CHICAGO — Cars.com dealers who are out-and-about no longer have to rush back to their computers to connect with shoppers. The company has now made its chat platform available through Web-enabled smartphones, meaning dealers have a much easier and quicker was to get in touch with potential customers.    "Mobile chat allows salespeople to be […] [Read More]

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — With great sadness, BMW of North America revealed late last week that one of its top executives died tragically while on vacation at his farm. Executives said the company's vice president of marketing, Jack Pitney, was killed last Thursday. "We don't have many further details to share with you at this time […] [Read More]

OAK BROOK, Ill. — vAuto officials announced late last week they've passed another dealer-customer threshold. As of the close of the second quarter, the company's unique dealership rooftop count totaled 3,093. Executives from vAuto contend these dealerships are successfully executing the Velocity Method of Management to maximize profits and grow their used-vehicle operations. Furthermore, vAuto also […] [Read More]

TORONTO, Ontario — General Motors of Canada and a group of 21 rejected dealers who were suing the company have reached a settlement, a GM Canada spokesperson confirmed to Auto Remarketing Canada this week. Jason Easton, corporate communications manager for GM Canada, confirmed "that a conditional settlement has been reached … " in this particular suit — Stoneleigh Motors Limited […] [Read More]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Average wholesale prices in Canada softened a bit during July, according to OPENLANE's Canadian Market Index, which came in at 103 for the month, compared with 105 in June. In addition to the 2-percentage-point month-over-month decline in auction prices, July was 3 percentage points weaker on a year-over-year basis. "Canadian prices decreased in […] [Read More]

RED DEER, Alberta — In a strong kick-off to the 2011 fiscal year, RIFCO pulled in almost 35 percent more net income during the first quarter than it did for all of fiscal 2010. And, company management is expecting they should hit full-year profits for the fifth straight time. Specifically, the company took in net income of $416,370 for the […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com recently took a look at the impact deflation can have on the auto industry and suggested that it's not necessarily a bad thing, as it tends to come with "mixed blessings." "Deflation is rearing its ugly head, now menacing the economy at large and already has a strong hold on major […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota Motor Sales USA said Thursday it is recalling roughly 1.13 million Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles in the U.S. for a potential problem with the Engine Control Modules that can lead to "harsh shifting" or an inability to start the engine. General Motors, meanwhile, revealed that Toyota is also recalling 200,163 Pontiac […] [Read More]

CARY, N.C. — Readers flocked to AutoRemarketing.com this past week to learn more details about the new partnership between Hertz Corp. and Dealer Services Corp. of Indiana. Also catching plenty of online attention was a story about the official word from General Motors about an initial public offering. The top five stories from AutoRemarketing.com this week […] [Read More]

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Considering the spectrum of expenses one may incur during five years of driving a vehicle, NADAguides.com has released a list of what it considers to be the models with the best ownership costs in six different segments. Employing its Cost of Ownership tool, NADAguides.com examined the expenses associated with depreciation, fees and […] [Read More]