Retail

DEARBORN, Mich. — On Wednesday, Ford commemorated another milestone for its SYNC voice-controlled communications and infotainment system, while also sharing the resale benefits the platform offers. Ford said that the SYNC system was recently set up in the 2 millionth vehicle. Just 10 months ago, Ford celebrated SYNC reaching the 1 million unit milestone.  About 10 […] [Read More]

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Findlay Automotive Group will transition the last of its Saturn dealerships into a different franchise operation at the end of March. Group executives said Saturn of Henderson will become Findlay Lincoln Mercury as of April 1. The group's decision to switch brands at a former Saturn location continues the pattern officials started when General […] [Read More]

LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Charles Heinrich, the president and chief executive officer of Heinrich Chevrolet, may soon add another title to his name: Guinness Book of World Records winner. The Buffalo, N.Y., area dealer was recently spotlighted on General Motors' Faces of GM blog. On the blog he shared some of his background, success strategies, personal interests and, […] [Read More]

CINCINNATI — Pushed by increased leasing activity among the same domestic automakers that got out of the segment in fall 2008, interestingly enough, the overall lease penetration rate for this year is projected to reach between 18 and 25 percent. In fact, some market segments can expect to see rates up to 40 percent, according to Swapalease.com. […] [Read More]

TROLLHATTAN, Sweden — Saab Automobile has officially built its first units in its "new era" as an independent company. The automaker resumed production Wednesday at its Trollhattan, Sweden, plant. In commemoration, Saab chief executive officer Jan Ake Jonsson, along with Spyker Cars CEO Victor Muller and Trollhattan plant director Gunnar Brunius, joined workers along the assembly […] [Read More]

DEARBORN, Mich. — Alan Mulally's total compensation for last year, including the grant date value of long-term stock options and other stock-based awards, was $17.9 million, according to Ford. A preliminary notice about Ford's 2010 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, indicated that Mulally earned $1.4 million in […] [Read More]

DETROIT — General Motors has spoken out via newspaper advertisements about a bill in the Kentucky legislature that it believes would be detrimental to the state's economy and the automaker. GM's $50,000 campaign includes ad spots that were slated to run Sunday in the Louisville Courier-Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader, Ashland Daily Independent, Paducah Sun, Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer and […] [Read More]

BEDFORD, Mass. — Volkswagen's iconic Beetle is slated to be completely redesigned and overhauled and might not even carry the same name, Auto Remarketing learned Friday. The new model will not start arriving at stores for about 18 months or so, Katie Shea, the business development coordinator for Minuteman Volkswagen in Bedford, Mass., told Auto Remarketing […] [Read More]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — With still more than a week left in the month, Edmunds.com analysts projected that March new-vehicle sales are currently pacing at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 13.2 million. The site came to this figure because of the hefty incentives offered by Toyota and other automakers that came as the Japanese OEM […] [Read More]

McLEAN, Va. —  NADA University is kicking off a series of four on-site management seminars for dealers early next month that focus on fixed operations and financial management. These week-long sessions — which are part of NADA University's NADA-ATD Learning Hub component — will be held at the headquarters of the National Automobile Dealers Association at 8400 Westpark Drive […] [Read More]