SARASOTA, Fla. — Constellation Automotive Software, which specializes in the buy-here, pay-here marketplace, recently announced it added a new consulting and training practice division. The company tapped industry veterans Don Miller and Al Mosher to serve in consultant roles. Miller spent the past eight years as a consultant for CarBiz, supervising the CarBiz Consulting Group for the past five […] [Read More]

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — March sales have been an unexpected surprise for the auto industry, according to Matt Traylen, chief economist and client partner with ALG. In addition to retail sales climbing, leasing levels are expected to come in above last year's March level as well, he noted. "March sales have been an unexpected boost to […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Pushed by economic improvements in some areas and gains in consumer confidence, global auto sales for full-year 2010 will likely rise 4 percent from last year and steadily move back toward where they were before a sluggish 2009, according to J.D. Power and Associates. However, some markets may still be challenged, though emerging markets — like Brazil, […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Having voiced its concerns to the U.S. Treasury Secretary about the recently proposed consumer protection agency that would further regulate auto dealers' financing endeavors, the National Automobile Dealers Association is calling on dealers to take action. As most likely know, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, along with the Department of Defense and consumer advocacy […] [Read More]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — AutoNation said Wednesday morning that it expects to see an increase in earnings per share and revenue for the first quarter 2010, and also announced that it plans to amend and extend its credit agreement. Moreover, the company unveiled a senior notes offering and announced a debt tender offer. As far as […] [Read More]

DAYTON, Ohio, and SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Reynolds and Reynolds and Experian Automotive announced this week that AutoCheck Plus vehicle history reports now have been integrated into the POWER dealership management system. Company officials highlighted that now dealership personnel can review AutoCheck Plus Reports from any POWER workstation. They stressed that easy access to vehicle history reports […] [Read More]

NEW YORK — Kia picked up yet another award for one of its 2010 vehicles, the Soul. This time the automaker received the nod during the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards for Automotive Ad of the Year. Officials explained that the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards are based on results from Nielsen IAG's National Ad Effectiveness Study. The […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that the National Academy of Sciences and NASA will both delve into the issue of unintended acceleration to see if they can find the root of the cause. The total expected cost of the studies? LaHood anticipates it will be $3 million. The National Academy of […] [Read More]

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — In a recent 15-month period examined by R.L. Polk & Co. analysts found that there were significantly more vehicles scrapped than added to the roads.  The Cash for Clunkers program — which occurred during the period of Polk's study — accounted for "thousands" of the scrapped units, officials said.    More specifically, Polk found during its analysis of […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors has made some shifts in its financial leadership, announcing this week that it has tapped current vice president and treasurer Walter Borst to serve as a vice president and Promark Global Advisors' chief executive officer. He will be taking over for Nancy Everett, who is leaving the company on June 1. Everett — the current […] [Read More]