IRVINE, Calif. — Consumer Portfolio Services announced this week the closing of its first rated term securitization of the year. The company highlighted the transaction is CPS' second senior subordinate securitization since 1993.  In the transaction, executives explained qualified institutional buyers purchased $100,364,000 of asset-backed notes secured by automobile receivables that were purchased by CPS […] [Read More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. — After being approached about potentially being acquired, Nicholas Financial began a strategic review of its business model to decide the best course of action. With the analysis now complete, management revealed the best course of action for shareholders is to remain a standalone entity. The review process involved, among other things, a consideration […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — As Ken Shilson, founder of the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers, prepares for the upcoming Dealer Academy and annual conference in mid May, he revealed some early benchmark results to SubPrime Auto Finance News. One of the key trends he discovered is that the acquisition of vehicles at competitive costs will be a major […] [Read More]

Fueled by record used-vehicle sales, Sonic Automotive posted a robust first-quarter net-income jump. Company executives reported Tuesday that their net income came in at $14.9 million, up from $4.1 million generated in the first quarter of last year. As a result, Sonic determined first-quarter earnings from continuing operations were 27 cents per diluted share compared […] [Read More]

Close to the turn of the century, Lexus introduced a unique idea — a manufacturer-sponsored certified program that features the same inspection standards no matter the age or model.   The automaker’s management was so confident in the quality of the product, the team was also the first to launch subsidized APRs as well as […] [Read More]

Along with highlighting the company’s double-digit first-quarter net income gains, AutoNation chairman and chief executive officer Mike Jackson offered another assessment of  the Japanese earthquake’s impact on the full-year industry outlook. “While the underlying recovery in consumer demand for autos remains on track in the United States, due to Japanese supply constraints throughout the remainder […] [Read More]

Vehicle registrations by African-Americans climbed by more than 11 percent in 2010 and one brand, in particular, seems to be benefiting, according to Polk. The automaker most popular among African-Americans in 2010 was Toyota. Specifically, Polk discovered that there were 641,090 new-vehicle registrations within the African-American demographic last year. This marks an 11.5-percent gain from the […] [Read More]

Group 1 Automotive enjoyed more than a 48-percent increase in its adjusted net income during the first quarter, and officials seemed relatively optimistic about the dealer group’s ability to weather potentially significant disruptions in the supply chain stemming from the Japanese disaster’s aftermath. Announcing its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, Group 1 said its adjusted net […] [Read More]

To drive service dollars, Hyundai’s Chicago dealers recently held a weekend-long Groupon promotion where shoppers could receive an oil change, inspection and tire rotation for $29. Customers could take advantage of the deal at 10 different stores in the Chicago area. Hyundai revealed that 1,323 shoppers utilized the Groupon, meaning the average number of new-service […] [Read More]

Chevrolet announced Tuesday it will celebrate National Military Appreciation Month by expanding the GM Military Discount to military spouses and retirees. During the month of May, the GM Military Discount program will be extended to spouses of active and reserve members, as well as retirees of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard […] [Read More]