I have a suspicion that the month of August will look pretty good for dealers as far as used vehicle sales volume, but their month-end gross profit tally will likely be less-than-satisfying if not distressing. My suspicion flows from dealer conversations in the past two weeks where the No. 1 topic of conversation was concern […] [Read More]

With dealership profits declining, the demand for acquiring those businesses has cooled, according to the latest research from Haig Partners. The company’s Q2 2024 Haig Report found dealership profits declined 32% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year and the average pre-tax income for publicly owned dealerships of $1 […] [Read More]

Black Book has promoted data scientist Yushan Liu to director of data science in its data and analytics department. The company said she’ll be responsible for leading and expanding the data science team, as well as setting the vision, strategy and road map for data science initiatives. Liu, who holds a Ph.D. in Chemometrics and […] [Read More]

Managing inventory risk is not just about avoiding losses but also about optimizing profitability. For auto retailers, maintaining an ideal balance between supply and demand is critical. Too much inventory can lead to increased holding costs, while too little can result in missed sales opportunities. The latest Q2 inventory risk report sheds light on how […] [Read More]

Brand loyalty is back. After three years of declines or zero growth, auto industry brand loyalty rates rose in the first half of 2024, according to S&P Global Mobility’s latest analysis of new vehicle registration data. The study showed the loyalty rate through June was 52.5%, up 1.9 percentage points from the first half of […] [Read More]

The slowdown in supply of later-model used vehicles is already having an impact in the retail car market, according to industry analyses released this month. Cars Commerce said in its latest Industry Insights Report that used-car inventory was up 1% year-over-year in July, due mostly to inventory of sub-$30,000 vehicles climbing 9%. But for $30,000 […] [Read More]

Automakers love to load up their new models with the latest technology. But is there a point at which it’s too much? J.D. Power’s latest research suggests that point might have been reached. The 2024 U.S. Tech Experience Index Study, focused on the user experience with advanced vehicle technologies as they come to market, showed […] [Read More]

Automotive Risk Management Partners’ latest cyber and compliance security guidelines, released Wednesday, seek to help auto dealers secure their front lines from cyberattacks and physical compliance oversights. The document, titled “How a Compliance Security Firm Should Protect You,” provides physical and digital auditing and programs for continuous tracking and managing dealership information and data assets. […] [Read More]

Next up on our “Consignor Conversations” series of the Auto Remarketing Podcast is an interview with Sheila Tedesco, who is remarketing manager at Lobel Financial. Tedesco sat down with Cherokee Media Group senior editor Joe Overby at the Auto Intel Summit + National Remarketing Conference this spring to discuss her journey in remarketing, what trends […] [Read More]

The wholesale used-car market is still recovering from the plunge in new-vehicle sales during the pandemic, say industry experts. Auction volumes are rising steadily though. But while auction volumes are rising and competition is returning to the auction lanes, the supply slump will continue to support higher wholesale prices in coming months, they say. “All of those vehicles that weren’t built that we would expect to [Read More]