AI is rapidly reshaping dealership operations, yet most stores are still in early experimentation mode. According to the Cox Automotive...
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Dissecting evolving credit scores with Shams Blanc of FICO
As much as auto-finance underwriting has become sophisticated, a potential starting point to determine if the applicant will be offered an installment contract is the credit score. Shams Blanc, who is vice president of auto scores at FICO, described the ... Listen Here
Used Car Week Hall of Famer Jerry Kroshus of Location Services
Next up on our podcast series with 2025 Used Car Week Hall of Fame inductees is a conversation with Jerry Kroshus, who is CEO of Location Services. Cherokee Media President Bill Zadeits talks with Kroshus about his career journey in ... Listen Here
Used Car Week Hall of Famer Kathy Ruble of Ally
Next up on our podcast series with 2025 Used Car Week Hall of Fame inductees, we catch up with Kathy Ruble, who is executive director of marketing, dealer financial services and communications at Ally. Ruble has been the longtime moderator ... Listen Here
Retail
Dealer news: Hudson’s big deal; CarMax comes to Arkansas; new Sewell store is Boerne
As 2025 nears its end, Hudson Automotive Group has pulled off one of the year’s biggest deals. In fact, the Charleston, S.C.-based dealership group’s acquisition of All Star Automotive Group’s 15 franchises in the Baton Rouge, La., area is the ... [Read More]
EV subscription provider Autonomy adds new brands to fleet, plus CPO & late-model vehicles
Autonomy, the Scott Painter-led electric vehicle subscription company, has secured $25 million in financing to expand its fleet by about 1,250 vehicles. The move extends Autonomy’s fleet, which previously only included Tesla, to new brands, along with adding late-model used ... [Read More]
Wholesale
Montway’s ‘Merry’ about fraud detection with integrated tool; company featured on ‘Military Makeover’
“Merry” is a word you hear a lot this time of year. But for Montway Auto Transport, it’s not about holiday cheer. It’s about security. The third-party logistics brokerage announced it has integrated the Ship.Cars Fraud Detection Tool — personified ... [Read More]
AFC, OPENLANE ‘cross-pollination’ efforts continue
On the franchised dealer side of its business, OPENLANE provides private-label programs for automakers, who can sell wholesale vehicles directly to their dealer bodies. “And what that means is the majority of franchise dealers out there are customers of ours ... [Read More]
Technology
Toma’s new AI tools designed to know when to hand off to humans
Artificial intelligence is not human — at least, not yet. So Toma has designed its latest AI systems to know when it’s time for a real person to get involved. The dealership AI agent technology provider has introduced Safeguards for ... [Read More]
CarData acquires DiamondLot to expand in Southern California
CarData, a national provider of vehicle inventory photography and dealership merchandising services, has acquired Southern California-based automotive services provider DiamondLot from founder Rick Wolverton. In a news release, CarData said the acquisition strengthens its operational footprint in the Southern California ... [Read More]
Analysis
Used-vehicle retail prices up from last year, but lose ground from October
Though they’re largely beating year-ago figures, prices in most segments of the retail used-vehicle market have decreased this month from October — and the decline has been particularly pronounced for pre-owned hybrids and electric vehicles, according to the latest Carfax ... [Read More]
COMMENTARY: Why the best time to buy a car might be almost here
If you’re even thinking about buying a new car, here’s a secret the auto industry won’t exactly scream from the rooftops: the stretch between Black Friday and New Year’s Eve is one of the best times of the year to ... [Read More]
