $2 billion of its common stock into the automaker’s hourly and salaried U.S. pension plans. GM announced back in October it would be making the voluntary stock contribution and giving $4 billion to the plans. The automaker contributed cash prior to giving the stock shares to the pension […] [Read More]

The Treasury Department is receiving a hefty sum thanks to a decision announced late last week by Ally Financial’s board of directors. The board declared quarterly dividend payments for certain outstanding preferred stock.   Members revealed a quarterly dividend payment was declared on Ally’s fixed rate cumulative mandatorily convertible preferred stock, Series F-2 (Series F-2 preferred […] [Read More]

It might be easy to say there are two Toyota Corollas or Tundras in dealer inventory. But ever wonder what to call more than one Prius? The automaker wants to know, too, so it’s asking customers to participate in a campaign that challenges the public to answer this unique grammatical question about what the plural form […] [Read More]

North Toronto Auction recently struck a deal with Kia Canada in which the remarketing sales of the service buyback vehicles from the automaker are conducted through the Ontario-based auction. Per the partnership, North Toronto Auction’s physical and online sales are the exclusive avenues for selling these units from Kia Canada. [Read More]

Based on feedback from previous events, organizers of the Auto Remarketing Canada Conference have decided to beef up the dealer-specific content at this year’s event, thus expanding the reach and relevance of this leading industry conference.   ARC 2011, which will be held in Toronto April 12-14, will feature two timely and topical sessions designed […] [Read More]

Returning to the Canadian province that was his adolescent home, Chrysler Group chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne — addressing attendees of the Chrysler Group Brampton Assembly Plant Celebration Event late last week in Ontario — called to mind his own childhood experience moving to Toronto from Italy as he discussed the new beginning the refurbished plant […] [Read More]

Five federally appointed overseers for the expenditure of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds reported Thursday that success of the Treasury Department’s assistance to General Motors and Chrysler is on “a promising course.” The Congressional Oversight Panel released its January oversight report and insisted the financial state of taxpayers’ investments has improved starkly. While still […] [Read More]

ADESA’s Tom Kontos delivered encouraging news this week to dealers scouring for affordable inventory. Kontos indicated that December became the second month in a row when average wholesale used-vehicle prices stayed relatively flat on a month-over-month basis. Furthermore, Kontos noted the December reading meant prices fell on a year-over-year basis for the first time in […] [Read More]

Despite a slowdown in values during the final six months of 2010, full-year used-vehicle prices fell less than 3 percent and finished the year with a relatively steady month, according to Kelley Blue Book. Not only that, but retained value comparisons for full-year 2010 showed improvement yet again, the company said in the latest Blue Book […] [Read More]