DealersBEST PRACTICES Old-school Rizza roars into the digital age 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  In an age when auto dealers are plunging into digital tools for marketing, store management and customer retention, Chicago's Rizza Cars has become a star practitioner. The six-store retailer is a case study of a traditional dealership group transforming in a new era of operating technologies.... Read More »
Auto loan delinquencies, repossessions rise 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Auto loan delinquency and repossession rates rose in the first quarter fueled largely by an increase in subprime loans, Experian Automotive said last week.... Read More »
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Snap-Happy 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Donna Gebers, general manager of East Bay BMW and East Bay Mini in Pleasanton, Calif., makes no apologies for including at least 60 photos of each used vehicle. The 60 photos per used-car listing required of Hendrick-owned stores is at least three times the average number that appear in listings on many third-party shopping sites.... Read More »
Dealers 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Dealerships in this report: Majestic Honda in Lincoln, R.I.; Heritage Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram Owings Mills in Owings Mills, Md.; Miller's Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Martinsburg, W.Va.; Maita Toyota in Sacramento, Calif.; and Gilroy Toyota in Gilroy, Calif.... Read More »
MARK RECHTIN The death of driving? Don't make any funeral plans 11:29 am U.S. ET | May 17, 2013  You know that study that just came out declaring “the end of the driving boom,” because Gen Y supposedly doesn't care about cars? Ignore it.... Read More »
Jaguar launches plan to spruce up U.S. storesMay 17, 2013 06:01 CET  Jaguar is rolling out a plan to refurbish its U.S. dealerships in preparation for a wave of new products. Regional Jaguar teams are going "door-to-door" to discuss the new corporate identity standards, starting with about 50 older stores.... Read More »
AMY WILSON For AutoNation's Jackson, Penske sets pace for retirement 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 16, 2013  AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson's employment contract with the country's largest dealership group is up in September. Jackson will turn 65 next February, but he has no intention of walking out the door any time soon.... Read More »
DOUGLAS A. BOLDUC Is the S in the new Mercedes S class for Shanghai? 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  The new Mercedes-Benz S class made its world premiere today in Hamburg, Germany, but Shanghai might have been more appropriate. Why? China accounted for nearly half of all S-class sales from 2010-2012.... Read More »
JIM HENRY 'Last resort' means something good 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  In a recent blog, I referred to GM Financial as a “lender of last resort” for parent company General Motors. I meant simply that GM regards GM Financial as a lender GM can count on, no matter what.... Read More »
AMY WILSON Rebranding effort aids AutoNation's community giving 11:57 am U.S. ET | May 15, 2013  AutoNation has rebranded nearly 40 percent of its dealerships with its coast-to-coast AutoNation name. And, contrary to early fears within the nation's largest auto dealership group, AutoNation says it is maintaining or increasing share in those converted markets.... Read More »
DIANA T. KURYLKO Can battery rental reduce consumer jitters with EVs? Smart thinks so 2:02 pm U.S. ET | May 14, 2013  Consumers have a lot of gripes about the battery life in high-tech products. Batteries seem to conk out way before the products do. Small wonder there's even more anxiety about electric vehicle batteries.... Read More »
U.S. used-vehicle sales drop 6% in first quarter 4:04 pm U.S. ET | May 14, 2013 Industry-wide used-vehicle sales dropped 6 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter last year, according to Edmunds.com's new Used Market Quarterly Report.... Read More »
James Lawrence, NADA Used Car Guide publisher, dies 5:15 pm U.S. ET | May 14, 2013 James Lawrence, former publisher of NADA Used Car Guide, died May 6. He was 90.... Read More »
Jaguar launches plan to spruce up stores 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  Jaguar is rolling out a plan to refurbish its U.S. dealerships in preparation for a wave of new products. Regional Jaguar teams are going "door-to-door" to discuss the new corporate identity standards, starting with about 50 older stores.... Read More »
BEST PRACTICES Dealer pairs test driver's phone to car 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  A Chrysler Group dealer in Michigan has turned a 30-second routine into a better way to demonstrate his technology-laden vehicles.Before the start of each test drive at Extreme Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, the salesperson showing the vehicle asks the customer in the driver's seat for his or her smartphone and -- with permission -- connects the phone to the vehicle's infotainment system.... Read More »
Manufacturers could challenge Colo. franchise bill 3:42 pm U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers could challenge dealer-backed franchise legislation that passed the Colorado Legislature earlier this month. Alliance spokesman Dan Gage said the association has yet to make a final determination on whether to file a lawsuit to try to overturn the measure.... Read More »
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE E-MAGAZINE Ford makes fresh start in EuropeMay 13, 2013 06:01 CET  Ford will use this month's UEFA Champions League soccer final to launch a new pan-European advertising campaign that focuses on its affordable, user-friendly technologies. It is just one aspect of a multi-faceted marketing overhaul the automaker hopes will help to stem its sales and profitability slump in Europe.... Read More »
FINANCE & INSURANCE Q&A: TOM DUNDON Chrysler Group seeks an edge with Chrysler Capital 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  Chrysler Capital, the private-label arrangement between Santander Consumer USA and Chrysler Group, began operating in the United States May 1 as the preferred lender for Chrysler Group. Chrysler Capital will offer prime and subprime retail loans and leasing through Chrysler dealers, as well as floorplanning and construction loans to dealers.... Read More »
SURGICAL MARKETING STRIKES Automakers grow adept at targeting ads to Internet surfers 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  The digital age has spawned effective ways for auto marketers to swipe customers from competitors. By monitoring the online shopping habits of millions of consumers, marketers can place online ads in front of shoppers quickly and precisely.... Read More »
N.J. store sues Chrysler over termination 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013 A Chrysler Group dealership in central New Jersey has filed a lawsuit to stop the automaker from terminating the dealership's franchises.... Read More »
Retired Texas dealer McCall supports Tesla 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  Retired Texas auto dealer Sterling McCall surprised fellow dealers in April when he testified in favor of Tesla Motors Inc.'s bid to carve out an exemption to state franchise law. But after buying two Teslas himself -- and taking delivery of his Model S in a high school parking lot -- McCall became convinced that the current Texas law is unfair to the electric vehicle maker.... Read More »
ADESA forecasts rising off-lease volume in second half of year 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  ADESA, the nation's second-largest used-vehicle auction company, expects an uptick in sales of off-lease vehicles, especially in the second half of the year, said the top executive at its parent company.... Read More »
Dealers 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013 Dealerships in this report: Nabors Toyota in Clarksdale, Miss.; Avery Greene Honda in Vallejo, Calif.; Haron Jaguar in Fresno, Calif.; Long Hyundai in Chattanooga; and the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.... Read More »
FINAL ASSEMBLY Jackson: Penske sets my retirement pace 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson's employment contract with the country's largest dealership group is up in September. Jackson will turn 65 next February, but he has no intention of walking out the door any time soon.... Read More »
Fiat dealers anxious for broader product lineup 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 11, 2013  Some of the 204 Fiat dealers in the United States are struggling to turn a profit selling several versions of the Fiat 500 subcompact and some dealers said they anxiously await more details from Chrysler and its Italian parent, Fiat S.p.A., on plans to expand products beyond what has been already announced.... Read More »
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