Some automakers received an unexpected early holiday present Wednesday in the form of a high grade from TrueCar.com. In releasing scorecards on various automakers and brands today, TrueCar.com reported that some showed strong improvements over October, while for others, it might feel more like receiving a lump of coal. [Read More]

When it comes to how reliable consumers view certain brands, a slew of Big 3 and import automakers are showing gains from a year ago, J.D. Power and Associates reported Tuesday in its 2010 Avoider Study. The study delved into why shoppers either don’t consider a certain vehicle or why they steer clear of certain models altogether. [Read More]

Thanks in large part to the ever-improving quality many brands have shown over the years, dealers are apparently witnessing more of a consumer appetite for older models that traditionally might have been sent to auction. And especially while volumes of late-model vehicles remain down in the lanes, NADA Used Car Guide’s Jonathan Banks says that selling older models is a growing opportunity for dealers. […] [Read More]

The latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence Brand Watch study provided Toyota with some positive news as 2010 draws near a close. The embattled automaker that has seen recalls and litigation throughout the year is now again the most-considered auto brand among new-car shoppers, according to Kbb.com. Site officials noted Toyota held the spot from the first quarter […] [Read More]

The Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario recently looked to discover how much curbsiding remains a problem in the region.  An analysis of online advertisements posted on three popular websites between Aug. 1 and Oct. 21 revealed some astonishing numbers. UCDA’s search turned up 76,000 ads accounting for more than 48,000 unique vehicles in Ontario. Officials […] [Read More]

By many accounts, new-vehicle sales are unlikely to bounce back to pre-recession numbers in the near future. Therefore, while retaining customers has always been vital, if possible, this plays an even larger role in today’s marketplace as automakers strive to eke out the highest sales totals possible. J.D. Power and Associates recently set out to find out which automakers are […] [Read More]

Launching its first Vehicle Theft Alert this week, LoJack reported that attempted vehicle thefts at dealerships are escalating.   Between Sept. 21 and Nov. 23 of this year, at least 12 instances of attempted theft were reported at dealerships. In these cases, law enforcement officials told the company the thefts were deterred by LoJack’s Stolen Vehicle Recovery […] [Read More]

CarWoo set out recently to refute a longtime belief that dealers treat customers differently because of gender. Turns out, CarWoo’s analysis showed that in 80 percent of cases, there was no difference in either offers extended or negotiation styles based on the buyer gender or dealer gender. Officials said their study reviewed marketplace transactions for vehicles of […] [Read More]

Coming on the heels of Honda announcing it will discontinue the Element, Forbes revealed its list of 2010 automotive flops, which included the boxy utility as well as a handful of other models from that manufacturer. The site turned to a panel to pick its top flops. The Element as well as the Insight and Crosstour were […] [Read More]

In what one particular analyst is dubbing a tremendous comeback story, independent dealers — the “Star of 2010" — are likely to see their full-year used-vehicle sales climb by about 12 percent, according to CNW Research. [Read More]