Industry-wide lease penetration has never been as strong as it was last month, according to Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell, who said rates for European brands were approaching 50 percent in December. This helped luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Jaguar notch best-ever annual new-vehicle sales. But the tentacles of this leasing surge stretch far […] [Read More]

Cox Enterprises has purchased Providence Equity Partners’ 25-percent equity interest in AutoTrader Group, meaning it now has 98-percent ownership in the group that includes such entities as AutoTrader.com, Kelley Blue Book and vAuto. The definitive agreement was announced this morning. The remaining 2 percent of the AutoTrader Group is held by current and former employees. […] [Read More]

Given the deal announced Wednesday for Fiat to gain 100-percent ownership of Chrysler Group, their collective dealers are likely to enjoy a broader and improved lineup of cars to offer consumers. Not only that, this new-and-improved offering may reach dealer lots in a more timely fashion. Such is the outlook that at least some industry […] [Read More]

When asked what he saw as the big challenges and opportunities ahead for companies like his in the vehicle transportation space, Bill Billiter of MetroGistics said capacity, and finding strong, qualified drivers, will be pivotal for the next two years. “Because we haul for all the manufacturers, we have a very strict onboarding process,” he […] [Read More]

The entire team at Auto Remarketing and Cherokee Automotive Group wishes you a safe and happy holiday season and best wishes for the New Year. This issue of Auto Remarketing Today will be the final edition of 2013 before we take a holiday break. Your interest, support and readership are much appreciated, and we thank […] [Read More]

Big news within the certified pre-owned market.  An all-new stand-alone pre-owned store concept from one of the largest public dealer groups. Used-car value retention. The used models that attract the most shoppers. Major moves announced by the industry’s biggest players. These were among the many topics in Auto Remarketing toward which readers gravitated in 2013. […] [Read More]

Though analysts offered no short-term good news in regards to Canadian leasing levels, movement in the new-car market could spell more off-lease vehicles in the future. That is, if OEMs are able to turn consumers away from long-term loans and point potential buyers toward leasing. New-car sales in Canada are soaring. Why is this important […] [Read More]

Carfinco announced this week it has decided not to provide the highest purchase price in its bid to acquire new equity ownership of Western Funding Inc. and Global Track GPS LLC.   On Nov. 1, Carfinco had previously announced that it had become the "stalking horse bidder" and proposed plan sponsor for the companies, each […] [Read More]

Vehicle shipping is not a “deal-killer” in auto sales. Rather, as uShip’s Dean Xeros suggests, it can actually serve as a “deal-closer.” That’s the crux of how a relatively new product from the company called uShip PRO can help dealers turn vehicle transport into an opportunity. “Over the years, dealers have viewed shipping as more […] [Read More]

With potential impact from student loan debt swirling in the background, Swapalease.com reported lease credit approvals dipped slightly in November compared with October levels. The year-to-date approvals for customer credit finished November at 72.6 percent, compared with October levels of 72.8 percent. During the last three months, the lease credit approval rating has slipped to […] [Read More]