ATLANTA, GA., November 25, 2019 – With the holidays quickly approaching, shopping is at the top of people’s to-do lists as they consider buying gifts or the latest gadgets during big seasonal sales. The end of the year also is a stellar time to score a deal when buying a car, with automakers offering lucrative holiday incentives, dealers trying to clear out their lots, and model-year changeovers of vehicle inventory. Accordingly, the experts at Autotrader recently rounded up some helpful tips for people hoping to buy or lease a new, used or certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle before the new year. 

“While most people don’t wake up to a brand-new bow-topped car in their driveway, that doesn’t mean a new car can’t be at the top of your wish list before the end of the year -- with a little research and insight, this is one of the best times for car shopping,” said Tara Trompeter, managing editor for Autotrader. “If you’ve been thinking about getting a new ride, now is a great time to buy or lease. Automakers and dealers alike are highly motivated to boost their year-end sales totals and make room for the new model-year vehicles coming to market, which means deals abound for consumers.”

Autotrader’s Year-End Car-Shopping Insights

When buying a new car:

- Dealers want to get rid of their 2019 model-year inventory before the new year, so be sure to check out the new outgoing 2019 models still available on dealer lots before 2020 hits. This is where you’re likely to find the best new-car deals, especially if the 2020 model of that vehicle has been redesigned.

- Take advantage of slow foot traffic in dealerships during December. Most people are spending time buying gifts and participating in holiday activities, and it is a notoriously slow time for car dealers who are hungry to make their monthly (and year-end) quotas. 

- Check your local dealers’ ads to see specific deals and incentives being offered, and check out top deals lists curated online by the experts at Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book to help guide your consideration set and how much you should pay.

When buying a used car:

- Since most used-car buyers are shopping for an everyday driver, it’s important to understand what you need and do your research accordingly. Read reviews, look into current average transaction prices, and really think about the function of your next vehicle. At the same time, be flexible and have more than one pick – the deals are out there, and you need to be ready to pounce.

- Be prepared - know your credit worthiness, understand your credit score, how much you can borrow and the interest rate for which you qualify. It is always a good idea to get pre-qualified before entering into negotiations. Line up a mechanic ahead of time to check out any used vehicle you’re seriously considering, and maximize the test drive.

- Don’t forget about certified pre-owned – these low-mileage, factory-certified vehicles provide additional warranties and often other perks, such as special financing.  Buying CPO can offer more peace of mind than buying from a private seller.

When buying a certified pre-owned car:

- Remember that luxury cars depreciate faster than models from volume brands, so that means buying a CPO luxury car is an especially good value over buying new.

- Look for incentives – some automakers offer incentives on their CPO inventory like cash back, special financing deals, and even some lease deals on their used certified models.

- While no CPO cars are actually that old, in general the older the car, the better the deal. Enjoy letting someone else take the majority of the depreciation off your hands by considering an older CPO vehicle for the best prices.

When leasing a car:

- Channel your good scout before going into the dealership. Know which specific model you want, which dealerships have that vehicle in stock, and what your trade-in is worth. And even if you plan to lease through the manufacturer’s financing arm, it’s smart to secure financing ahead of time through a bank or credit union to know where you stand financially.

- Understanding model year versus calendar year is important when leasing. If you have your eye on a 2020 model-year vehicle, leasing at the end of 2019 versus early in 2020 could have an impact on your monthly lease payments. Model year trumps calendar year when it comes to vehicle depreciation. 

- Think used – take advantage of the historic number of vehicles coming off-lease in 2019 by leasing a used/CPO model to reduce your monthly payments even more. You could save hundreds, if not thousands, over the leasing period by leasing used instead of new.

To learn more about bargains for car shoppers including shopping for a used car end-of-year checklist, how to find a CPO deal in December and leasing a car at the end of the year visit: https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/shopping-used-car-heres-end-year-checklist-281474979970711, https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/how-find-cpo-deal-december-281474979969211, https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/leasing-car-end-year-281474979970137.

