Last week, Fitch Ratings shared its outlook for what the Canadian economy might be like in 2026. While analysts didn’t use many positive adjectives in their forecast, they didn’t say a recession was coming. Fitch Ratings expects Canada’s consumer outlook to soften in 2026 as a weak labor market and slower population growth weigh on […] [Read More]

The third-quarter earnings season delivered a clear message to auto dealerships: the era of easy, outsized profits from new-vehicle sales is fading. With a slowing economy squeezing middle-market affordability, elevated interest rates cooling the sales pace, and lingering cost pressures from tariffs, the financial heavy lifting must now shift decisively. The only logical, sustainable, and […] [Read More]

Although Group 1 Automotive achieved record quarterly used-vehicle retail revenues in the third quarter, the company didn’t spend a great deal of discussion time on the used-vehicle category during its third quarter 2025 earnings call on Oct. 28. Group 1 president and CEO Daryl Kenningham did say, however, at the beginning of the call that […] [Read More]

CarDr.com, a provider of OBD diagnostic and vehicle appraisal technology, is joining with automated recall management services provider AutoAp to bring open recall information directly into CarDr.com’s diagnostic and appraisal reports. The companies said the collaboration gives auto dealers and auto auctions a “more complete, data-driven view of every vehicle’s condition and safety status.” “Our […] [Read More]

A veteran of almost 30 years with Ford is the new leader of the company’s joint venture with its dealers. Chris Thornton has been named CEO of FordDirect, which serves as a data hub connecting Ford and Lincoln dealers and provides them with exclusive access to digital marketing and advertising products and services. Thornton succeeds […] [Read More]

RockED has been working with Hendrick Automotive Group dealerships since 2022. Now it’s official: the auto industry training platform is a partner of the company that bills itself as the nation’s largest privately held automotive retail organization. In a news release, RockED said the collaboration illustrates a “shared commitment to transforming dealership learning and performance […] [Read More]

Mary Leigh Phillips is in a nearly constant state of learning. From colleagues. From customers. From family. And as a result, the chief executive officer of Bridgecrest has built a successful career for which she is being honored as Cherokee Media Group’s 2025 Auto Finance Executive of the Year, presented by Black Book. Phillips will […] [Read More]

AutoPayPlus by US Equity Advantage, an automated financial concierge service, announced that it has achieved a series of technology, compliance, and organizational advancements designed to deliver greater efficiency, accuracy and security for its dealer partners. First, the company said it recently completed its certified integration with Reynolds & Reynolds, enabling AutoPayPlus to securely and seamlessly […] [Read More]

Last week, Open Lending Corp. announced the launch of ApexOne Auto, an advanced decisioning platform that expands the company’s capabilities to serve the full spectrum of auto-finance customers. The provider of automotive lending enablement and risk analytics solutions for financial institutions highlighted ApexOne Auto combines automation, data, and explainable intelligence to help lenders make faster, […] [Read More]

Like a roller coaster at a state fair, wholesale vehicle values descended rapidly in October — and the declines were “faster than usual,” according to Black Book. To use another seasonal metaphor to describe the fall, used-car deprecation was “a little spooky” last month, says Cox Automotive. Both firms have released their observations on October’s […] [Read More]