News

NADA Forecasts a Record 17.7 Million New-Car Sales in 2016

DETROIT – U.S. sales of new cars and light trucks will set an all-time record in 2016, said Steven Szakaly, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Association. “More than 17.7 million new light vehicles will be purchased or leased this year, about a 2-percent increase from 2015, and setting back-to-back records,” Szakaly said. “It ... Read More »

Exclusive: U.S., Major Automakers to Announce Safety Accord Friday

The U.S. government and a group of global automakers are set to unveil a voluntary agreement at the Detroit auto show on Friday aimed at improving auto industry safety and spurring culture changes, according to company and government officials. The accord could set the framework for further discussions on safety reforms and mark a new ... Read More »

Volkswagen Fix Rejected by California Board as Setbacks Grow

Volkswagen AG’s work to overcome the emissions-cheating scandal was set back after the California Air Resources Board rejected its proposed engine fix as “incomplete,” just a day before Chief Executive Officer Matthias Mueller meets regulators to discuss ways out of the crisis. “Volkswagen made a decision to cheat on emissions tests and then tried to cover ... Read More »

GM Unveils Technology to Help Avoid Child Heatstroke Deaths

General Motors Co said on Tuesday it will introduce a new safety system to remind drivers to check for children in the rear seats, and that it could eventually develop features to detect forgotten children, reports Reuters. The Detroit automaker showed off its 2017 Acadia SUV that includes what it says is an industry-first feature ... Read More »

FTC Proposes Survey of Consumer Experience in Financing Auto Purchases through Dealers

The Federal Trade Commission has announced plans to conduct a survey of consumers regarding their experiences in buying and financing automobiles at dealerships, reports JDSUPRA BUSINESS ADVISOR. According to the supplementary information in the notice soliciting comments on the proposed survey, the survey “is intended to inform the [FTC] about current consumer protection issues that may exist ... Read More »

RoadVantage Announces F&I Power Bundle for Retail and Leased Vehicles

AUSTIN – RoadVantage, the fastest-growing provider of F&I programs for the automotive industry, today announced a powerful new addition to its Preferred customizable bundles, making it the most robust program available in the market today for retail and leased vehicles. The enhanced Preferred bundle incorporates environmental interior and exterior coverage, into the coverage already included: tire ... Read More »

Registration Open for Dealer Summit 2016

Goebel, Ziegler to Headline Dealer Summit

TAMPA — Organizers of Dealer Summit announced that Greg Goebel and Jim Ziegler will speak at the 2016 event, which will be held May 3–5 at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel. “The number of hours Greg and Jim have spent working directly with dealers to improve their operations is incalculable,” said David Gesualdo, show chair ... Read More »

Wise F&I Hires Amy Counts As Account Executive

ST. LOUIS – Wise F&I announced the hiring of Amy Counts as an account executive. Counts is responsible for business and relationship development with independent Agents by growing Wise F&I product penetration. Counts has over 18 years’ experience in the automotive industry working for The Reynolds and Reynolds Company and RouteOne in roles expanding from: ... Read More »

December Auto Sales Soar 9% in Record Year

Automakers posted a solid 9% sales gain in December, an exclamation point that sealed 2015 as the biggest sales year ever for the industry, reported USA Today. All told, automakers sold 17.47 million new vehicles for the year, Autodata reported, besting the previous record set in 2000 by 68,138 vehicles. Low gas prices, cheap credit, low unemployment, soaring consumer confidence and warm weather ... Read More »