For more information and news from Autotrader, visit press.autotrader.com, follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Autotrader_com (or @Autotrader_com), Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/autotrader_com/ (or @autotrader_com), like our page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/autotrader/, and add us on Snapchat (@Autotrader_com).

About Autotrader
Autotrader is the most recognized third-party car listings brand, with the most engaged audience of in-market car shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered car shopper looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or Certified Pre-Owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing and retailing solutions allow consumers to build their deal online, and guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience. Autotrader is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com. 

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. coxautoinc.com

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Increased Real-time Access to Key Client Information Streamlines the Car Buying Process 

MISSION, KANSAS, November 7, 2019 — VinSolutions and INFINITI announce  the integration between INFINITI’s ICAR-X Sales app and VinSolutions Connect CRM, combining the two databases to give retailers unabridged access to key customer information from one centralized source. Through this integration INFINITI retailers now have the enhanced ability to offer a seamless online to in-store experience that clients prefer, giving INFINITI retailers a competitive edge and signaling an important milestone for the CRM as a platform pioneering the digital showroom experience. 

“INFINITI retailers know utilizing comprehensive data takes the guesswork out of creating a successful client experience, but want a convenient single-source collection process that complements the efficiency they’re trying to achieve with their clients,” said Lori Wittman, general manager of VinSolutions and senior vice president of Dealer Software Solutions at Cox Automotive. “With this communication between databases, ICAR-X is greater than the sum of its parts, and delivers on its promise to improve the showroom sales and data delivery processes to enhance INFINTI client interactions.”

Until now, INFINITI retailers seeking to leverage data to improve their sales strategy had to use the two independent databases, VinSolutions Connect CRM and INFINITI ICAR-X Sales, to collect key client information. This double process made for a less than optimal user and client experience.

With the enhanced INFINITI ICAR-X Sales patented app-based platform, retailer staff have access to both VinSolutions Connect CRM and INFINITI databases from a single portal. Sales consultants can search and enter data once in both systems without the need for double entry. ICAR-X Sales also helps retailers solve problems with information accessible at their fingertips, assist with a more professional consultation, and ultimately drive a better experience while making the vehicle buying process more efficient.

“Clients are becoming more inclined to prefer a retail experience that marries the convenience of digital with the tangible showroom experience, whether starting the process online or in a showroom” said Matt Wilson, Director INFINITI Global Client Experience. “ICAR-X Sales has already given staff at several INFINITI retailers using VinSolutions Connect CRM the ability to access the most up-to-date client data from a single source, paving the way to the coveted digital showroom experience that has proven to increase client satisfaction.” 

The ICAR-X Sales app is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play and the Microsoft App store for tablet and smartphone use.

About VinSolutions

As the provider of Connect CRM, a leading dealership customer relationship management system, VinSolutions helps more than 5,000 dealers make every connection count. VinSolutions products integrate dealership systems, processes and tools to deliver a single view of the customer across the business – so dealers can focus on building relationships throughout the sales cycle. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mission, Kansas, VinSolutions fosters dealership success by providing a fully customizable suite of solutions, including equity mining, market pricing and desking tools, combined with the continuous, personal support of a designated Performance Manager. VinSolutions is OEM certified by every major manufacturer and is Autosoft, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds and Dealertrack DMS certified. VinSolutions is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

About INFINITI

INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of luxury automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico and China.  INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing. The brand has been widely acclaimed for its industry-leading client services, having received the top overall ranking in the 2018 JD Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Index and AMCI's Most Trusted Brand in the luxury segment, as well as its world's first driver assistance technologies and daring designs. From the 2016 season, INFINITI is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.

Find more information about INFINITI, its industry leading technologies and the all-new 2019 QX50 midsize luxury crossover at www.INFINITIUSA.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

- Maybee joined Cox Automotive in 2017 as general manager of Manheim Northstar Minnesota.

- Maybee, a Nissan North America veteran, brings 10 years of automotive finance experience to his new role at NextGear Capital.

