Recent Stories
Dealers
Public retailers focus on fixed ops talent

Group 1, Asbury and Penske — the three public dealership groups that reported fourth-quarter earnings last week — showed that they share a common mission: Ramp up recruitment and retention in the service department.
F&I Blog
Why we're tracking interest rates' pulse

When it comes to covering rising interest rates, how much is too much?
Dealers
Group 1 steady in quarter of 'difficult' comparisons

Group 1 Automotive's revenue and adjusted net income were stable in a fourth-quarter report that followed a post-hurricane boost in sales and one-time tax benefits a year earlier.
Dealers
Dealers ferret out cost cuts to prepare for leaner times

Ohio dealer Rick Ricart found a way to save $6,000 a year: Cut out bottled water, and use the drinking fountain instead.
Dealers
Dealers push back harder against mandates to upgrade stores

Dealership improvement costs have become a perennial headache, especially as dealers evaluate investments in a tight-margin market that's becoming increasingly digital.
NADA Show
NADA preps F&I compliance tool

The National Automobile Dealers Association plans to roll out a template to help dealers sell F&I products compliantly.
NADA Show
Auto finance makes moves to catch up on digital

Auto finance digitization has lagged other lending sectors, but the industry is working to catch up by updating legacy systems, working closely with dealers and establishing a culture of innovation.
NADA Show
Serra: ‘The greatest tool and asset are the people'

When Michigan dealer Joe Serra looks for stores to acquire, a strong talent base holds a lot of weight.
Retail
Embrace change, Maroone tells dealers

In his first public appearance since leaving AutoNation's chief operating post four years ago, Mike Maroone shared this advice with his auto retail peers: Be agents for change.
NADA Show
Honda maintains hard line on incentives

American Honda executives Henio Arcangeli Jr. and Ray Mikiciuk discuss incentives in the context of concerns about vehicle affordability.
Sales
Clutch expands product offerings

Clutch Technologies, inspired in part by its customers' use of the platform, is broadening its subscription offering to appeal to a wider pool of consumers.
World Congress
Analytics firm Inrix works on AV education

People in a community who don't understand the technology behind autonomous vehicle tests often assume there's something fishy about it, said Avery Ash, head of autonomous mobility for Inrix.
Dealers
Lead response bots connect with consumers, but their use can pose risks

Advances in artificial intelligence mean virtual assistants are getting better at responding to queries. But dealers should be careful, experts say, as they are a backstop if a sales rep fails to quickly respond to a customer.
Dealers
AI adoption quicker than digital retail shift

The online transaction has been part of auto retail's grand vision for years, but AI technology could become more broadly adopted first.
Dealers
AI tools can help manage inventory and boost profitability

While dealerships are still only scratching the surface of artificial intelligence, AI tools are enhancing the customer experience and improving operations.