A seat on the Goodyear Blimp flying high above a stadium might be the best view in all of sports. The company’s chief executive now has a seat of a different kind. Mark Stewart, CEO and president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and former North American chief operating officer at Stellantis, has been […] [Read More]

Fields Auto Group has sold two North Carolina dealerships to Memphis, Tenn.-based Dobbs Family Automotive, according to a news release from Kerrigan Advisors, which represented the sellers. The Dobbs group has purchased Fields Mazda and Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Asheville, marketing the group’s first entry into this city. Dobbs now owns 14 stores […] [Read More]

“Rush delivery” might best describe the moves Carvana made this week. In addition to extending its partnership with Rush Soccer (more on that below), the automotive ecommerce platform announced that it would be expanding same-day vehicle delivery to the greater Jacksonville, Fla., area. Through this expansion, select Jacksonville area customers can receive their vehicle the […] [Read More]

For months, we’ve been warning dealers that the Federal Trade Commission’s focus on vehicle price transparency should not be dismissed as political noise, regulatory saber-rattling or another government initiative that might eventually disappear. We discussed this at our Compliance Unleashed Conference. We’ve written about it in publications, and we’ve spoken on this subject at industry […] [Read More]

I recently saw a news story in the Austin American-Statesman that caught my attention because it affects the dealership service lane. In Austin, amateur mechanics have taken over an Auto Zone parking lot and, for a couple of hundred dollars, will fix vehicles, the Statesman reported. They look over the vehicle, determine what needs fixing […] [Read More]

Roughly three months after receiving an offer from an investor group, Penske Automotive Group is officially going private. The dealer group said Thursday it has entered into a merger agreement to be taken private by Motown Acquisition Corp., an entity owned by Penske Corporation and Mitsui & Co, Ltd. – the retailer’s largest stakeholders. Penske […] [Read More]

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Step One Automotive Group is running its annual Drive Out Breast Cancer campaign throughout October. The Florida-based dealer group’s pink Jeep Grand Cherokee will make stops at Step One locations and community events this month, where visitors can add their signature to the Jeep. For each signature collected, […] [Read More]

These days, dealers don’t just sell cars. They provide mobile services. They’re social media influencers and content creators. They’re entrepreneurs and investors in business ventures outside the dealership lot. They build technology. They find a niche in the market, like used electric vehicles, and focus on being an expert-led specialty boutique. Auto Remarketing and Used […] [Read More]

The O’Brien Auto Team has expanded its presence in Kentucky, acquiring Jack Kain Ford in Versailles, Ky., according to a news release from Performance Brokerage Services, which advised on the sale. In a statement on behalf of the Kain family, Bob Kain said, “After 67 years as a family-owned dealership, making the decision to sell […] [Read More]

Here’s why understanding the buyer’s perspective can make a dealership transaction more successful. Reflecting on the many M&A transactions I have had the privilege of leading to successful closing, I have learned that what initially appears to be an immovable point of contention is not always as consequential as it seems. What one party considers […] [Read More]