DealerTrack AAX announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire eCarList, a provider of inventory management and merchandising solutions for dealerships. The acquisition is expected to close in July and the combination of DealerTrack’s AAX inventory management solution and eCarList’s product suite is designed to help dealers generate additional vehicle interest and higher quality Internet […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book has rolled out a revamped version of Kbb.com that includes a new task-based navigation as well as a slew of new research tools. These tools are designed to educate shoppers, help them figure out which vehicles best-suit their needs and determine which models offer the most for their money. The tools include features such as […] [Read More]

To generate some buzz for its new CarMax EasyShop program, the dealership group is turning to consumers in the Raleigh-Durham and Fayetteville areas of North Carolina for a grassroots video contest. CarMax EasyShop is a new aspect of www.carmax.com that lets consumers conduct more of the car-shopping online prior to visiting a store, ideally saving […] [Read More]

A person who has served as a catalyst for the growth of FordDirect — a joint venture between the automaker and its franchise dealers — has been elevated to be the company’s chief executive officer. On Monday, FordDirect revealed its new CEO is Stacey Coopes, who previously served as executive vice president of marketing and […] [Read More]

The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and GigglePop.com recently launched NIADA Mobile, an iPhone and Android-based wireless application to assist members with their mobile used-vehicle management needs while working on the lot at the auction or at industry events. NIADA Mobile is designed to provide association members with used-vehicle appraisal tools from Black Book, NADA […] [Read More]

Kelley Blue Book announced Monday that the company will be offering dealers and other service industry companies a free 30-day trial of its new valuation product, Quick Values. KBB’s new product is a solution which delivers new- and used-car values to banks, governmental agencies, auto dealers and insurance companies. Quick Values is a simple, faster, […] [Read More]

OPENLANE has rolled out a Canadian mobile site that will allow dealers to use their Apple iPhone/iPod touch and Google Android-based smartphones to tap into their accounts. And in celebration of the new site, there is a drawing for dealers to win an iPad 2. Dealers can visit the mobile site and log-in to enter […] [Read More]

In light of the news this week that AutoTrader.com will purchase VinSolutions, vAuto founder Dale Pollak — whose company was also purchased by AutoTrader recently — stressed a message of reassurance in his blog on Thursday, emphasizing that the goal of an acquisition like this is to ultimately help dealers. He said the industry must “understand that AutoTrader […] [Read More]

Officials from eBay Mobile launched a free eBay Motors iPhone app this week in hopes shoppers can bid on or buy anything from rare parts to the latest in-demand model virtually anytime, anywhere. The company went on to highlight the free eBay Motors iPhone app is meant to make shopping for vehicles or parts and […] [Read More]

AutoTec announced Thursday the release of a new quick-start guide that focuses on the importance of place-based social media and how to use it in the auction industry. The company’s management stressed that “it’s a great time for auctions to get on the social media bandwagon.” AutoTec, the developers of AuctionACCESS, recently released its Foursquare Quick-Start […] [Read More]