On Tuesday, Edmunds.com released its third annual Best Retained Value Awards, which recognize the brands and new models that have the highest projected residual values after five years based on their average True Market Value price when sold new. The site highlighted that Jeep won in the non-luxury division with a projected 50.6 percent residual […] [Read More]

As a car dealer, you’ve been thoroughly trained on all steps of a sale from greeting through negotiation and final sale.  And, you apply these steps well.  But it’s a good bet that even armed with all of your knowledge and experience, there have been more than a few times when you found yourself wondering, […] [Read More]

After having more than 300 registrants for each of its first two sessions, Vendor Transparency Solutions set the time for its next free recovery compliance webinar. The next session with Michael Dougherty of Weltman, Weinberg & Reis is going to focus on tips, pointers and suggestions for preparing for a client audit conducted by the […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association this week announced its endorsement of an F&I service for independent dealers it called “best in class.” Named by the NIADA as a National Member Benefit Partner is Vantage Finance, the only company of its kind to be endorsed by the association. “No other organization serves the independent dealer’s […] [Read More]

Used Car Week 2013, presented by Auto Remarketing, is all-new this year, with new dates, a new event in the lineup, and new speakers. The weeklong series of four events will now take place Nov. 11-15 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego; if you marked your calendars months ago, be sure to update […] [Read More]

IHS president and chief executive officer Scott Key explained why the company viewed Carfax parent company R.L. Polk & Co., as so valuable that he went into an auction-style bidding process to make the acquisition. Key’s strategic moves paid off as IHS gained a definitive agreement to buy Polk in a $1.4 billion transaction. “As […] [Read More]

Despite dipping a bit from April, leasing levels remained at a strong level last month and bested year-ago levels by nearly 10 percent, according to the “Industry Health Report: May 2013 Sales Performance” from J.D. Power and Associates’ Power Information Network. Specifically, lease penetration reached 22.8 percent in May. This was down from 23.7 percent […] [Read More]

We’ve covered phase two of the new digital decision journey — active evaluation — and have offered some insights on how to come out on top during this phase. In this chapter, we’ll move onto phase three: the trigger phase, in which Gen X and Y car shoppers decide if they’ll visit your lot — […] [Read More]

IHS Inc. has entered a definitive agreement to buy Carfax parent company R.L. Polk & Co., in a $1.4 billion transaction. The deal must first go through customary closing conditions, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. “The acquisition of R.L. Polk brings extensive and […] [Read More]

Here’s just one nugget of good news from the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report that dealers might find encouraging for their used-car operations. Among the districts where contacts commented on used-car supply, there were some signs of progress. In the Richmond District, for one, the Fed said dealers indicated there have been more used […] [Read More]