The Dataium Automotive Shopper Intensity Index continued its upward momentum, increasing 4.65 percent from August to September. Dataium said the positive movement of the ASI — which serves as an early predictor of the next 30 to 45 days of automotive retail sales — reflects the strengthening consumer confidence that has been aided by a […] [Read More]

FLD, Inc., said Thursday it has promoted a new director of business development. Appointed to the role is Carol Fowler, who previously served as transportation manager and sales rep for the company, overseeing both national and international fleets. [Read More]

Used cars have gotten more expensive. At least, that is one fact consumers and dealers have come to expect during the past few years. But, after three years of “dramatic growth”, the price hike slowed a bit this year, according to NADA Used Car Guide. In fact, the projected average price of used cars and […] [Read More]

The National Remarketing Conference, sponsored by SmartAuction, as the industry’s leading conference, is an excellent place to stay up-to-date on information relevant to all aspects of the industry, including fleet, lease and rental. In a 2:45 p.m. session on Nov. 15, the market dynamics of this industry niche will take center stage at the National […] [Read More]

Though the trade-in numbers for vehicles three years old and younger has been “very low,” Jack Ballinghoff has found that fellow Toyota dealers shouldn’t have any problem finding off-lease vehicles. The general manager of Koons Tysons Toyota said that while he’s not pursuing the three-year-old and younger vehicles right now, Toyota dealers who are can […] [Read More]

“Dale, what can I do to take my used-vehicle operations to the next level in 2013?” This question comes my way more frequently, and much earlier in the year, than it did in the past. To me, this is a good thing: more dealers are thinking hard and planning ahead to do a better job […] [Read More]

Are gas prices finally on the way down? According to the latest “Beggs on the Used Car Market” report, gas prices at the pump made the biggest week-over-week change since July, and wholesale price changes may be directly impacted. Ricky Beggs, managing editor of Black Book, said gas prices fell by $0.13 this past week […] [Read More]

The seven highest ratings for reliability among 28 car brands studied went to Toyota and other Japanese makes, as Consumer Reports this week released the results of its 2012 Annual Auto Reliability Survey. Meanwhile, one particular domestic brand dropped dramatically; going from being among the top 10 two years ago to coming in next-to-last in […] [Read More]

With so much industry talk about pent-up demand being a spark for vehicle sales, a dealer recently asked Manheim chief economist Tom Webb to explain why his story wasn’t enjoying the traffic and turn uptick experienced by other dealerships. In the October Auto Industry Brief from Manheim Consulting, the dealer told Webb that “I see […] [Read More]

Supply: the topic that has been at the forefront of used-car dealers’ minds for the past few years as quality pre-owned vehicles proved scanty in the lanes. And as leasing dried up in the years after the 2008 recession, both off-lease and off-fleet vehicles — which had fed the auction lanes in the past — […] [Read More]