ADP Dealer Services Spinoff Now Listed on Nasdaq

BY: Admin CDK Global Inc. was officially spun off from Automatic Data Processing Inc. on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The new independent company begins trading as a member of the S&P MidCap 400 Index. “This is a monumental day in our history and marks the next step of our journey,” said Steve Anenen, president and CEO of CDK Global. “There are many driving forces impacting this industry — consumers expecting an improved buying and service experience, and dealerships and manufacturers who see the value of innovative technology to improve...

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Industry Could Realize Best October Since 2004, Say Analysts

BY Admin The October retail sales forecasts from J.D. Power and Kelly Blue Book are in, and they are predicting a solid sales month in what is traditionally the second weakest month of the year for car sales. More than 1.1 million cars are expected to be sold in October, a prediction that will mark the best October since 2004 if realized, J.D. Power noted. This October is expected to be about 6% better than a year ago, which is great, KBB noted, considering that Labor Day deals in September and Black Friday deals in November typically keep consumers...

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Mich. Governor Signs ‘Anti-Tesla’ Bill

By Steven Martinez Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed into law on Tuesday legislation that adds tighter restrictions on direct-to-consumer vehicle sales. The move effectively bans Tesla Motors from selling vehicles in the state. Introduced in May, House Bill 5606 originally focused on prohibiting auto manufacturers from dictating what fees a franchised dealer can charge customers. But thanks to a procedural loophole, state lawmakers were able to toss in a last-minute amendment without public comment or debate. And that amendment reinforces...

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3 Things to Consider When Selecting an Independent or Franchised Car Dealership

While shopping for a car, you can either buy from a franchised car dealership or used car dealership. The differences between the two are outlined below to help you make better car buying decisions. Independent Dealers Used car dealers consist of dealerships which are not affiliated with a new-car manufacturer. These dealerships usually own one or two used car dealerships with a promising work ethic. Some independent car dealers can have a large used car inventory, with generally no new vehicles. The following are things to consider while...

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Ford, Carfax Expand Partnership in Certified Pre-Owned Sales

BY: DETROIT Ford Motor Company and Carfax have expanded their partnership in the Ford and Lincoln Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs. Ford is continuing its commitment to provide Carfax Vehicle History Reports for free to buyers and sellers of certified Ford and Lincoln vehicles. In addition, all Ford and Lincoln CPO cars will now be listed on Carfax Used Car Listings. Sales of certified Fords and Lincolns have surged more than 50% since the start of the relationship between Ford and Carfax, officials noted. “We work hard to exceed the needs...

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Facebook Playing Bigger Role in Dealer Selection, Study Shows

BY: Admin A survey of 2,000 consumers who purchased a vehicle in the last six months revealed that 91% of them used social media and review sites in their dealer-selection process. Conducted by Digital Air Strike, the study also showed that 75% of respondent found the Internet to be the best source for research, surpassing all other traditional advertising and marketing mediums. Star ratings also played a critical role in dealership selection, with survey results showing that 83 percent of car buyers rely on such ratings — even if they did not...

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Auto/Mate Integrates With Nissan’s Dealer System

BY: Admin Auto/Mate’s dealership management system is now fully integrated with Nissan’s dealer communication system, the company announced. All Nissan dealers using Auto/Mate’s DMS are now able to communicate with their manufacturer for parts, service, sales and accounting.Nissan’s dealership communication system is an online management suite through which the factory and dealers exchange data on sales, inventory, service, parts, warranty claims, sales and other operating functions.Integration with Auto/Mate adds key data related to the fixed...

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Why You Should Finance Your New or Used Car

When purchasing a new car, you generally have 3 payment options: financing, leasing and paying in cash. Financing is the most common option because it is generally the most practical, in a financial sense. Paying in Cash Paying in cash may eliminate monthly payments and interest costs, but it also takes a large portion of savings, and it may leave you in a financially constricted situation. Leasing a Car Leasing a car is essentially renting a car. You make monthly payments on the vehicle, but you never really own the vehicle. Car leases are...

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Used or Pre-Owned Cars from Kansas City Car Dealers

Are you interested in buying a certified pre-owned or used car from a car dealership, but you’re not sure of the difference between the two?  To help you make a more informed decision, let us set the facts straight. Certified Pre-owned vehicle A certified pre-owned car is, in fact, a type of used car, but it is a fairly late model (usually less than 5 years old) which endures a rigorous inspection process.  A vehicle can either be certified through the manufacturer or through a dealership. A manufacturer’s certification is more trustworthy...

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Used-car prices fall as ending leases fill dealer lots

BY: Michael Martinez It's a good time to buy a used car. Millions of previously owned cars and trucks are flooding the market as leases expire and customers look to upgrade. Prices have fallen since the start of the summer, and inventories are climbing. It's a delayed reaction to a recovering auto industry: When credit loosened two or three years ago, it became easier to lease a car. Now those leases are coming to an end, and car buyers are flocking to dealerships to turn in their now-used vehicles. While analysts predict supply levels are...

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Industry Could Realize Best September Since 2007, Reports Say

By: Admin Sales projections for September have new-vehicle sales up as much as 9.7% compared to the same period last year, according to forecasts from TrueCar and J.D. Power. More than 1.2 million new light-vehicles will be sold in September, which TrueCar is calling the highest level in seven years. “We expect another strong month for the industry with the best September since 2007,” said John Krafcik, president of TrueCar. “Incentive spending has tapered off from August, a month where we found increases attributable to shifts in segment mix,...

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New Online Tool Triggers Real-Time Leads for Dealerships

BY: Admin AutoLoop's new Instant Online Leads feature brings real-time alerts to sales personnel when prospective buyers are searching for vehicles online. Alerts are triggered by a customized form that online shoppers can fill out requesting follow-up information through a dealership’s website. The feature was added to AutoLoop’s Essentials marketing platform which is an online sales tool that offers flexible marketing strategies that can be tailored to meet prospective customer’s interests. “As more and more people turn to the internet for...

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AutoNation to buy 4 luxury dealerships in Seattle market

by Amy Wilson AutoNation Inc. is expanding its footprint in the Pacific Northwest by buying four luxury-brand dealerships in the Seattle market that generate more than $350 million in annual revenue. AutoNation, the country’s largest dealership group, announced today that it has signed agreements to buy Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche and Volvo stores in Bellevue, Wash., from Barrier Motors Auto Group. Together, the stores are on track to sell more than 5,500 new and used vehicles and generate $355 million in revenue in 2014. The deal is expected...

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