Kelley Blue Book contends consumers shopping for a used car in January had practicality on their minds, as the start of the New Year means a return to work and school. KBB’s Arthur Henry explained shoppers displayed “an increased interest in the full-size crossover, hybrid car and compact car segments,” as 2013 got underway, according […] [Read More]

Survey results discovered by Ally Financial and KeyBanc Capital Markets through the recent National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo reiterated how important the used-vehicle department is to franchised dealers. In its survey, Ally discovered that 47 percent of responding dealers said the used-vehicle department will be the most profitable within the dealership this year. […] [Read More]

The nation’s franchised dealer network has been stable for two straight years and appears poised for a third, and it will also likely hit another new-vehicle-sales-per-dealership record, according to Urban Science, which said new-car dealers have put “hundreds of things” into play to become more efficient. The retail consulting firm released its 2012 Automotive Franchise […] [Read More]

If the certified pre-owned market needed any more fuel to keep record-breaking sales soaring, Raffi Festekjian explained how the J.D. Power and Associates 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study might have provided the very thing. The study showed the long-term dependability of three-year-old models improved year-over-year, and Festekjian connected how these units are primary candidates to […] [Read More]

As 2012 closed with leasing levels not seen since before the recession, many wonder how this trend will affect both uses and new sales for 2013. In fact, according to the 2012 Manheim Used Car Report, the number of new-vehicle leases written in 2012 increased to 2.5 million, up from 2.1 million in 2011 and […] [Read More]

CarGurus released a study Wednesday identifying the most affordable and most expensive U.S. cities in which to buy a used vehicle. Topping the list of deal-friendly destinations is Miami, followed by Cleveland, Rochester, N.Y., and Detroit. The site found Jackson, Miss., to be the most expensive used-vehicle city, followed by Seattle, Montgomery, Ala., and Little […] [Read More]

ALG revealed its fifth annual Canadian Residual Value Awards this week at the Canadian International Auto Show, with the Toyota and Honda family of brands both taking home five segment awards. Other traditionally strong performers, such as Subaru and Honda both made the cut, as well, with a few surprises mixed in. [Read More]

As the economy continues to improve and credit conditions loosen, leasing remains on the upswing. And according to online car leasing marketplace Swapalease.com, some brands are reaping the rewards of this trend. After analyzing current inventory on the site compared to inventory levels of 2010, a few domestic brands saw significant increases, with Buick leading […] [Read More]

Along with the top 15 used models generating the most consumer activity in January, NADA Used Car Guide also highlighted which brands gained the most traction year-over-year at NADAguides.com. Leading the way with a 6-percent higher gain than the next nearest brand was Audi, which posted a 25-percent climb in shopper activity on the site […] [Read More]

From time to time, I’m asked to explain why I don’t believe that a dealer’s history of used-vehicle sales is a reliable guide to determine the cars to acquire and sell in the current market. I’ll often begin my explanation with an important caveat: I do not dismiss the value of history to provide clues […] [Read More]