Chase Auto on Tuesday named John Thacker as president of private label captive finance. In his role, Chase said Thacker will work with its private label captive finance partners including Subaru, Jaguar Land Rover, Rivian, Maserati, Aston Martin and McLaren. The company added Thacker also will lead Chase Auto’s Captive Plus strategy, partnering with its […] [Read More]

Cox Automotive recently reported that access to credit in the auto-finance market improved in February, reaching the highest level since December 2022. But the February Survey of Consumer Expectations from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Center for Microeconomic Data showed individuals aren’t necessarily experiencing, nor anticipating, that level of openness by finance companies. […] [Read More]

This week, Thoma Bravo announced a strategic growth investment in PCMI, a provider of administration software for F&I products in the automotive and consumer end markets. According to a news release, Thoma Bravo said existing shareholders — including PCMI management, its employees, and Equality Asset Management (EAM), a growth-focused private equity firm — will retain […] [Read More]

A year after reaching a record high, U.S. vehicle thefts hit another historic mark — for the largest annual decrease in 40 years. Data compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau showed auto theft plummeted in 2024, dropping 17% year-over-year to 850,708 vehicles from the all-time high of 1,020,729 in 2023. That marks the end […] [Read More]

Cox Automotive estimated February used-car sales made “the largest jump seen in recent years.” And the used-vehicle sales index segment of Cox Automotive’s Q1 2025 Dealer Sentiment Index (CADSI) improved for the fifth straight quarter. But participating franchised and independent dealers still see two important factors holding back their operations. According to the CADSI, they […] [Read More]

After a year of explosive growth, the eSTART Coalition is focused on expanding its reach in its mission to modernize the vehicle title and registration process. The consortium of vendors, associations and other stakeholders representing all sectors of the auto industry celebrated its one-year anniversary with 129 member organizations in the fold, collaborating with policymakers […] [Read More]

ACERTUS has made a big move into the corporate world. The automotive logistics-as-a-service platform has acquired Bluestar Auto Movers and Bluestar Corporate Relocation Service, which the company said “significantly expands” its market reach and service capabilities by adding two high-value service lines: corporate relocation and exotic vehicle transport. “This acquisition represents two new end markets […] [Read More]

Dealer Profit Pros president Kenny Atcheson again asked a variety of industry leaders to share their expectations for what this year could be like for buy-here, pay-here and independent dealerships. Along with Atcheson offering his thoughts on advertising and marketing, the other perspectives on everything from collections to compliance and beyond came from: —Scott Carlson, […] [Read More]

While certified pre-owned sales ticked up only marginally, Cox Automotive spotted “the largest jump seen in recent years,” when analysts combed over retail used-vehicle sales information for February. And the estimated sales lift might continue to help dealer sentiment that Cox Automotive said already was improving. According to an analysis of Cox Automotive’s vAuto Live […] [Read More]

The auto dealership buy-sell market continues to soar at record pace. Kerrigan Advisors’ 2024 Blue Sky Report showed 2024 was the busiest year ever, with 438 completed dealership transactions, up 10% from 2023’s record total of 397. Those transactions represented 697 franchises sold, the second-most ever and a 2.5% jump from 2023, an increase the […] [Read More]