AUSTIN, Texas — Innovative Funding Services has welcomed a new chief operating officer to the company. Named recently to serve in the position was Robert McKie, who joined IFS from his previous post as vice president of sales at Wells Fargo Financial in Eden Prairie, Minn. In his most recent role with Wells Fargo, McKie headed […] [Read More]

FAIRFIELD, Calif. — Copart UK Limited has continued to expand its presence by recently agreeing to purchase D Hales Limited, a salvage disposal company based in Bristol, U.K. D Hales Limited has five auction and auto parts facilities throughout the United Kingdom, including locations in Bristol (Avonmouth), Bedford, Colchester, Gainsborough and Luton. Before this purchase — which is slated […] [Read More]

DETROIT — On Wednesday, General Motors named a new executive director for fleet and commercial operations, who will also head up pre-owned and remarketing operations, as well as assume responsibility for the International Product Center. Taking on this position, effective immediately, is Brian Small. Small most recently served as general director for GMNA order fulfillment and global […] [Read More]

CARMEL, Ind. — There was an extra perk for remarketers who sold their consignments in the final month of 2009 instead of holding out for a seasonal price upswing at the start of the New Year. This was in large part thanks to a seasonally unexpected gain in December's wholesale prices, according to ADESA's Tom Kontos.   Specifically, […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dealers throughout most of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts saw their sales either climb moderately or remain static in the last month, though some remained challenged by the current climate, according to the latest Beige Book report. Specifically, the auto markets in the Kansas City and Richmond Districts were softer, but sales were […] [Read More]

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Describing much of 2009 as "atypical," OPENLANE'S Nagi Palle shared a forecast of stabilizing wholesale prices and modest retail sales growth this year in the latest OPENLANE Market Index Report. Because the new-vehicle retail sales market already is picking up slightly, Palle contends that trade-in volume at dealerships should improve as the […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — The struggles of the Big 3 certainly are widely known, so Cars.com pinpointed 10 vehicles site editors believe will push the automakers to future success in 2010 and beyond. In conjunction with the ongoing North American International Auto Show in Detroit, site officials not only picked the units they liked, they also shared elements […] [Read More]

DETROIT — At the North American International Auto Show this week, the 2010 EyesOn Design Awards were unveiled, and taking home this year's top honors were the GMC Granite Concept and the Audi A8. The Granite Concept won in the concept category, defeating finalists Nissan Mixim, Revenge Verde Supercar and the Audi eTron concept. Meanwhile, the […] [Read More]

LOS ANGELES — The Southern California Honda Dealers Association was inundated again — not only in the amount of nominations but also the quality of community-benefitting work done by individuals in the running for its Honda Helpful Awards. Now in its fourth year, the association received more than 700 nominations for its Honda Helpful Awards in which each […] [Read More]

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Experian Automotive recently entered into a working relationship with a lender based in northern California. The deal's intention is to provide enhanced credit prescreen services for dealers' marketing materials. Experian's solution, iScreen, now will be utilized by Western Sierra Acceptance Corp. to boost the lender's range of services. The companies believe the partnership […] [Read More]