November 2021

AutoWeb brings used-car acquisition platform to 2nd market

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, 02:42 PM TAMPA, Fla. –  AutoWeb has taken its CarZeus used-vehicle acquisition platform to a second market: Austin, Texas. CarZeus buys cars directly from consumers and resells them in the wholesale market. Its first market was San Antonio. AutoWeb purchased CarZeus from founder Phil Kandera and McCombs Family Partners this summer. “We are excited to expand our vehicle acquisition service into the Austin market and continue our efforts to scale and enhance this exciting offering. This will allow us to cater to the needs of consumers in… Read More »AutoWeb brings used-car acquisition platform to 2nd market

Privacy4Cars secures 2 patents for its data removal solution

ATLANTA –  The seven-year journey Privacy4Cars has navigated so far to identify the challenges posed by vehicle data and to create solutions to better protect consumers reached another important juncture on Tuesday. The company announced that it has secured two patents, including a patent for its proprietary process to remove privacy information from in-vehicle modules. Privacy4Cars offers a global tool for the deletion of personal information, including phone numbers, call logs, text messages, garage door codes and more that would otherwise remain stored in modern vehicles’ systems after a handoff. In… Read More »Privacy4Cars secures 2 patents for its data removal solution

Details of reducing rate line of credit from Agora Data

ARLINGTON, Texas –  Agora Data recently rolled out another tool for buy-here, pay-here dealers to get the financial resources they need to compete with well-capitalized competitors. The company that previously launched the first crowdsourced securitization for the BHPH industry recently launches another financing innovation with what Agora Data said is first-ever reducing interest rate line of credit. Agora Data explained this new product offers unlimited borrowing capacity, the lowest interest rates and the highest advances. The company also said the product provides BHPH dealers and small to mid-size finance companies the… Read More »Details of reducing rate line of credit from Agora Data

Byrider hands out annual awards

CARMEL, Ind. –  Byrider recently honored the top performers within its network of buy-here, pay-here dealerships and franchisees. During the company’s annual convention on Nov. 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz., Byrider chief executive officer Craig Peters said, “We’re proud to recognize our franchisees and their teams each year at our annual convention. Their commitment to helping their customers move forward, as well as expertly operating their stores is truly commendable.” Byrider vice president of franchising Chris Hadley added, “I am excited to recognize the owners and operators who have been key drivers… Read More »Byrider hands out annual awards

Battery breakthroughs part of Revo 2.0 from Advantage GPS

IRVINE, Calif. –  At Advantage GPS, company executives and experts are charged up about batteries nowadays. The company recently launched what it’s calling Revo 2.0 — a family of advanced, self-powered wireless GPS tracking devices with cutting-edge, second-generation smart battery technology and power management tools. As one of the first to market with a line of wireless, battery-powered GPS devices in early 2019, Advantage GPS said that it has amassed and aggregated data from tens of thousands of deployments and hundreds of millions of device interactions. The company stressed that this… Read More »Battery breakthroughs part of Revo 2.0 from Advantage GPS

Sonic adds EchoPark center in Augusta; Lithia’s latest financial moves

CARY, N.C. –  Sonic Automotive continues to expand its standalone used-car store program, announcing Tuesday that it has opened an EchoPark delivery center in Augusta, Ga. This is Sonic’s third EchoPark facility in the state and 32nd overall. “With the opening of our newest EchoPark delivery center, we continue to grow our network in the state of Georgia, adding to our two existing locations in Duluth and Marietta serving the Atlanta region,” Sonic and EchoPark chief executive officer David Smith said in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming guests… Read More »Sonic adds EchoPark center in Augusta; Lithia’s latest financial moves

AutoVerify partners with iA Dealer Services

LONDON, Ontario –  AutoVerify announced earlier this month that it has integrated iA Dealer Services products into its AutoVerify Spotlight piece of its digital merchandising solution. This partnership is designed to help dealers boost F&I penetration. AutoVerify said it can give dealers a “one-stop-shop” for digital retailing, as its Spotlight, Research and E-Commerce functions are designed to help dealres connect with shoppers, answer questions instantly, verify credit info and build a “ready-to-desk” deal. “Consumers are increasingly doing more research before their first visit to a dealership,” said George Steinsky, vice president of… Read More »AutoVerify partners with iA Dealer Services

PODCAST: Assessing diversity, equity & inclusion with PDP Group’s Deshaun Sheppard

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021, 09:51 AM CARY, N.C. –  Along with being the “excellence of titling execution,” PDP Group account executive Deshaun Sheppard also serves as the diversity, equity and inclusion committee chair for the company that provides title administration solutions for finance companies and other parts of the automotive industry. For this episode of the Auto Remarketing Podcast recorded in person during Used Car Week, Sheppard described progress made by his employer on the D&I front and how far the entire industry still can go. To listen to the conversation, click… Read More »PODCAST: Assessing diversity, equity & inclusion with PDP Group’s Deshaun Sheppard

Dealerships confident on profitability, buy-sell moves

Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, 04:37 PM In an Auto Remarketing interview late last month, Sonic Automotive chief financial officer Heath Byrd was discussing the M&A landscape in auto retail, and said that, “other than shortage of inventory in new, there’s probably not a better time in our lifetimes to be in automotive retail.” He added: “And even (with) the shortage, we’ve all made more money — including Source Article