AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — As of February, Chrysler Group has completed rolling out new standards for dealers. According to a person close to the situation, large dealers selling up to 1,800 units could earn up to $200,000 from the automaker by giving customers superior customer service. Basically, the automaker began rolling out standards to its dealers […] [Read More]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — OPENLANE revealed on Monday an enhanced opportunity exclusively for Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers that use Accelerate, the auction company's private label service for Ford franchisees. Officials indicated that these dealers now can purchase Ford rental fleet vehicles from Ford Motor Credit Co. through Accelerate. They stressed that these dealers now have […] [Read More]

EAST NORRITON, Pa. — Addressing the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia late last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell argued that his proposed state sales tax cut can lead to improved auto sales and help close future state budget gaps. "My proposal lowers our sales tax rate by a third, increases the fairness of our business […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — It was announced Monday that joining the lineup of auto executives and analysts sharing their expertise at the NADA/IHS Global Insight Automotive Forum 2010 are James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, and Jim Farley, group vice president of global marketing and Canada, Mexico and South America operations […] [Read More]

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]