Joe Verde recently announced his company has partnered with The National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers as an enrollee in the group’s online Minority Dealer Vendor Directory.   The directory lists companies with automotive-related products and services, including automotive sales training, and is designed to help dealers locate vendors who will help them increase profitability. […] [Read More]

NEW YORK -—Auto loan defaults didn't decline by the same month-over-month level in September as second mortgages or bank card loans, but Standard & Poor's and Experian found that vehicle contracts did reverse their two-month-old trend. According to the most recent S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices, auto loan defaults edged lower by 0.69 percent to an index reading of 2.04 […] [Read More]

CARY, N.C. — The Auto Remarketing Forum Series recently announced that the deadline to book a room at the Manchester Grand Hyatt for the National Remarketing Conference and the CPO Forum at the discounted conference rate of $239 per night is Friday. Attendees who book their hotel through the conference site are guaranteed the lowest possible […] [Read More]

MINNEAPOLIS — Wolters Kluwer Financial Services announced Thursday a California-based finance company has adopted the AppOne platform as a pathway to reach dealers nationwide. Management from Gateway One Lending & Finance made the decision to use AppOne, which can assist with the automation of indirect lending, credit approval and compliance processes for lenders and the auto, […] [Read More]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — After pursuing Western Funding for some time, Katherine Cooper, Frederick Cooper and Phil Nick, of Harbor Structured Finance LLC, were recently able to strike a deal with Dwight Cope to purchase the company. According to Katherine Cooper, who was previously with SeaWest, the Harbor Structured Finance team approached Western Funding about a year […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association will now utilize Experian Automotive’s AutoCheck for vehicle history reports in the the NIADA Certified Pre-Owned Program. Per the exclusive deal revealed Wednesday, an AutoCheck vehicle history report will come with every CPO vehicle in NIADA’s program. National Auto Care Corp. serves as the administration of the CPO program. [Read More]

The 2011 Motor Trend Sport Utility of the Year winner was unveiled Tuesday on Facebook, and taking this year’s honor was the Porsche Cayenne. Motor Trend said it has not done an award announcement through Facebook before, and doing so was part of its multimedia strategy. [Read More]

Cars.com said this week that it has kicked off the voting process for its inaugural Shoppers’ Choice Award, which allows consumers to choose from 10 finalists. These finalists have generated the most searches and dealer inquiries while also garnering the strongest ratings and reviews from consumers, Cars.com explained. [Read More]

Mercedes-Benz USA dealers now have a new website platform through Motortrak — a company specializing in digital retail marketing — that officials say will be highly beneficial to dealers in several arenas. [Read More]

— Chrysler has started selecting its Fiat brand U.S. dealer network, the automaker said Wednesday, revealing that phase-one stores have set up their plans and are preparing to receive Fiat 500 orders. Chrysler said that it will bring in more stores by year’s end, and that it is still working with a few dealers to submit proposals. […] [Read More]