Lithia & Driveway’s massive dealership portfolio continues to grow. The giant auto retailer added three more stores to its holdings with the acquisition of Duval Acura and Duval Honda in Jacksonville, Fla., and Subaru of Gainesville in Gainesville, Fla., from Duval Motor Company. The locations are the first in those markets for Lithia, which operates […] [Read More]

The results of Pied Piper’s 2024 PSI Service Telephone Effectiveness Study bear little resemblance to those of last year. At the top of the new list, which ranked 20 dealer groups by their efficiency and quality of service telephone calls in quickly and easily setting up a service appointment from the customer’s perspective, is Serra […] [Read More]

With the current supply/demand dynamics in the automotive retail sector, sales margins can be razor thin. Maximizing profitability increasingly hinges on optimizing the less conspicuous yet crucial aspects of a dealership’s operations. One such cornerstone is the parts and service department, a vital revenue stream that is sometimes overlooked in favor of the primary focus […] [Read More]

CarMax’s advertising and promotions departments have been busy. The national used-car retail giant announced two big promotional pushes in the past week, affiliating itself with a blockbuster movie and a minor league baseball team. The movie is “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which opens in theaters this week, and in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures, CarMax is launching […] [Read More]

Beau Townsend Ford Lincoln is on the cutting edge. The dealership in Vandalia, Ohio, walked away from last month’s Reynolds and Reynolds Retail Summit: Amplify 2024 in Leesburg, Va., with two of the three Automotive Amplifier Awards, presented for the event’s most innovative best practices. Sales consultant Justin Rash earned the award in the variable […] [Read More]

The Auto Care Association is hoping a flood of letters can carry right to repair legislation through Congress. The nonprofit trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of auto parts and components, as well as parts stores and repair shops, said more the 114,000 letters have been sent to Congress by “industry advocates and concerned citizens” […] [Read More]

Vaughan Automotive added to its presence in the Houston area with the acquisition of Tejas Toyota in Humble, Texas, the dealership group said. The family-operated business, which owns Toyota stores in Houston and Boerne, Texas, has rebranded the store as Space City Toyota. In a news release, the company said the acquisition was driven by […] [Read More]

CarGurus announced it has named Mike O’Hanlon as its new chief revenue officer, citing his “deep experience driving customer growth and retention strategies for online marketplace and software as a service businesses.” In a news release, CarGurus said O’Hanlon will lead its sales and service teams to support growth objectives and priorities toward the goal […] [Read More]

Dealerships are being bought and sold regularly nowadays, sometimes with one person acquiring or disposing of multiple rooftops in a single transaction. Well, a single individual now wants to purchase an entire automaker. Frank Rhodes, Jr. — the great-grandson of Walter Chrysler — said on Friday he has sent a proposal to Stellantis and CEO […] [Read More]

The National Automobile Dealers Association, joined by 120 other organizations representing the auto industry including the National Auto Auction Association, consumer advocates and law enforcement, sent a letter on Thursday to congressional leaders urging passage of federal legislation to combat catalytic converter theft. The groups urged Congress to adopt an amendment to the annual National […] [Read More]