Cutting transaction times was the No. 1 focus for franchised dealers in 2016, but it wasn't the top painpoint for car buyers, according to DealerSocket's 2016 Dealership Action Report.
The single biggest risk to the dealership system within the next decade will be the convergence of mobility services with autonomous vehicles. That’s the conclusion of a new research project commissioned by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
For the fifth time in seven months, J.D. Power and LMC Automotive are predicting a year-over-year decline in new-vehicle retail sales for September. But officials with both firms said the numbers don't point to significant weakness or risk, but the firm does see challenges ahead.
J.D. Power’s sale to XIO Group in London for $1.1 billion was completed this week, the global alternative investments firm announced on Wednesday. J.D. Power will remain headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and will continue to be led by its existing management team.
While speed is no longer a leading factor, it still plays a significant role, according to J.D. Power's 2016 U.S. Dealer Financing Satisfaction Study. The finance sources leading the way in terms of dealer satisfaction were Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and BMW Financial Services.
J.D. Power named Jim Houston senior director of its auto finance practice. The 30-year auto finance veteran will help guide the industry through a potentially volatile period of new-vehicle sales and declining used-car values, the firm said.
A new study from J.D. Power shows that online shopping tools on manufacturer websites significantly improves satisfaction for consumers shopping for a vehicle. The three best-performing sites belong to Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz.
Kia ended the 27-year reign of premium brands by ranking highest among all nameplates in J.D. Power’s annual study. Overall, new-vehicle quality improved 6%, which was double last year’s 3% improvement.
J.D. Power owner McGraw Hill Financial is expected to finalize the $1.1 billion sale to XIO Group during the third quarter of 2016.
The firm’s 2016 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study shows that last year’s record number of recalls is having an effect on customer satisfaction with dealer service, which declined for the first time in six years.
