February 28, 2012
The Obama Administration unveiled a proposed “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights” in a federal report last Thursday. It's part of a blueprint to ramp up consumer privacy protections on the internet, but it could also add additional requirements for dealers when it comes to protecting customer data.
Tags: data protection, dealership management system, legislation, Obama administration, TrueCar
Compli announced that David Childers has been named chief executive officer of the company.
Tags: Compli
Auto Point Inc. and SureCritic announced a partnership to offer auto dealers a new solution for managing their online reputations.
Tags: AutoPoint, online reputation management, SureCritic
MaximTrak Technologies announced the launch of MobileTrak, a mobile F&I menu that works on the Apple iPad and Android devices and features reporting capabilities and a connection to the company’s e-contracting platform.
Tags: E-CONTRACTING, iPad, iPad Business Applications, MaximTrak, mobile applications, mobile solution, Mobile Website
GSFSGroup announced that Keith Cooper has been appointed director of the company’s national sales division.
Tags: GSFSGroup
February 23, 2012
NCM Associates announced it has again been selected by General Motors as the exclusive provider of automotive 20 Groups for its Minority Dealer Development (MDD) Network.
Tags: General Motors, NCM Associates
New-vehicle sales this month have been strong month to date, with the selling rate outperforming January's, reported J.D. Power and Associates.
Tags: J.D. Power and Associates, New-Vehicle Sales, retail sales, SAAR
Experian Automotive announced that the automotive loan market showed continued improvement, with interest rates for new- and used-vehicle loans at their lowest levels since 2008.
Tags: Auto Loans, Credit Scores, deep subprime, Experian, interest rates, nonprime, subprime
GM Financial named ADESA San Diego (California) as its 2011 Auction of the Year as part of the company’s nationwide Auction of Excellence program.
Tags: ADESA, auto auctions, GM Financial, Manheim
Lithia Motors Inc. reported the highest fourth quarter net income in company history, and more than doubled earnings for the fourth quarter and full-year 2011 vs. last year.
Tags: Lithia Motors
DealerTrack Holdings Inc. reported that revenue last year came in at $353.3 million, a $109.5 million increase vs. 2010.
Tags: DEALERTRACK
Kelley Blue Book said yesterday that it expects new-vehicle sales to surpass 1.05 million units this month, which means the industry would be pacing at a 13.8 million seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) — a 6.4 percent improvement from the year-ago period.
Tags: kbb.com, Kelley Blue Book, New-Vehicle Sales, SAAR
A report by AutoTrader.com revealed that shoppers are turning toward smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles in the wake of rising gas prices, which crept up to a national average of nearly $3.40 per gallon in January.
Tags: AutoTrader.com, Fuel Economy, Gas Prices
Safe-Guard Products International announced that Alan Moak joined the company as vice president of claims, and that Tony Catania was named director of sales, OEM and national accounts.
Tags: Safe-Guard
February 21, 2012
Despite a rise in gas prices, data from the first 15 days of February indicates that vehicle sales could rise 7 percent to 1.1 million units this month, according to CNW Research.
Tags: CNW, Floor Traffic, Gas Prices, Vehicle Sales
Auto Point Inc. and TimeHighway.com announced a partnership to give service customers the ability to schedule an appointment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from their computers or mobile devices.
Tags: AutoPoint, parts and service, TimeHighway
The Impact Group announced its latest certified interface, a direct integration relationship between ADP DMS systems and the Fusion F&I menu platform, as well as TFS’s FS Presentation.
Tags: ADP Dealer Services, dealership management system, The Impact Group
An analysis by Polk revealed that the average length of ownership of vehicles that were purchased new has risen to a record 71.4 months, or nearly six years.
Tags: Polk, vehicle maintenance
AutoFerret.com announced that its Automated Virtual Assistant has sent its five millionth message to auto dealership customers.
Tags: AutoFerret, lead management
Equifax reported that nearly 60 of the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas hardest hit by credit card debt realized double-digit declines in the percentage of income owed to credit card companies — nearly 24 percent in some areas.
Tags: consumer debt, credit, credit cards, Equifax
LEAP Financial and 722 Redemption Funding announced a partnership to offer redemption and replacement financing for customers filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Tags: 722 Redemption Funding, bankruptcies, finance, LEAP Financial, special finance
Fitch Ratings announced U.S. banks have a chance to foster loan growth via their auto portfolios, as consumer demand and sales of both new and used vehicles increases.
Tags: Auto Loans, consumer demand, Fitch Ratings
February 16, 2012
United Car Care’s John Vecchioni says it’s time for those in the business of selling cars to start thinking like entrepreneurs, and stop waiting for that killer ad to do all the work.
Tags: prospecting, United Car Care
Agent Summit organizers have reported an early surge in registrations following the release of the event’s agenda.
Tags: Agent Summit, general agents
CNA National Warranty Corporation announced that $27 million was returned to automobile dealers across the United State in 2011 through its various participation plans.
Tags: CNA National, participation plans
Get up-to-the-minute news and information about the automotive finance and insurance industry. SUBSCRIBE!
View the latest e-newsletter eWeekly
By Gregory Arroyo Guitar Center is doing its best to prove the editor’s 10-year-old prediction that brick-and-mortar retailers would always have a role in the online shopping experience.
By Marv Eleazer The magazine’s from-the-trenches blogger describes how his days as a spitfire preacher influenced his style in the F&I office — and not the way you might think.
By Cory Mosley The magazine’s sales expert explains how you can plan and execute long-term strategies without losing sight of your day-to-day responsibilities.
By Jim Ziegler ‘Da Man’ gets a little reflective about his recent surgery before regaining form and doing what he does best.
Save time and money. Search for auto-dealer jobs. Advance your career. Access our career coaching services.
$10.00
In This Issue Here are some of the Highlights: