Sales

Fleet sales power Jan. sales growth

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Most Januarys, fleet is a welcome supplement to weather-battered retail sales. This January, fleet volume turned a fair month into a strong one. For the seven largest auto companies selling vehicles in the United States, fleet volume provided slightly more than half of January's growth. The overall U.S. market rose 11 percent in January.... Read More »
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BMW fights Mercedes with new fuel-efficient 3-series sedan

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 12, 2012
While BMW won the race for the luxury car market in the United States last year, the world's largest premium automaker is keeping a sharp eye on its rear-view mirror.... Read More »
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Dealers bullish on U.S. sales outlook, survey says

1:12 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2012
More than 75 percent of dealers expect their sales to increase by 10 percent or more this year, according to a survey released this week by Ally Financial.... Read More »
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2012 GENEVA AUTO SHOW

Cruze wagon may boost Chevy fleet sales in Europe

8:36 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2012
Chevrolet will unveil a Cruze station wagon at next month's Geneva auto show. The car may help to boost the brand's fleet sales in Europe where a wagon is a typical company car.... Read More »
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2012 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

Kia to use expanded U.S. capacity to build more Optimas

3:35 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2012
Kia will use most of its expanded capacity in the United States to boost Optima production by as many as 60,000 units this year.... Read More »
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Daimler Q4 profit grows 39% on strong Mercedes sales

2:58 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2012
Daimler reported a 39 percent increase in fourth-quarter profit, boosted by demand for the revamped Mercedes M- and C-class models. Earnings before interest and taxes gained to 2.18 billion euros ($2.9 billion) from 1.56 billion euros a year ago, the automaker said.... Read More »
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DealersMore »

Sticks and carrots: Why furor over facilities won't go away

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Martin NeSmith personifies the boiling point over manufacturer facility programs. NeSmith just built a Chevrolet-Buick-GMC store in Jesup, Ga., spending an extra $500,000 to comply with General Motors' Essential Brand Elements program. But with hefty volume-based payouts for complying and a shrinking dealer margin, he figures he had little choice.... Read More »
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Finance & InsuranceMore »
FINANCE & INSURANCE

Is credit life dead? Not for one F&I chief

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Dealership Finance Director Loe Hornbuckle sells an F&I product that many stores won't touch. And he's getting impressive results. Last year, Hornbuckle and four other F&I officers at Holmes Motors in Shreveport, La., sold 185 credit life and disability polices with total premiums of $134,478.... Read More »
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MarketingMore »

Caught in campaign crossfire

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Last week an unlikely 81-year-old emerged from the shadows into the glare of political controversy. Clint Eastwood sauntered out of a dark-toned Chrysler Group Super Bowl spot to growl out a tribute to the revival of domestic automakers. The next day the political fireworks began -- a likely harbinger of things to come.... Read More »
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RemarketingMore »

Manheim report sees positive trends in leasing

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
In 2011, 20 percent of the 10.6 million new vehicles counted as sold in the United States at retail, excluding sales to fleets, were leased, one percentage point higher than in 2010, says the Manheim 2012 Used Car Market Report. More important than the percentage gain, the report concludes, is that the industry got leasing right last year, at least "for the most part."... Read More »
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Service & PartsMore »
FIXED OPERATIONS

Dealer uses service clinics to build loyalty

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
Dealer Bob Rountree says that about 70 percent of his new- and used-vehicle buyers at his two Ford Motor Co. stores are repeat customers. Rountree credits much of his success to an epiphany he had 10 years ago: He would offer a service clinic once each quarter to his buyers of both new and used vehicles.... Read More »
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NADAMore »

Acura aims for 180,000 sales in '12

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
After a year in which their sales were limited by a devastating earthquake in Japan, Acura dealers were told here that production of Acura vehicles is back to normal and the distribution pipeline should be full by March. But Acura has ambitious goals for sales and customer satisfaction in the coming year that will require dealers' involvement.... Read More »
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Final AssemblyMore »
FINAL ASSEMBLY

Chrysler's illuminati spar over lighting up the Dart's derriere

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Call it the battle of the backside: There's a big debate within Chrysler about whether a snazzy full-width panel of LEDs should be standard on all Dodge Darts or just high-end models. Production of the compact -- new car, resurrected name -- begins in the second quarter, so it's almost decision time.... Read More »
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