Disasters

Renault-Nissan parts warehouse in India nearly destroyed by fire

May 10, 2013 06:01 CET
A major warehouse supplying parts to a Renault-Nissan plant in India was almost destroyed by fire early on Thursday, but the incident is unlikely to affect alliance operations in the country, Nissan said today.... Read More »

 

Renault-Nissan parts warehouse in India nearly destroyed by fire

3:48 pm U.S. ET | May 9, 2013
A major warehouse supplying parts to a Nissan-Renault alliance plant in India was almost destroyed by fire early today, a Nissan spokeswoman said, possibly affecting production at the plant that makes 400,000 vehicles a year.... Read More »

 

Dealers are unnerved by Boston bombings

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 22, 2013
The bombings in Boston left many area dealers rattled, especially those with stores near the site and those who often attend the race. But safety experts say this catastrophic event is a reminder to dealers everywhere that it is critical to have an emergency preparedness and response plan in place and tested.... Read More »

 

Dealers pitch in to help after Texas blast

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 22, 2013
The deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in the small town of West, Texas, last week damaged a nearby General Motors store and spurred local dealers to organize efforts to help heal their ravaged community.... Read More »

 

JAMIE LaREAU

Dealerships absorb an indirect hit when disaster strikes

7:21 am U.S. ET | April 20, 2013
This past week two catastrophic events hit communities. While no dealership employees were injured in either incident, dealers and staffers felt the impact.... Read More »

 

Texas dealers confront aftermath of destruction

3:30 pm U.S. ET | April 18, 2013
Greg May Chevrolet in West, Texas, is coping with damage and devastation. Last night, a blast at a fertilizer plant a mile from the store killed several people and injured more than 100. "It's been quite devastating," said Gary Rodenbaugh, general manager of Greg May Chevrolet.... Read More »

 

'Enough!' say the weather-beaten

12:01 am U.S. ET | April 1, 2013
After battling Hurricane Sandy last fall, the blizzard that paralyzed New York City in early February and the spring snowstorm that swiped New Jersey early last week, residents in the Northeast are weather-weary. Dealers, too.... Read More »

 

Daimler develops new refrigerant to end dispute over EU mandate

March 7, 2013 13:51 CET
Daimler said it and other German automakers took an initial step toward resolving a safety scare over a new air-conditioning refrigerant developed to meet an EU mandate.... Read More »

 

Sandy walloped ADESA's vehicle-salvage unit, CEO says

4:15 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 21, 2013
Hurricane Sandy hit KAR Auction Services and its used-vehicle salvage arm, Insurance Auto Auctions, far harder last fall than Hurricane Katrina did in 2005, KAR CEO Jim Hallett said today.... Read More »

 

ARLENA SAWYERS

Heavy snow won’t stop auction action, NAAA president says

6:22 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
The roads are blocked, businesses are closed and people have hunkered down in their homes as the Northeast rides out the great blizzard of 2013. But come Monday morning auto auctions located in the snow-covered Northeast will be ready for business, predicts Paul Lips, president of the National Auto Auction Association.... Read More »

 

Honda trims full-year profit forecast

Jan. 31, 2013 09:46 CET
Honda cut its full-year profit forecast as lower sales in China and Europe overshadowed the benefits from the weaker yen. Net income will likely be 370 billion yen ($4.1 billion) in the 12 months ending March 31, compared with its previous estimate for 375 billion yen.... Read More »

 

REMARKETING

Sandy disrupts seasonal shifts in used-vehicle prices

12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 28, 2013
Used-vehicle prices ended 2012 on a high note, buoyed by the impact of Hurricane Sandy last fall, analysts say.... Read More »

 

2012: THE YEAR IN PHOTOS

Fire, wind & water

12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 24, 2012
Natural disasters, fires and protests affected dealers and automakers in 2012. Here are some.... Read More »

 

