IRVINE, Calif. — Analysts from Kelley Blue Book believe the effects from generous incentives handed out by several automakers in recent weeks are spilling into the used-vehicle market. An example from the May edition of the Blue Market Report showed how shoppers enticed by new-vehicles incentives are mulling another option. More buyers are considering that for the […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — Manheim and Avis Budget Group recently collaborated for a program intended to increase the speed and efficiency of rental-vehicle remarketing at select Avis airport locations. The pilot stage of Avis Early Access is now being conducted at airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Pittsburgh. Officials mentioned that additional locations […] [Read More]

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — In Black Book's weekly observations of current trends in the auction market, editors noticed that wholesale prices and demand for one segment, in particular, were surprisingly healthy. With gas prices not too far from $3 per gallon, Black Book managing editor Ricky Beggs found it a bit unusual that full-size SUVs "were in […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — Global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners is obtaining a 25-percent share in Cox Enterprise's AutoTrader.com, a move Cox officials said will provide the company more investment capital and expertise to help the site grow further. Executives emphasized that Cox will have majority ownership of AutoTrader.com as well as control over operations. The move […] [Read More]

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — LeasePlan USA appointed a new vice president of sales for the West region on Monday. Named to the position is Kathy Fairbanks, who has 22 years of experience in sales and management. In her new position, Fairbanks will head up new business development in the mid- and large-fleet market segments for her territory, which […] [Read More]

ANDERSON, S.C. — Carolina Auto Auction is organizing special tributes and a donation collection as a part of National Armed Forces Week. Auction executives explained that during Support Our Troops Sale and Donation Drive on Wednesday, dealers are welcome to donate either supplies or funds for solider care packages. The auction plans to match all donations […] [Read More]

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A look into Nicholas Financial's most recent quarterly performance report showed strong gains in net earnings and revenue, as well as plans to continue the company's expansion. For the most recent fiscal quarter, the company's net earnings, excluding change in fair value of interest rate swaps, increased by 52 percent to $3.1 million. That […] [Read More]

MONTREAL, Quebec — iMETRIK Solutions, a provider of embedded wireless solutions for the buy-here, pay-here dealer industry, recently announced it created a new business unit to handle client growth. Because of steady company advancement during the past five years, executives have rolled out iMETRIK Automotive Solutions. They explained that this division includes staff to service the needs […] [Read More]

DALLAS — Increased interest rates were the primary factor in pushing first-quarter auto affordability down to a more than two-year low, according to Comerica Bank, which released its most recent Auto Affordability Index today. Specifically, it required 23.4 weeks of median family income to buy and finance an average-priced new vehicle, compared with 23.1 weeks, the revised […] [Read More]

GARDEN CITY, N.J. — Chase Auto Finance has pitched in for the Haiti relief efforts, providing  a 2004 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE for the "100 Trucks for Haiti" campaign that will be used to help dole out food, water and medicine in Port Au Prince as well as other areas of the earthquake-stricken nation. "Chase and […] [Read More]