Retail

PASADENA, Calif. — A murky sales climate didn't prevent one of the stores in the Rusnak Auto Group from again winning a top award from one of the luxury brands it sells. Rusnak Arcadia Mercedes-Benz was presented with the 2009 "Best of the Best" Dealer Recognition Award, an honor group executives said was reserved for the […] [Read More]

DETROIT — U.S. automakers have used the recession to shed excess capacity, a move that puts them in a positive position for future profitability, according to Sudarshan Mhatre, senior analyst with PricewaterhouseCoopers' Autofacts and a featured presenter at the Automotive Economic Forecast and Financial Forum, which will be held May 10-11 in Chicago.  "As a […] [Read More]

CHERRY HILL, N.J. — In what appears to be another strong sign for the automaker, February sales for Subaru of America's Dallas region climbed 81 percent year-over-year, as the region posted its eighth straight record-breaking month. The Dallas region was tops in the country for Subaru and has improved its sales on a year-over-year basis for 10 straight months. […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — After the success of the first initiative that generated a great deal of exposure and buzz for the new model, Ford has rolled out a second wave of its Fiesta Movement. During Fiesta Movement Chapter 2, there will be 20 teams of two agents that will embark on "missions" within their own communities. […] [Read More]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler Group announced this week that it will stop adding dealers in markets where there are arbitrating dealers as a "good faith" measure until the arbitrator makes a ruling.  In a statement Chrysler said, "While Chrysler Group has acted within its legal rights to grant sales points to qualified dealers — rights that […] [Read More]

DETROIT — Saab Automobile announced its new executive director of sales earlier this week, and filling the position is Adrian Hallmark, who comes to the automaker from Volkswagen. His most recent post at VW was executive director of Asia, where he headed up operations in 50 markets, including China and Japan. In Hallmark's new role — which […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — A recent fleet delivery of 2,500 vehicles to Kraft Foods prompted Ford officials to highlight the sales and residual strength of its fleet units. The automaker contends that its share of the national fleet market stood at 24.8 percent through December of 2009. Executives indicated that this figure marked a 1.9-point increase over the same period […] [Read More]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Executives from Dodge and Mopar recently rolled out an incentive program to customers who purchase a 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T, R/T Classic or SRT8. The program called "Mopar Bucks" gives customers $2,000 that they may use to buy select performance parts, service contracts and accessories. Options purchasers have include: —Dodge Challenger's new […] [Read More]

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — A Missouri Hummer dealership that turned some heads in August with its "Guns and Hummers" offering is at it again, this time lining up in "shotgun" formation to make a final play on what could be the last of new models from the brand. Lynch Hummer, a dealer in the St. Louis suburbs, […] [Read More]

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW of North America unveiled its 2010 Center of Excellence Award recipients on Thursday, honoring its top performing dealerships who were selected for the recognition based on strength in the areas of customer satisfaction, brand representation, operational excellence and profitability. Among the group of 24 recognized dealers, several have won the COE honors […] [Read More]