Retail

Toyota, Honda begin to rebuild

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
An early trend: Last year's three big sales winners -- Chrysler Group, Hyundai-Kia and Volkswagen of America -- continued to drive the market in January. An early subplot: American Honda and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. have begun their long-awaited sales recoveries after a tough 2011.... Read More »
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Wade urges timeout on facility plans

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
After its long-awaited study of facility-improvement programs, the National Automobile Dealers Association wants automakers to put their programs on hold for review, citing conclusions in the study that they cost too much, produce uncertain results and matter little to shoppers.... Read More »
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More dealers bring hunt for leads in-house

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
A growing number of dealers say they are drifting away from the third-party Internet lead providers that have dominated online vehicle marketing for 15 years. Partly it's because they want "cleaner" online referrals -- no duplicates or 12-year-olds with a new computer -- and they want better closing rates from leads.... Read More »
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Under fire, TrueCar alters Web pricing

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
TrueCar.com, the online vehicle shopping service, has stopped offering vehicle prices from dealers and promises of big discounts. Instead, TrueCar shoppers now request price quotes from local dealers after they visit the TrueCar Web site.... Read More »
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Do staffers like working at your store?

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
Automotive News is working with Best Companies Group to identify dealerships that have excelled in creating quality workplaces. The program, Best Dealerships To Work For, will measure workplace satisfaction through a confidential survey of employers and employees.... Read More »
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Coda looks for EV-friendly, multiline, franchised dealers

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2012
It's a truism that electric vehicle makers need to target early-adopter buyers. But Coda Automotive CEO Phil Murtaugh also needs to attract early-adopter dealers. With its Sedan EV about to hit the market, Murtaugh said, Coda needs "to find dealers who are pro-green, who believe that electric vehicles are coming."... Read More »
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Used-car prices likely to rise 2%

8:01 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 4 2012
Used-vehicle prices will rise on average about 2 percent byyear end, with prices peaking in April, Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst at NADA Used Car Guide, predicts. That's on top of a 3 percent average increase in 2011, he says.... Read More »
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DealersMore »

Dealers

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
Dealerships in this report: Alton Blakley Ford-Lincoln in Somerset, Ky.; Bergstrom Ford in Neenah, Wis.; Gus Machado Ford in Hialeah, Fla.; Shanxi Dachang Automobile Ltd. Co. in China; Grupo Viamar in the Dominican Republic; Winner Imports Ukraine in Ukraine; Flemington Car & Truck Country in Flemington, N.J.; DP Fox Ventures in Grand Rapids, Mich.; Lindsay Cadillac Co. in Alexandria, Va.... Read More »
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Finance & InsuranceMore »

Volvo establishes captive finance arm

4:30 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 5 2012
Volvo Cars of North America is launching a captive finance arm, and services will begin this year. Bank of America will provide funding for Volvo Car Financial Services' financing products.... Read More »
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MarketingMore »

Report: Eastwood's Chrysler ad will be pep talk for the nation

4:20 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 3 2012
Chrysler plans a two-minute Super Bowl commercial featuring Clint Eastwood giving the country a pep talk, sources told The Wall Street Journal today.... Read More »
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RemarketingMore »

AutoNation: If description fits, we'll buy it

12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 30 2012
AutoNation Inc. is making offers to purchase used vehicles -- sight unseen -- listed for sale on popular third-party Web sites. It also guarantees to pay the amount offered for a vehicle if the condition description proves accurate when the vehicle is brought to an AutoNation store. Mike Maroone, COO of the nation's largest dealership group, says the pilot program with eBay, Edmunds.... Read More »
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Service & PartsMore »

Batey: Chevy lures younger buyers

6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 4 2012
Chevrolet is bringing in younger customers and attracting buyers from non-General Motors brands, says Alan Batey, vice president of sales and service. He says that will help dealers overcome a dearth of leasees coming back into the market. He spoke here with Staff Reporter Mike Colias.... Read More »
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NADAMore »

Subaru promises adequate inventories

9:58 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 5 2012
Subaru of America reassured dealers today that inventory will not be a problem in the future and that it will meet or exceed its U.S. sales goal of 320,000.... Read More »
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Final AssemblyMore »
FINAL ASSEMBLY

Updated version of 'Rambo Lambo' SUV is on the way

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
Before the heyday of big SUVs in the 1990s, Lamborghini departed from its script and introduced the LM002 -- a muscular off-roader that was built in small numbers from 1986 to 1993. The "Rambo Lambo" was seen as an oddity for a company famed for such distinguished high-performance sports cars as the Miura and Countach.... Read More »
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