DETROIT — General Motors unveiled a plan to turn more than 40,000 factory employees into marketing specialists for the automaker's lineup of vehicles in an effort to drive more traffic to dealers. The foundation of the GM Vehicle Plant Tour is to encourage the manufacturer's employees throughout North America to help drive awareness and sales in their […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com on Monday launched a mobile version of its popular Web site, InsideLine.com. Site officials stressed the mobile version features much of the content that users can find on the full site. That list includes reviews, photos and videos of vehicles and comprehensive coverage of the Geneva Auto Show all optimized for […] [Read More]

HENDERSON, Nev. — Findlay Automotive Group has finalized its acquisition of Colorado River Chevrolet in Needles, Calif., and announced that it will be moving the dealership to Bullhead City, Ariz. The store — which will be the first Chevrolet dealership in Bullhead City — will be merged with Findlay Motor Co., the group's Buick and GMC store in […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — In a positive turn for auto lenders, TransUnion's quarterly analysis determined that the latest reading on the national 60-day auto delinquency rate — which is the ratio of loan borrowers 60 or more days past due — showed no change between the third and fourth quarters of 2009. Analysts then revealed this week the rate stood […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute determined Tuesday that 111,693 consumer bankruptcies were filed in February, according to data the firm reviewed from the National Bankruptcy Research Center. Institute officials calculated that last month's total represented a 14-percent increase nationwide over the 98,344 filings recorded in February of 2009. They also found that last month's […] [Read More]

DETROIT — GMAC Financial Services announced Monday that it has completed the sale of its U.S. consumer property and casualty insurance business. The company noted that its dealer-related insurance business, which includes extended service contracts and insurance for dealer inventories, has not been impacted by the transaction. Officials indicated that this business "remains a strategic component […] [Read More]

FORT WORTH, Texas — AmeriCredit Corp. announced Monday that it has expanded and extended its warehouse credit facility. The borrowing capacity available under the facility has now increased to $1.3 billion from $1 billion. AmeriCredit said the facility includes commitments from eight lenders. "The revolving period of this facility matures in February 2011. The company uses […] [Read More]

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — Veteran executives in the buy-here, pay-here industry sometimes can sense if vehicle repossession is on the horizon. And knowing when to repossess is vital to offsetting and lessening the high risk that comes with being in the BHPH business. For instance, Fran Cavenaugh found that keeping close track of a customer's payment […] [Read More]

IRVING, Texas — Further piecing together of what's been a fractured repossession industry is what the leadership of the American Recovery Association hopes to accomplish during the second annual North American Repossessors Summit. This year's version titled "The Future of the Recovery Industry: 2010 and Beyond," is open to any recovery agency whether they're members of […] [Read More]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Manheim recently unveiled its sixth annual Barbara Cox Anthony Automotive Woman of the Year Award, and receiving this year's honors was Lorraine Schultz, founder and chief executive officer of the Women's Automotive Association International. Schultz was recognized for her contributions not only to the auto industry but to various charitable organizations, as well. […] [Read More]