DETROIT — Although not quite to the levels of its heyday a couple of years ago, AOL Autos recently discussed the growth of vehicle leasing and picked what it thinks are the best deals for May. Topping the chart was the deal available on the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. "The 2011 Sonata has exploded onto the scene […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American International Automobile Dealers Association and Carfax are offering dealers a free online seminar next week that can help dealers improve how they go about stocking their inventories. The "Consider Your Buyers Before You Even Stock the Car," which will be held at noon (EST) on June 4, will hone in on […] [Read More]

HOPE MILLS, N.C.  — RevenueGuru.com contends that dealers squander more than $1 billion in profit annually on "bad marketing purchases and poor execution," but the site said it has a myriad of solutions to help. RevenueGuru.com is offering 10 free training programs that dealers can use to bolster their marketing performance, while also gaining free white […] [Read More]

ATLANTA and NORCROSS, Ga. — Two additional stores have earned designation as Motor Trend Certified Advantage dealerships, according to EasyCare.  Selected for the program — which Motor Trend created and EasyCare powers — was Sam Linder Cadillac Honda in Salinas, Calif. and Napa Ford Lincoln Mercury in Napa Valley, Calif. Both stores are among the first […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate voted its approval on Sen. Sam Brownback's motion on Monday, instructing its leaders to include language that exempts dealers from financial consumer protection agency oversight in the final language of the Wall Street reform bill. While this is good news for many dealers, what remains in question is how buy-here, pay-here […] [Read More]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — More favorable news for Chrysler Group on the dealer arbitration front rolled in last week, with the automaker announcing it won three cases and three others were dismissed. Chrysler revealed late last week that the arbitrator ruled in Chrysler's favor in cases involving Hinckley Dodge in Utah, Tenafly Chrysler Jeep in New Jersey and Midway Motors […] [Read More]

DETROIT and SHANGHAI — The leadership shifts continue at General Motors, which announced Monday that executive Susan Docherty is taking on a new role as vice president of international sales, marketing and aftersales starting June 1. She will be taking over for Don Johnson, whose new role GM said it will reveal soon. Docherty's most recent position […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — A longtime veteran of Toyota and a pioneer of the automaker's certified pre-owned vehicle program is retiring next month. Norm Olson, who began what ended up being nearly four decades with Toyota in January 1972, is stepping down on June 11. Toyota has not yet appointment a replacement for Olson, who is the sales […] [Read More]

CAMARILLO, Calif., and BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — It didn't take long for Robert Lutz, who recently retired as vice chairman of General Motors, to find a new endeavor. On Monday, executives from Transonic Combustion announced that Lutz would join their company's board of directors. Transonic Combustion's objective centers on directly supplying global manufacturers with its high […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — As shoppers gradually move back into the market, one segment, in particular, that has gained what some may consider to be surprising ground is the midsize sedan category, according to Edmunds.com Pushed to some degree by attractive new releases, midsize cars command 17.8 percent of the U.S. market right now, and have […] [Read More]