Finding quality used vehicles continues to be a challenge for auto dealers, from high pricing to low availability. New tools aim to make it easier for retailers to keep their lots stocked. Several retail technology companies are boosting their own capabilities to assist dealerships with used-vehicle sourcing, including by giving consumers an outlet to sell
Since joining the industry in 2006, Michael Lefthand has spent his entire auto retail career in the Internet department. He likes the role, he says, because it’s always changing. One big change? The way customers communicate. Lefthand, business development manager at SeaView Jeep and SeaBreeze Ford in New Jersey, has placed more emphasis in recent
Technology company Solera added auto retail software to its product suite, which also includes fleet management and vehicle repair, when it acquired dealership technology company DealerSocket last year. With DealerSocket, Solera now has a lineup that includes dealership management systems, customer relationship management systems, websites and inventory management tools. But it’s not yet a well-known
The evolution of the franchised dealership model is beginning to appear in state capitols across the country. Some state dealer associations are proposing new language in franchise laws that outline the relationship between new-vehicle dealers and automakers to better address newer concepts in the industry such as over-the-air service updates and vehicle reservations. West Virginia
Bob Brockman’s continuation at the top of dealership management system giant Reynolds and Reynolds Co. after his lawyers raised concerns about cognitive impairment contributed to a federal judge’s ruling that the former auto software titan is competent to stand trial on tax evasion charges. The way that Brockman, who turns 81 this month, presented himself
Leaders at Shift Technologies Inc. say 2022 was going to be “a year of balanced growth and profitability” even before market conditions tightened amid rising inflation and continued supply constraints. And while the online used-vehicle retailer based in San Francisco said it more than doubled revenue and sold more vehicles in the first three months
