The Ford brand maintained its perch atop NADAguides.com’s list of most-researched brands during the first quarter, but Korean brands stole the show and some of the Big 3’s share, as they continue to close the gap on their rivals. According to the first-quarter Brand Share Report, Ford is still the industry’s most popular brand, notching […] [Read More]

With summertime fast approaching, organizers of the Auto Remarketing Training Series want dealers armed with the best plan to find inventory that’s priced right and can turn quickly. Many experts are predicting that as some new-vehicle inventory becomes tight due to the Japan quake, late-model used vehicles could be the next best thing for customers. […] [Read More]

Lithia Motors recorded first-quarter earnings that nearly quadrupled the year-ago sum, enjoyed a 45-percent spike in new-vehicle revenue and also notched double-digit increases in used, F&I and service/body/parts revenues. Lithia’s first-quarter net income from continuing operations came in at $9.1 million, up from $2.3 million in the year-ago period. Results from both periods exclude non-core […] [Read More]

Used-vehicle sales in April will likely improve month-over-month by more than a third, according to TrueCar.com, which is projecting about 3.36 million used units sold by month’s end. The site indicated that this would be a 34-percent sequential hike and a 2-percent year-over-year gain, leading to a new-to-used ratio of about 1:3. On the new […] [Read More]

Nominations for Auto Remarketing’s annual Who’s Who listings, set to run in the June 1st edition, are due in by this Friday. Whether nominations highlight an executive that works in remarketing, fleet, auctions, service or more, Auto Remarketing is looking to recognize the top executives in the used vehicle industry. “We are striving to honor […] [Read More]

During the first quarter, Hertz Global Holdings trimmed its losses, improved its balance sheet and its U.S. car rental business and posted its best-ever adjusted pre-tax income. And it appears the rental-car giant may be in store for some more good news later this year, as it upped its 2011 guidance across the board. Looking […] [Read More]

In a key move that allows for an ownership increase, Chrysler announced Thursday that it will repay its U.S. Treasury, Canadian Federal and Ontario aid loans this quarter. The automaker will achieve this by refinancing that debt in a new term loan facility and through a private offering of newly issued debt securities to institutional investors. The offering will […] [Read More]

Donlen recently revealed its 2010 Auction of the Year Award winner among eight accolades the fleet management company handed out. The Auction of the Year nod went to Manheim Milwaukee. Donlen also gave Manheim Milwaukee its Best Retention Dollars Award. The rest of Donlen’s award winners included: —West Region: ADESA Golden Gate. —Central/Northeast Region: ABC […] [Read More]

In order to facilitate its previously announced debt refinancing, KAR Auction Services reported preliminary financial results for the first quarter, including a net income jump of more than $30 million. Executives indicated Wednesday they expect to post $482.7 million in first-quarter revenue, up from the figure in the year-ago quarter of $458.4 million. That rise […] [Read More]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Along with offering forecasts about how it might fare later in the year, Huntington Bancshares recently revealed that it opened 2011 with a 13-percent jump in auto loans year-over-year, helping its first-quarter net income total climb to $126.4 million or 14 cents per common share. Huntington reported total commercial auto loans came […] [Read More]