GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Used-vehicle value retention is usually strong at the beginning of the year, but February showed better-than-expected trends and March appears to be quite healthy, as well, according to the latest report from Black Book's Ricky Beggs. "Traditional patterns within the used market normally show values with the best retention during the first few […] [Read More]

PITTSBURGH — Dealers can learn what vehicles women might want as well as better ways to serve their female customer base thanks to a new partnership between MotorMouths.com and Women-Drivers.com. Women-Drivers.com explained that its Web site is a destination for consumer ratings where women can rate their dealership experience and find tips and insights. Site executives cited research that […] [Read More]

TITUSVILLE, Pa. — Salvage Direct revealed on Monday that the Avis Budget Group is its newest seller partner. Auction officials indicated that now Avis Budget Group can use Salvage Direct's online auction platform SalvageDirect.com to sell its vehicles to buyers worldwide. "This new partnership will benefit our worldwide buyers with more high-quality, rental inventory," highlighted Dan […] [Read More]

DETROIT — To align itself with the market, Saab Cars North America said late last week that it is trimming down the MSRP on all of its 2010 model-year 9-3 units, which are the first 2010 models the automaker built for the U.S. market. The models are slated to begin arriving in stores in April. This […] [Read More]

SPOKANE, Wash. — DAA Northwest on Monday unveiled a new auto racing sponsorship meant to promote weekly sales as well as up-and-coming competitive drivers from the region. In conjunction with Sherwin-Williams and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle, the auction announced the formation of the DAA Northwest Spec Motor Series presented by Sherwin Williams. The […] [Read More]

WESTCHESTER, Ill. — Insurance Auto Auctions has added a Mandarin Chinese option to its Web site, meaning the company now provides six language interface options. The others are English, French, Polish, Russian and Spanish. IAA estimates that almost one-third (30 percent) of its vehicles are purchased by foreign buyers and noted that more than 12 percent of customers select […] [Read More]

FORT WORTH, Texas — Digital Recognition Network recently entered into a partnership with newly created DRN Financial in order to offer affordable financing terms to repossession-related companies that wish to acquire its license plate recognition technology. Officials believe that the new financing offered by DRN Financial can allow professional recovery agents to finance the cameras on a […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Bankruptcy Institute recently shared data from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts that confirmed a sharp rise in total bankruptcy filings last year. The 2009 bankruptcy total jumped 32 percent over the figure recorded for 2008. ABI indicated that bankruptcy filings came in at 1,473,675 for the 12-month period ending […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings recently reported that seasonal weakness pushed up U.S. prime auto loan asset-backed securities' losses slightly higher in January, compared to prior months. However, the company did share some good news. Despite high unemployment and pressure on loss frequency, January losses were more than 20 percent lower on an annual basis for […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After remaining low for much of 2009, the average interest rate on new-car loans at auto finance companies crept up to 3.94 percent in January of this year, according to the Federal Reserve. This is the highest level this figure has stood at since the first quarter of 2009 when the percentage came […] [Read More]