In what could be an encouraging sign for dealers looking for sales traction, the October Consumer Reports Index shows some positive developments on several consumer fronts, including an improved retail picture, modest gains in employment and fewer Americans having economic difficulties. To come to that overall picture, Consumer Reports broke down the various components of […] [Read More]

Minivans have their stereotypes, but evidently Kelley Blue Book shoppers are flocking to a redesigned version of the large family hauler. For the second week in a row, KBB.com editors found the 2011 Honda Odyssey posted the largest amount of new-vehicle shopper activity. The site’s most recent Hot Car Report indicated the Odyssey led all […] [Read More]

Mercedes-Benz USA recently completed a study with Harris Interactive reinforcing its belief that potential buyers remain unsure about alternative fuel vehicles. The company contends consumers are left asking several questions. Is it a hybrid? Is it electric? Does it take regular gasoline or diesel fuel? The final result — nearly half of survey participants are […] [Read More]

When looking at used vehicles in four segments to find which models with low mileages offer the best deals, CarGurus found that in three of the four classes, the vehicle offering the best value was from a Big 3 brand. Assessing the values through DealFinder, CarGurus listed the following used vehicles from the 2007 through […] [Read More]

The American International Automobile Dealers Association is calling for nominations for its David F. Mungenast Lifetime Achievement Award that annually spotlights an auto industry professional for achieving business success while also being dedicated to his family and community. The winner will be revealed at AIADA’s 41st Annual Meeting and Luncheon, which will be held in […] [Read More]

Silver’s streak of ranking as the world’s most popular choice for vehicle hue has reached 10 years, according to PPG Industries. The last time silver was this common among cars was 1990, according to the company. Silver, gray and charcoal led the way for North America, as well, as they commanded a 31-percent share, climbing from […] [Read More]

Consumers are buying and leasing based on need more than desire these days. Moreover, they also have become less loyal to specific dealers and brands, according to a recent study by Chrome Systems. These were just some of the many findings of the 2010 Chrome Consumer Survey, a study conducted to track how consumers have changed […] [Read More]

Research by AutoTrader.com reveals that women influence more than 80 percent of all vehicle purchasing decisions and are the sole buyers of more than 50 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S. To capitalize on this trend and help female buyers become more comfortable with purchasing, AutoTrader.com announced the launch of two initiatives. The […] [Read More]

Incentive levels in September were lower than what is usually expected this time of year and the approaches that automakers used for their incentive programs were quite wide-ranging, according to Edmunds.com. Automakers spent an average of $2,576 per vehicle sold on incentives during the month, which is 4.6 percent softer than the August level. Against […] [Read More]

Experian Automotive revealed two clear trends during its quarterly automotive insights Webinar this week. Drivers are keeping their vehicles longer, while more units on the road are not covered under a warranty. While the warranty drop-off could lead to more activity in dealership service bays, Experian’s director of consulting and analytics Jeffrey Anderson wondered what […] [Read More]