André-Martin Hobbs, Author at DecisioningIT

Would Canadian dealers be willing to become brand agents?

From ROB BOSTELAAR (Automotive News Canada) ‘We have been following this very closely,’ says Tim Reuss, CEO of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association The expanding European retail model of automakers owning the cars, and dealers receiving a set commission, is...

September 19, 2021

How Does the Vehicle Shortage Impact F&I?

F&I

How Does the Vehicle Shortage Impact F&I?

Unique market influencers and changing consumer preferences are impacting F&I. AutoSphere – Over the last few months, the automotive industry has faced some unprecedented challenges. The onset of the COVID-19 thrust economic uncertainty upon the sector in a matter of...

September 18, 2021

Mixed trends within Cox Automotive’s financing indexes for August

Automotive Finance Automotive Lending Consumer Credit

Mixed trends within Cox Automotive’s financing indexes for August

ATLANTA – Cox Automotive’s newest updates of indexes that track auto financing showed mixed developments with regard to dealerships being able to get their potential buyers financed and providers’ appetite to build portfolios. First, according to the Dealertrack Auto Credit Availability Index,...

September 16, 2021

Some banks loosened standards on auto loans in Q2

Automotive Lending Consumer Credit

Some banks loosened standards on auto loans in Q2

By Automotive News – JOHN HUETTER Most bankers said they hadn’t changed their practices. But a few lenders reported easing maturity maximums and lowering minimum down payments. A moderately larger share of banks surveyed this summer said they eased standards...

September 15, 2021

How car dealers can best position themselves to compete with retailers like Carvana

Car Dealerships Digital Retailing

How car dealers can best position themselves to compete with retailers like Carvana

CBT News – Online vehicle retailer Carvana continues to grow at a rapid pace and doubled its first-quarter revenue in 2021. While some dealers have underestimated the company’s influence, our next guest has not. On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome Brian...

September 14, 2021

AutoPayPlus unveils fintech solution to increase dealer profit

F&I

AutoPayPlus unveils fintech solution to increase dealer profit

ORLANDO, Fla. – AutoPayPlus acknowledged every dealership’s primary business goal and ongoing challenge revolve around one, single metric: profit. To help managers and principals in that department, AutoPayPlus unveiled an all-new solution this week designed to increase profit per vehicle and service...

September 10, 2021

Digital Retailing F&I

6 Steps to the F&I Deal: Where Digital Retailing Fits In

Assurant recently created a whitepaper where they look at ways to support the online F&I process. Here are some finding that I wanted to share with you. Meet your customers throughout their car-purchasing journey. Here’s how to optimize these six...

September 9, 2021

EBlock buys TradeHelper & ESP Auctions

EBlock, a leader in the automotive auction industry and sub-brand of parent company, E INC, today announced the acquisition of TradeHelper, a dealer-to-dealer digital auction marketplace, along with its parent company, ESP Auctions, an independent auction located in Montreal. “This move...

September 8, 2021

Cox Automotive enters the EV battery business

By Kimberly Hurley (CBT NEWS) -September 6, 2021 Cox Automotive Mobility announced on Wednesday that it had acquired Spiers New Technologies (SNT), which is a leader in electric vehicle battery lifecycle management. Cox Automotive has been quite clear that it wants to be a...

September 6, 2021

F&I’s three-tier approach: Serve, Connect, Sell

F&I

F&I’s three-tier approach: Serve, Connect, Sell

By Adam Marburger (CBT News) We make things way too difficult in the F&I office. We often forget that people buy from people that they like and trust. We spend an abundance of time drilling and rehearsing fancy closes and word...

September 1, 2021