Perhaps reminiscent of the flashing 12:00 on VCRs from decades ago, J.D. Power found that learning how new technology functions still remains a pain point for owners of the latest vehicles available. In-car multimedia technology — perennially the leading source of complaints among new-vehicle owners — is still a sore spot for customer satisfaction, but […] [Read More]

AAA looked to explain that vehicle calculation dealerships and finance companies know well, but the average consumer might not understand — depreciation. While dealerships have their run lists from auctions, and finance companies have scorecards, a study released on Thursday from AAA pinpointed depreciation as the largest expense associated with purchasing a new vehicle, computing that […] [Read More]

With powerful Hurricane Florence taking a wobbling route toward the Southeast, experts are already considering possible damages — especially to vehicles — in light of the catastrophes created by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida a year ago. The update distributed by the National Hurricane Center late on Wednesday showed how the Carolinas, Virginia […] [Read More]

The vehicle subscription market is still in its relative infancy, so perhaps it is appropriate that the segment has some eyeing the potential for massive growth and others with questions about its challenges.  But when it comes to weighing the pros and cos of subscriptions, Jennifer Reid of Equifax approaches it from the vantage point of, “Who’s the […] [Read More]

Experian recently determined that the average lease payment originated during the second quarter rose $19 year-over-year to $431. And consumers appear to have the credit profile to handle such a commitment since Swapalease.com reported that vehicle-lease credit application rates continued to improve in August. Site officials shared on Tuesday that their August approval rate came […] [Read More]

When it comes to the average number of days that used-cars stay on the market, hybrid and electric vehicles most often have the upper hand as far as attracting buyers the fastest. At a time when the average used-car between model years 2015 to 2017 spends an estimated 46.4 days on the market, both hybrid […] [Read More]

J.D. Power has unveiled that the Porsche 911 model has the highest rating on its JDPower.com 100-Point Score ranking, which is based on several thousand verified car owner experiences. The company announced Friday that the latest review of its consumer insight study collection shows that the Porsche 911 is the highest-rated 2018 model year vehicle […] [Read More]

Two new industry reports offer auto dealers meaty planning observations with advice on how to prevent choking. While the data is parsed finely, the overall conclusion drawn from Cox Automotive’s Car Buyer Journey 2018 and EY’s (formerly Ernst & Young) Automotive Retail 2030 is that consumers still value and need the physical dealership, but dealers […] [Read More]

In this episode, Libby Murad-Patel of Jumpstart Automotive Media talks about the intricacies of consumer interest in crossovers and SUVs and how those are reflected in the used-car market. Plus, she explains the opportunities the auto industry has with "influencer marketing" and the best strategies to take advantage. The full discussion can be found below. Download and […] [Read More]

With various economic and political factors at play, don’t expect the strength in the used-car market, be it unit sales or prices, to die down any time soon. “Our view is that it’s going to go on for quite some time,” Cox Automotive senior economist Charlie Chesbrough said Tuesday during a conference call with reporters. […] [Read More]