FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Former Hyundai Motor America executive Michael O'Brien is making his way back to the automaker after 14 years with Toyota. It was revealed Tuesday that O'Brien has been appointed vice president of product and corporate planning, where he will head up efforts to continue developing and expanding the automaker's vehicles, as well […] [Read More]

IRVINE and CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Autobytel on Tuesday rolled out a new initiative it's calling AutoPilot. The program is meant to deliver pre-qualified buyers to dealers through a vehicle-buying service for consumers who receive financing from their local credit union or bank.  Executives also shared the credit union that will be AutoPilot's premier partner. They indicated […] [Read More]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — AutoTec announced on Tuesday that yet another major remarketing organization has joined its effort to fight against curbstoning. The time, the leadership of the National Auto Auction Association made its support known. As dealers and other industry veterans understand, curbstoning is the repeated "flipping" of used vehicles for profit. This practice often is […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The InsideLine.com website from Edmunds.com released its 2010 Readers' Most Wanted Awards on Tuesday, and taking top honors in more than half the segments were Ford vehicles. "Our readers seem to be very impressed with the products Ford has out, winning eight of the 15 awards," said Dan Pund, senior editor of Edmunds' […] [Read More]

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Things were a bit calmer in the wholesale market last week, according to Black Book's Ricky Beggs, who said the company's editors did not have to make as many auction value adjustments as the market "slowed back down." This followed a week where the amount of value changes reached its highest level in roughly […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota Motor Sales late last week notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via a noncompliance information report about yet another voluntary safety recall that currently is without a remedy. The latest installment is connected with potentially 17,000 Lexus HS 250h vehicles from the 2010 model year stemming from mixed rear-crash test results. […] [Read More]

NEW YORK and SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The arrival of Elon Musk, the chairman and chief executive officer of Tesla Motors at NASDAQ MarketSite in New York's Times Square on Monday marked a monumental company achievement. Musk rang the opening bell for trading as part of Tesla's way of celebrating its initial public offering on the […] [Read More]

NORCROSS, Ga. — Less than two weeks after being chosen as the preferred provider for vehicle service contracts and other consumer benefits for the West Virginia Automobile and Truck Dealers Association, APCO/EasyCare revealed this past weekend another statewide dealer organization made a similar decision. This time, the leadership of the Kentucky Automobile Dealers Association named EasyCare as […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book on Monday shared its Web traffic pattern analysis comparing consumer behavior displayed this past May with sentiment from May 2009. According to Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence, brands that have climbed the most in consumer interest for new vehicles include Hyundai, Ford, GMC, Kia and Subaru. Conversely, Toyota led the way […] [Read More]

OAK BROOK, Ill. — vAuto recently celebrated founder and chairman Dale Pollak taking home honors as the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award for Emerging Companies in the Midwest Region. Included in the Midwest program are Illinois- and Indiana-based companies. Pollak was chosen by an independent judge panel in the Emerging Companies category, […] [Read More]