SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com analysts found the percentage of new-vehicle sales in December that came from old model-year units was down significantly from the same period of 2008, and this greatly influenced incentives.  As a result, they discovered that the average incentive was $2,542 per vehicle sold in December 2009. That incentive was 6.7 percent lower or $167 less […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — The nominees for the the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award were recently unveiled, and a total of 45 dealers are in the running for the honor that's been given for the past 40 years by the magazine in partnership with Goodyear. The honor will be given during the opening session of the […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — When IntelliChoice.com revealed its "Best Deals of the Month" for the first time in 2010, a domestic automaker had one of its best showings ever. The site shared its rankings for January and highlighted that models from General Motors topped many segments because of extensive rebates and incentives. Officials reiterated that GM often does well […] [Read More]

SAN ANTONIO — USAA recently announced that it has enhanced its online car-buying service program by adding new-car pricing reports from TrueCar.com. Basically, this will provide shoppers with actual transaction prices for specific vehicles in their area, when that data is available. "At USAA, we're committed to demystifying the car-buying process to make it easier […] [Read More]

CARMEL, Ind. — On Tuesday morning, KAR Auction Services unveiled the final results of its tender offer for its 10 percent Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015, its 8.75 percent Senior Notes due and its Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014. This tender offer for a portion of the company's debt expired at 11:59 p.m. EST on […] [Read More]

YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports recently tested five redesigned luxury sedans from Cadillac, Acura, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln, and just one posted an overall score considered to be "excellent." Field testers put each vehicle through a battery of examinations at its center in East Haddam, Conn., and the Cadillac CTS received the excellent status by getting a […] [Read More]

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Penske Automotive Group announced this week that the management of smart USA has changed. Taking on the role of president of the Penske subsidiary is Jill Lajdziak, who had joined the company in December as vice president of sales and marketing for smart USA. Smart USA had been managed by Dave Schembri, who […] [Read More]

DAYTON, Ohio — Since launching CarLocate.com three months ago, Reynolds and Reynolds said the vehicle-search Web site has seen solid growth in consumer traffic as well as leads generated for dealers from these visits. CarLocate.com — which includes vehicle inventories from dealers that use either Reynolds ERA or Power dealership management systems — made its debut in October […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Looking back on what one editor, in particular, called "the decade of the pickup truck," the enthusiast Web site PickupTrucks.com and AutoPacific, an automotive research firm, unveiled this week what they consider to be the most significant trucks of the past 10 years. While offerings from a slew of OEMs were highlighted, topping the […] [Read More]

COSTA MESA, Calif. — NADAguides.com named its first Car of the Month of 2010 on Tuesday, and receiving January's honor was the 2010 Porsche Panamera. Site officials said they selected the Panamera for several reasons, specifically emphasizing the fact that it's based on a popular unit from the automaker, the 911. In revealing their choice, NADAguides.com mentioned how the Panamera can make […] [Read More]