Bluetooth and backup cameras used to be features reserved for high-line models. Now, Bluetooth is as prevalent as vehicle seating, and backup cameras have been a mandated safety feature for vehicles manufactured since 2018. With even more robust products inside the cabins now available, some automakers see the potential to generate significant revenue from subscription-type […] [Read More]

Mark Eddins is owner and general manager of Friendly Chevrolet, which claims on its website that’s it has been the No. 1 volume Chevy dealer in Dallas since 1956. How Eddins and his team work toward maintaining that stature comes through methods that might be contrarian to some retailers. Not only does Friendly Chevrolet have […] [Read More]

A new product alliance emerged this week involving 700Credit, a provider of credit reports, compliance solutions, soft pull products, and driver’s license authentication platforms, and WebBuy, an omnichannel digital retailing solution built to engage customers searching for vehicles on dealership’s websites. The companies explained the new alliance adds the 700Credit prequalification platform into the WebBuy […] [Read More]

F&I Sentinel made a pair of personnel moves this week, hiring a new vice president of operations and shifting its executive holding that position in an interim capacity into another position. Joining the tech-enabled service provider for compliant F&I product financing as vice president of operations is Nicole Aiello, who arrives at F&I Sentinel with […] [Read More]

It’s been a difficult week at TrueCar, which announced a CEO change and a workforce reduction impacting approximately 102 positions or 24% of the company’s headcount. According to a news release, Michael Darrow is departing TrueCar as CEO and vacating his position on the board. The company then appointed Jantoon Reigersman as president and chief […] [Read More]

The Federal Reserve board kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, halting a streak of 10 consecutive increases when policymakers had the opportunity. Cox Automotive chief economist Jonathan Smoke sees the Fed pushing rates higher again in July but doesn’t expect an official recession arriving this year. But the latest TransUnion Consumer Pulse study found that […] [Read More]

For independent dealers who want to work with NextGear Capital, there’s now an app for that. The company announced on Thursday that it has developed a mobile app for its account portal with plans to unveil it at the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) annual convention next week in Las Vegas. Key features of […] [Read More]

Alan Ram’s Proactive Training Solutions is poised to launch a newly updated sales training course tailored for independent dealers. Dubbed, “Accelerate U,” the firm highlighted the new program is designed to help dealers leverage all their leads and create proactive opportunities. “Accelerate U” includes tools, word tracks, and scripting on the topics independent dealers need, […] [Read More]

Last week, Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) announced the publication of its service scheduling process standards API. STAR highlighted the approved service scheduling API provides a domain model that maps automotive service scheduling process. Included in this are industry standards related to the dealership’s identifier and vehicle information. Vehicle mileage, appointment history, service […] [Read More]

Nordis Technologies, which provides omnichannel customer communications management and payments technology solutions, has been granted approval for an extension of a U.S. patent for its Expresso CCM system. The company said the patent was approved for two additional inventions. The extension follows the original approval in 2021 for 24 inventions for Expresso. Nordis Technologies highlighted […] [Read More]