HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. —  The Dealer Services Group of Automatic Data Processing has rolled out a new program designed to help dealers make the best decisions when it comes to hiring employees. ADP'S Hiring Services is an online tool that allows for: —Ordering and managing candidate background, which includes candidate assessment tools such as job fit assessment […] [Read More]

HERNDON, Va. — Audi of America recently reached 2 million vehicles sold in the U.S. This milestone came in late June with the sale of an Audi A3 TDI — the reigning 2010 Green Car of the Year. The vehicle went to a customer at Keyes Audi in Van Nuys, Calif. Brand executives noted this transaction involved a […] [Read More]

TOKYO — In assessing the company's global strategy moving forward on Tuesday, one point that Honda Motor Co.'s president and chief executive officer hammered home was that the automaker is enhancing the environmental technologies offered in its vehicles. And this approach certainly looks like it will make an impact on Honda's lineup in the U.S.  Specifically, Honda is currently building a […] [Read More]

MEDFORD, Ore. — Lithia Motors expanded the company's presence in its home state as three Bend, Ore., stores will become part of the dealership network. Honda of Bend has been purchased by Lithia, which also agreed to have the Cadillac and Chevrolet brands from Bob Thomas Chevrolet Cadillac transferred into the network. Officials estimated that the […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Treasury's decision-making process regarding the dealership network reductions at General Motors and Chrysler has come under fire in an audit released Sunday by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. And the automakers themselves were not spared from critique, either. The report from SIGTARP — titled […] [Read More]

KENSINGTON, Md. — Fitzgerald Auto Malls recently received a mixed bag of resolutions concerning the future of its franchise operations tied to Chrysler and General Motors. First, the company learned Chrysler had reinstated its Chrysler and Jeep franchises in Florida. According to the company, the Florida arbitrator described owner Jack Fitzgerald as a consumer advocate. Fitzgerald […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford said the order pace for the 2011 Shelby GT500 is quickly approaching the cap. The automaker indicated that more than 3,300 orders have been placed for the Shelby GT500. To ensure exclusivity, Ford mandated U.S. sales of this vehicle be limited to 5,500 units. "We are pleased with the pace of retail orders for […] [Read More]

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW Group shuffled part of its senior management team late last week, including the appointment of a new chief operating officer for BMW Group Financial Services Americas. The automaker first revealed that effective Sept. 1, Wayne Orchowski — currently vice president of the Eastern region for BMW of North America — will assume the […] [Read More]

PALO ALTO, Calif., and TOKYO — Telsa Motors and Toyota Motor Corp. officially signed an agreement late last week stemming from a May announcement. That's when they revealed collaboration toward development of an electric version of the Toyota RAV4. Tesla's Elon Musk and Toyota's Akio Toyoda are aiming for their companies to bring an electric version […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. —The Big 3 enjoyed some good news on Thursday, as it was revealed that their brands earned a stronger average vehicle appeal score from J.D. Power and Associates than their import counterparts. This is something that hasn't happened since 1997. Specifically, the average score for domestics in J.D. Power's 2010 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout […] [Read More]