FINANCE & INSURANCE

F&I after the storm

12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 10, 2012
Adam Kraushaar is making more money selling finance and insurance in the midst of mayhem. Kraushaar owns six dealerships in Toms River, N.J., one of the areas most forcibly struck by Hurricane Sandy in October. Despite the devastation, Kraushaar and other East Coast dealers say they are boosting F&I revenue right along with selling more cars.... Read More »

 

KEITH CRAIN

Be careful what you buy or sell

12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 3, 2012
Hurricane Sandy was particularly destructive to new- and used-car dealerships, destroying or severely damaging many thousands of vehicles. But thousands of new and used vehicles that were damaged will still slip through the cracks and be sold across the nation Keith Crain is editor-in-chief of Automotive News.... Read More »

 

After a slow start, analysts see a big finish in November

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 26, 2012
Auto sales got off to a slow start in November, but demand to replace hurricane-damaged vehicles and positive economic signs have helped increase showroom traffic. Automakers and dealerships are expecting brisk sales during the final week of the month, helped by Thanksgiving weekend and end-of-year promotions.... Read More »

 

REMARKETING

Industry tracks Sandy-damaged cars

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 26, 2012
Keeping cars and trucks that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy out of the nation's pool of used vehicles won't be easy. But automakers, auction houses, inspection companies and vehicle-history reporting agencies are among those working to make sure that Sandy-flooded vehicles are either destroyed or sold with titles describing their true condition.... Read More »

 

Maine dealer gets help from neighbors, strangers after fire

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 19, 2012
Wednesday, Oct. 3, started out like any other morning at Valley Auto in Fort Kent, Maine. Dealer Carl Theriault talked to customers in his showroom as business buzzed around him. Then, around 8:30, Theriault heard someone in his parts department yell: "Fire! Fire!"... Read More »

 

Honda, despite Sandy's impact, still expects 25% U.S. sales gain for 2012

11:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 19, 2012
Honda's rebound in the United States will continue through 2012’s final months, helping the carmaker boost sales about 25 percent this year even after Hurricane Sandy reduced October gains, said sales chief John Mendel.... Read More »

 

Used-car demand up after Sandy

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 19, 2012
Since Hurricane Sandy ravaged tens of thousands of vehicles on the East Coast, used-vehicle pricing and demand are headed in a familiar, post-disaster direction: higher and higher.... Read More »

 

Many East Coast dealers expect a sales surge

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 12, 2012
Many East Coast dealers affected by Hurricane Sandy expect sales and service business to increase significantly as soon as this week.... Read More »

 

How Sandy-damaged cars will be replaced

12:01 am U.S. ET | Nov. 12, 2012
Used vehicles from the West Coast could be shipped across the country to help East Coast dealers meet the anticipated demand for replacing vehicles damaged by Hurricane Sandy, says Paul Lips, executive vice president for operations and finance at auction company ADESA.... Read More »

 

JAMIE LaREAU

East Coast dealers will remember $4.85 gas, $20,000 to rent a generator

10:51 am U.S. ET | Nov. 11, 2012
It’s the little things in life that sometimes make big impressions. Take New York-area auto dealer Bruce Bendell’s experience refueling his car a few days after Hurricane Sandy hit.... Read More »

 

ARLENA SAWYERS

Saying no to Sandy-soaked vehicles

3:27 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 9, 2012
Hurricane Sandy hit Manfredi Auto Group’s Mazda Kia Mitsubishi dealership in Staten Island pretty hard. That has forced them to be extra vigilant in planning how to cope post-disaster. Other dealerships might do well to consider taking similar steps.... Read More »

 

Penske Automotive, Group 1 rebounding from Sandy's wrath

4:19 pm U.S. ET | Nov. 8, 2012
When Superstorm Sandy hit last week, stores owned by many of the nation's largest dealership groups mostly avoided damage, with two exceptions: Penske Automotive Group and Group 1 Automotive. Each has about a quarter of its stores on the East Coast.... Read More »