FORT WORTH, Texas — What could be described as "the perfect storm" has recently hit the recovery industry. Over the last few years, a significant increase in defaulted consumer loans has created both opportunity and need within the realm of the recovery and automotive finance industries. The opportunity to recover an increased volume of "lost" cars […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Dealers who list their inventories on Cars.com now can reach consumers who use the iPhone because as the device's slogan goes — there's an app for that. Late last week, Cars.com rolled out a free iPhone vehicle shopping application that can help mobile shoppers search dealer inventories and private-party listings. The app, which also can […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — Autobytel recently announced it brought back a former executive who will now serve as executive vice president of corporate development. Making his return to the company is Steve Lind, who has a total of almost 15 years of industry experience. For almost a decade, Lind worked at Autobytel, helping the company secure what […] [Read More]

CHICAGO — Automotive Internet Media announced this week that it has purchased Cartango, a female-oriented automotive shopping site. While terms of the deal were not disclosed, Tony French, president of AIM, did say, "We realized there is a huge female market that is going virtually untapped. There are many sites that cater to men but Cartango is […] [Read More]

DALLAS — Executives from eLead plan to roll out a new price structure for their CRM and marketing solution. They indicated the structure will be a bundle of solutions packaged together. It's aimed at improving dealership performance and strategic relationships within every department. Because of this new plan, eLead contends that dealers can lower costs and […] [Read More]

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — HomeNet Automotive has formed a partnership with DecisionLinks — a provider of predictive lead-management solutions — that is designed to help dealers adjust their inventory to meet market demand, improve sales conversion, gain stronger leads and meet potential customers' needs more effectively. Officials said the TeaLeades program from DecisionLinks is easily integrated into HomeNet's Inventory […] [Read More]

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Kia is apparently leading the automaker pack when it comes to Web sites. At least this is according to J.D. Power and Associates, which recently tallied the results from the first segment of its regular biannual analysis of manufacturers' home pages. According to J.D. Power's 2010 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study — Wave 1, Kia posted an […] [Read More]

DETROIT and IRVINE, Calif. — Autobytel and Autodata Solutions recently revealed a partnership that links the vehicle listing site with additional content to boost value. Now Autobytel's family of Web sites will have access to Autodata Solutions' professional still image vehicle photography and comprehensive data for U.S. vehicles. The collection contains an average of 17 interior […] [Read More]

WALTHAM, Mass. — IMN, the provider of the communication solution Loyalty Driver to more than 1,200 dealers, recently appointed a new vice president of automotive services. Moving into the role is Brian Epro, who is being asked to enhance the solution's position in the industry. Loyalty Driver launched back in 2004. Company executives noted the Epro […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — GOSO, a social media and marketing suite tailored for auto dealers, has rolled out an application programming interface that provides Web developers with a standardized process to access dealer inventories and other data. GOSO officials explained that the dealer industry has historically been "very closed" when it comes to this sort of thing. This has […] [Read More]