This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine. It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.  For consumers, the greatest concern when it comes to buying a car can be summed up in one word. Affordability. While the price of cars has dropped over the past year, they remain substantially elevated compared to before the COVID pandemic. Currently, the average price of a used vehicle is in the $25,000-$28,000 range, depending on which analyst’s data you’re looking at — well above the sub-$19,000 average of early 2020. And with interest rates soaring to their highest point in ... [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine.  It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.  There are still times, Justin Osburn said, when he can see the wheels spinning in a car dealer’s head as he explains to them how reinsurance works. “When you understand it, it’s a no-brainer,” said the founder and CEO of Automotive Reinsurance Concepts, “but it can be complicated to explain to somebody how it works, which can create fear. Because anytime you start using words like ‘offshore company tax advantages’ and ‘IRS,’ you can get this thing running through a dealer’s head like, ‘Well, what does that mean? And who are you?’” Fortunately, those sorts of conversations are ... [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine.  It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.    Artificial intelligence is popping up everywhere these days and the dealership service department is no different. From assigning a technician with the right […] [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine.  It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.  When Rich Allen started his job as general manager of Jaguar Land Rover Cincinnati in late 2022, he introduced using videos in the service lane, a practice that had been successful in his previous job. The owner of JLR Cincinnati was skeptical at first, said Allen. That skepticism was short-lived. “He thought it was cheesy,” Allen told Auto Remarketing. “Now he gets stopped when at the club all the time with people complimenting him on the tech video.” Using videos in the service lane is growing fast as new ways to utilize the videos emerge. It is helping dealerships earn customers’ trust more quickly and boosting service lane profits ... [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine. It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now. Whether determining if a trade-in should be retailed or wholesaled or ensuring that it’s mechanically and/or cosmetically certifiable, used-vehicle reconditioning is the lifeblood of any retail used-car operation, but can’t happen without having good technicians. And though the struggle to find and keep technicians isn’t new, it’s still very real. Just ask Greg Cole, dealer principal of Athens Chevrolet in Athens, Ga. Cole said his Georgia dealership is in “a situation that is unique to me.” About 20 miles west of his store is Winder, Ga., home of one of Carvana’s inspection and reconditioning centers. That puts Cole’s store in ... [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine.  It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.  Electric vehicles, new technologies designed to help drivers drive more safely and the sheer need for speed when it comes to finding the right used vehicle for their retail and wholesale customers, has caused auctions and other wholesale providers to rethink vehicle reconditioning. Leading the way is [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine. It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now. During discussions with vehicle transport industry representatives, a common theme emerges: The industry has lagged behind the freight shipping industry in the area of technological innovation. “They have been a lot more tech forward than us historically,” said Mike Scenna, vice president of sales and operations for Preowned Auto Logistics. “We often say we’re 10, 15 years behind the freight side of the house,” said Joe Kichler, vice president of logistics for Cox Automotive. But that seems to ... [Read More]

This feature is part of Auto Remarketing’s upcoming “Beyond the Transaction” edition, which is the May print issue of the magazine.  It is available for Cherokee Media Group Premium subscribers now.  Dan Kennedy says the volume vs. capacity situation in auto transport seems to be on the mend. “For a while, [there was] more volume than capacity, but now it seems like things are starting to align,” said Kennedy, who is senior vice president of business development for CT Services. “Loads seem to be moving a little faster.” Joe Kichler agreed that capacity is a top transport industry issue, saying “we’re starting to see volume come back.” Capacity and available drivers are down from pre-pandemic levels, he said, especially on the wholesale side. “But depending on how quick that comes back and some of the new technology, there are going to need to be ... [Read More]

Amid an ocean of affordability challenges in the used-car retail market, a droplet of “hope” remains. In fact, Kevin Roberts of CarGurus said it’s possible for average used-car prices to show a double-digit-percentage decrease, even as headwinds keep them above pre-COVID levels. “While it’s still challenging to find that elusive affordable car, there’s hope for […] [Read More]

There’s an anniversary coming up this summer. But it’s not exactly one the used-car business — and especially the certified pre-owned segment — is looking forward to. During Cox Automotive’s Q1 2024 Industry Insights and Sales Forecast conference call in late March, senior director of economic and industry insights Jeremy Robb noted that the severe drop in auto leases caused by the COVID pandemic is about to start coming home to roost ... [Read More]