ORLANDO, Fla. — As Toyota dealers scramble to respond to all the customer inquiries about potential pedal problems for their vehicles, ActivEngage announced it is providing stores with another way to communicate the latest news as it comes out from the automaker. Basically, via the company's live chat platform, dealers can now share recall information with their […] [Read More]

ST. LOUIS — Enterprise Holdings announced that it has now removed 83 percent of the approximately 35,000 recalled Toyota and Pontiac Vibe vehicles from its North American rental fleet on behalf of its Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brands. Meanwhile, the company has also suspended sales of the affected models and […] [Read More]

SOUTH AMBOY, N.J. — The DCH Auto Group is looking for a healthier company outlook beyond just retail sales figures. The group recently launched a comprehensive wellness program for its employees and families. The program, called DCH Life Roads, incorporates a variety of strategies and plans intended to boost wellbeing. It also encourages employees to get […] [Read More]

PHILADELPHIA — VINtek enjoyed record growth during 2009 in numerous aspects of providing automotive collateral management and electronic lien and title services for lenders. As compared to last year's figures, company executives indicated that 2009 revenue jumped 67 percent and earnings spiked a whopping 161 percent. Aiding in those increases was a 20-percent rise in clients. […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Credit revealed specifics of its 2009 revenue turnaround and how a nearly $3 billion improvement occurred. The company posted a net income total of $1.3 billion last year. It calculated into an improvement of $2.8 billion, stemming from a net loss of $1.5 billion in 2008. Looking at the numbers on […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — Positively impacted by gains in net financing revenue, GMAC reported Thursday that, based on preliminary results, its global automotive services business posted pre-tax income from continuing operations of $309 million during the fourth quarter, a significant upswing from the pre-tax loss of $346 million a year ago. GMAC noted in its earnings release that it now […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — Franchise dealers enter 2010 with many of the same challenges they have faced for the last 24 months: 1) excess facilities, 2) slumping vehicle sales, 3) decreasing average credit scores of their customers, 4) tougher credit approvals from financing sources, and 5) excess inventory challenges. In response, many are looking at entering buy-here, […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — In the aftermath of its recalls, Toyota has lost more than a fifth of the shoppers who had been thinking about buying one of the brands, according to Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com. The company also indicated that consideration for the brand has been pushed down to No. 3 behind Ford and Chevrolet, respectively. Specifically, […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Though Toyota certainly saw a drain in purchase intent during the midst of the "recall frenzy," interest in the brand has begun to rapidly recover in the days following the automaker's announcement of a fix, according to Edmunds.com. Contrary to some other reports, Edmunds.com sees Toyota bouncing back even more quickly. "Toyota purchase […] [Read More]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Santa Fe Ford, a dealership that's operated in this northern Florida city for 22 years, just posted its best January used-vehicle sales total. Dealership executives described January as traditionally soft month; however, they went on to note that the sales team was able to move more than 80 used units this year. Santa Fe Ford attributed […] [Read More]