Used Vehicle Depreciation Rates Rise To Recession Levels

Depreciation rates on used vehicles are nearing levels not seen since the recession, though the trend will soon reverse and likely lead to marginally higher losses for U.S. auto ABS, according to the latest joint vehicle depreciation report from Black Book® and Fitch Ratings. Click here to download the full report.



According to Black Book, both new and used vehicle markets are seeing positive growth after hitting a low of 10.3 million new vehicle sales in 2009. As a result, depreciation has increased every year since 2011. Black Book projects new vehicles sales to finish north of 16 million…

by Heidi Suke, Account Advocate

Are you leveraging all of the tools your website vendor offers to highlight specials on your dealership's site? No?! Why?! Nailing your dealership's Why Buy message is one way to stand out from the competition. But a recent study on the state of…

Last week, Automotive News highlighted Redlands Auto Plaza, a Southern California dealership that is doing some pretty creative things within their service department to increase absorption. General Manager, Loren Campbell, recognized that becoming more efficient within the service department was key to increased profitability and a better customer experience. “Time is the only thing we have to sell. The process is the key: quicker and simpler. That’s what customers want,” Campbell stated in the article. To achieve this, he paired up service advisors to work in teams so that there was always an advisor available to answer questions about any customer’s specific vehicle. Campbell also has…

What's New on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Edition? 

For 2014, the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is powered by an 8-Speed Transmission that either functions via it's fully electronic automatic mode or via paddle shifters to make driving the 6.4L HEMI loads of fun! Eco Mode and Fuel Saver Technology are also two features offered on the SRT Grand Cherokee for 2014 to aid in fuel conservation. 

The exterior of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT features blackened bi-xenon headlights with LED run lights, and enhancements to the front fascia,…

Watching a grown man cry over being offered a banana is something I won't soon forget.

This is exactly what happened as I was on a team that ministered to inmates at the Neal Unit. This unit is one of many state prisons in Texas that participates in the Kairos Prison Ministry. I was honored to have spent several years serving in this program. Part of this ministry is a weekend in which the volunteers get to spend three and a half days inside the unit with 42 inmates in a workshop setting. We also were able to bring in meals, courtesy of our wives, and serve the inmates. Many times, serving the food to them made more of an impact than the words that were spoken. 

I remember one Saturday afternoon approaching a table with a platter full of bananas.  I offered one to an inmate sitting at my…

...7 days...

It’s not just a quote from the terrifying film “The Ring”, or as the Japanese know it “Ringu”, which I watched with my face behind a pillow - it’s also the crunch time for car buying decisions.

Edmunds.com recently reported that 79% of shoppers buy a car within 7 days after a test drive. That means that if you weren’t charming enough to sell the car the same day of the test drive (or if your shoppers weren’t ready - which is your excuse, right?), you have 7 days to WOW! them into buying from YOU. Not the dealership down the street, not the creepy guy on Craigslist - YOU.

Hopefully, before…

When it comes to social media marketing, the last site you’re probably thinking of adding to your repertoire is Pinterest. The site is known for its large female user base, collections of clothes, decorating ideas, and DIY tips and tricks; however, with its unique spin on social bookmarking, car dealers can use their inventory to reach an entirely new social audience.

What is Pinterest?

Before we go any further, it’s probably best to give a brief introduction to Pinterest. Because unlike Facebook and Twitter, which are in-your-face mainstream services used by nearly every business on the…

Test Drive the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR in New York!

For anyone interested in the new styled 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR, it's coming to Kingston Nissan in New York! As previously mentioned, the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR features a unique appearance package from a redesigned front fascia with black headlight surrounds, chrome accents, SR-Grille, SR-Side Sills, SR Rear Spoiler and SR Sport Mirrors. 

The Interior of the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SR has 370Z inspired steering wheel, suede-like seats with contrasting orange stitching and accents throughout the seats and interior panels. Piano Black center console area complements the interior of the 2015…

As a PR professional, my primary goal is to assist my clients in achieving the most exposure possible and build top-of-mind brand awareness among their potential customers. To help better understand how to best position my clients for success, I did a little research on how dealers perceive vendors and their practices.

I reached out to Bobbie Herron, Digital Sales and Marketing Manager for the Garber Automotive Group. Herron was recently named to Automotive News’ “Retail 40 under 40” list and she was kind enough to share a few things with me that vendors do to irritate her, causing them to potentially lose her business.

Herron responded with what irritates her, along with some best practice tips…

The All-New 2015 Nissan Maxima aka Nissan Sport Sedan Concept? 

Latest news on the new redesign of the Nissan Maxima suggest that we will be seeing a close variation of the Nissan Sport Sedan Concept for the 2015 Nissan Maxima coming soon. From the boomerang-styled headlights to the V-Motion Front Grille, the 2015 Nissan Maxima is sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

The 2015 Nissan Maxima features 21" aluminum alloy wheels, metallic accents with contrasting colors and ergonomics that provide a very comfortable driving experience and atmosphere. …