The financing metrics Edmunds compiled and shared this week might have reinforced why more budget-limited consumers likely made a used-vehicle purchase rather than going for a new model. According to Edmunds data, December financed new-car purchases represented the highest average monthly payment of the year at $587 and the highest average down payment of the […] [Read More]

Be prepared to be flexible.  That’s something in which many dealers are well-versed, and it was part of a message that 2020 National Automobile Dealers Association chairman Rhett Ricart emphasized during a virtual presentation to the Automotive Press Association back in November.  Auto dealers, who were already adjusting their operations and business practices amid an […] [Read More]

Even amid a pandemic, at least one automaker was at a record high for certified pre-owned in 2020. That would be Hyundai, which had its strongest year ever for CPO sales, said Charles Plewes who is manager of CPO and marketing national sales at Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. It moved 11,869 certified vehicles in 2020, up 9% […] [Read More]

OpenRoad Auto Group raised close to $47,000 for local food banks in British Columbia and Ontario — literally one step at a time. The company’s dealership staff and corporate employees generated those funds through their inaugural OpenRoad Walkathon. Hundreds of OpenRoad staff associates from dealerships near Toronto and Vancouver as well as head office employees […] [Read More]

While the industry was getting ready to celebrate the holiday season, Chicago-based MAX Digital made a major executive move, hiring Robert Granados as its chief executive officer to drive innovation and growth in the company’s core inventory management and merchandising business. According to a news release, Steve Fitzgerald will continue as MAX Digital president, working […] [Read More]

Veteran sales executive Bill Reidy has joined VIN asset management system LotLinx as chief revenue officer. Reidy has worked to grow and manage large enterprise customers, which LotLinx said makes him a strong asset toward its efforts in solving pain points and eliminating waste in the dealership sales process. LotLinx said the announcement marks a […] [Read More]

This story appears in Auto Remarketing's upcoming Leading Dealer Groups issue. A sneak preview is available here to Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers.  When it comes to its AutoNation USA standalone used-car stores, the nation’s largest auto retailer has “paid our tuition” and is embarking on a decade-long doctoral in pre-owned cars, so to speak. […] [Read More]

Used pickup truck sales remained strong and grew during the pandemic, as other segments declined. iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said consumers needed the pickups for work. iSeeCars.com, a car search engine, recently conducted an analysis of the most popular used and new cars across the country, and the Ford F-150 topped the list of […] [Read More]

Digital license plate developer ReviverMX has entered into a relationship with Best Buy in which Best Buy auto stereo installation departments will perform installation services for Reviver’s Rplate and Rplate Pro digital license plates. The installations will take place at about 1,000 Best Buy retail locations nationwide, and Reviver founder and CSO Neville Boston said […] [Read More]

The new year is opening with mergers coming to fruition. On the heels of a development involving First Investors Financial Services, Sonsio, a leading provider of vehicle protection and warranty programs to the automotive aftermarket, announced its merger with Evolution, Dent Wizard’s F&I vehicle protection division. The merger, which was effective Jan. 1, creates one […] [Read More]