P&A Online

December 15, 2010

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IAS Forges Nationwide Alliance With Crystal Fusion

AUSTIN – IAS, a leading provider of F&I aftermarket programs to automobile dealerships, today announced a formal alliance with Crystal Fusion Technologies Inc., a leading provider of windshield protection technologies. Crystal Fusion is an aftermarket product that helps keep vehicle windshields cleaner and stronger while significantly improving hazards associated with night glare and windshield chips.Crystal Fusion ... Read More »

Volvo Introduces Maintenance Program for CPO Vehicles

ROCKLEIGH — Volvo Cars of North America LLC (VCNA) announced the addition of Protection Plus+, a factory scheduled maintenance package, to its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) warranty program. IntelliChoice recently named Volvo as having the best premium certified pre-owned program for 2011, marking the fourth consecutive year the CPO program has been awarded this honor. “We realize people ... Read More »

Resource Automotive DriverPlus Drives Customer Retention

CHICAGO — Resource Automotive, a unit of The Warranty Group Inc., reported that its DriverPlus prepaid maintenance program is experiencing double digit growth, as dealers increasingly focus on fixed operations as the foundation of their customer retention strategy. DriverPlus provides customers with an alternative to paying for recommended maintenance at the time it is performed by ... Read More »

NAC Announces Hire of New Managers

NAC has hired two new employees to join the Westerville, Ohio-based provider and administrator of vehicle service contracts and ancillary products. Paul Leary is the national sales manager/strategic relationship manager. Previously, he was national sales director/business development leader for Warranty Solutions. Leary’s new duties with NAC include working with agents in the western United States and ... Read More »

Ford: Moving Quickly On Investment Grade Goals

Ford Motor Co could reach its target of an investment grade credit rating more quickly than some outside observers might have thought, Executive Chairman Bill Ford said on Tuesday. The automaker, which expects a solid profit in 2010 and also to build on that profit in 2011, this year has sharply cut a heavy debt load ... Read More »

NADA: New-Vehicle Sales Remain Strong, Older Units Drive Used Market

McCLEAN — A strong November has kept U.S. new-vehicle sales on pace to finish at 12 million units for 2010, and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) says that figure could grow by another million units next year. On the used side, vehicles from model year 2005 and older are making gains in a still-competitive wholesale ... Read More »

Sales Continue to Strengthen in December, Reports CNW

Strong November sales and an increase in consumer demand has the industry poised for another healthy sales month in December, CNW Research’s Art Spinella predicted in his monthly “State of the Industry” report. Retail sales as a share of total sales increased 64.2 percent in November, according to CNW. Total new- and used-vehicle sales increased 4.8 ... Read More »

House May Vote on Pared Auto Safety Bill

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House may consider a slimmed-down auto safety bill this week, despite concerns raised by automakers. A comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s auto safety system, introduced in the wake of Toyota Motor Corp.’s sudden acceleration woes, has been stalled for months in Congress, reported The Detroit News. A pared-back auto safety bill sponsored by ... Read More »

Chrysler Recalls 76,000 Dodge Ram Pickups Over Braking Issue

WASHINGTON— Chrysler Group LLC said today it is recalling more than 75,000 diesel Dodge Ram pickup trucks over potentially defective braking systems. Chrysler said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it will recall 76,122 2010-11 Dodge Ram diesel trucks that have a hydroboost brake system with a faulty power steering ... Read More »

GM Offers $60,000 Buyouts To 2,000 Skilled Workers At 14 Plants

General Motors Co., the largest U.S. automaker, said it will offer early-retirement packages worth $60,000 each to about 2,000 skilled-trades workers at 14 U.S. plants, reported Bloomberg. GM announced the offer today and aims to eliminate the positions by March, said Tom Wilkinson, a company spokesman. Eight of the 14 plants are scheduled to close and two ... Read More »

14 Million In 2011? It Could Happen

Figure on a slow and steady recovery in U.S. auto sales next year — a rise of about 10 percent, according to the consensus of analysts surveyed by Automotive News. But one outlier predicts a much bigger jump in 2011 and offers some compelling data to back it up. The consensus is for 2011 volume of 12.7 ... Read More »

Toyota Returns To Top In Kelley Consideration Study

Toyota is once again the most considered auto brand among new-car shoppers, according to a new Kelley Blue Book study. The third-quarter Market Intelligence Brand Watch study indicates that 25 percent of new-vehicle shoppers who visited kbb.com showed interest in Toyota. The Ford and Honda brands followed close behind with 24 percent and 23 percent interest, respectively. Between ... Read More »