• - NextGear Capital is the industry’s leading finance provider serving more than 22,000 independent dealer clients.

ATLANTA, Nov. 4, 2019 – Scott Maybee has been named president of NextGear Capital, effective today. Maybee comes to NextGear from Manheim Northstar Minnesota, where he was general manager and responsible for all facets of the Minneapolis-based operation. Prior to joining Manheim, Maybee spent 10 years with Nissan North America and Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation, rising to vice president of sales operations for Nissan Canada Finance. This move supports the Cox Automotive goal of promoting high-performing talent across its brands.

In his new role, Maybee will report to Mark Bowser, executive vice president and CFO, Cox Automotive. Bowser noted, “At Manheim, Scott successfully established a culture of transparency and rigorous process management while positively impacting employee morale and driving aggressive organic business growth. He and his team ultimately raised sales revenue, customer retention and operating margins.”

Dave Horan, who has served as acting president of NextGear Capital since July, will continue in his role as vice president of finance for the Carmel, Indiana-based company.

Maybee joins NextGear Capital at a time when the company is focused on providing new opportunities for independent auto dealers to profitably operate and grow their businesses. In addition to maintaining a healthy, opportunity-filled workplace for the 800-plus NextGearCapital employees, Maybee and the leadership team will continue to pursue ways to streamline and improve the client experience. As the entire industry evolves, optimizing the digital experience to drive efficiencies in every aspect of the client relationship continues to be a priority for NextGear Capital.    “Scott has the extraordinary ability to provide strategic leadership and drive value for clients,” Bowser added. “When our clients’ businesses are healthy, our business is healthy.”

A law-school graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Maybee holds an MBA in Finance from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated summa cum laude. When not at work, Maybee focuses his time on his wife and two daughters, plays recreational hockey, and is a rabid Boston Red Sox fan.

About NextGear Capital 

NextGear Capital is the largest independent inventory finance company in North America, providing flexible lines of credit for auto dealers to buy used vehicles from over 1,000 auto and other vehicle sources throughout North America. With a client base of more than 22,000 dealers,NextGear Capital provides comprehensive services and support enabling dealers to buy and sell more inventory through self-service management tools, title services, records management and collateral protection.

Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, NextGear Capital is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.nextgearcapital.com.

About Cox Automotive 

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five countries and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

Dealer.com’s Digital Marketing Innovations Help Hyundai Dealers Attract, Engage, and Convert Online Shoppers.

Burlington, Vt., October 18, 2019 – Dealer.com, a Cox Automotive brand, today announced it has been selected in Hyundai’s Dealer Website Certification Program as a website and digital advertising provider, continuing a long-standing partnership rooted in driving the success of Hyundai dealers. Through the certification program, Dealer.com will remain an endorsed website provider for more than 600 Hyundai dealers in North America. The partnership extension follows Dealer.com’s recent redesign of its digital storefront, which empowers dealers to create a faster path to customer engagement by delivering more personalized experiences for consumers.

“Dealer.com looks forward to continuing our successful relationship with Hyundai and supplying their dealers with premiere automotive industry technologies and services,” said Wayne Pastore, vice president and general manager of Dealer.com. “Our digital solutions offer groundbreaking mobile and desktop flexibility, comprehensive inventory merchandising, personalized shopper experiences, and unmatched connectivity with Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and other Cox Automotive solutions.”

Dealer.com’s award-winning platform provides:

- Data-driven website design and a superior user experience, fueled by industry-leading, automotive-centric back end dealer configuration tools.

- Performance analytics that measure quality scoring, benchmarking and sales to ensure dealers understand what is driving the most results for their business.

- Automated creation of personalized website content and offers powered by Cox Automotive consumer data, such as relevant inventory recommendations and dynamic content targeting, resulting in a 2-2.5 times higher click-through rate and 12 percent lift on inventory leads[1].

- Market-leading digital retailing experience, which produces engaging experiences that keep shoppers on site longer and is three times more likely to result in lead form submission[2]. Leads created from digital retailing experiences close more often and at a higher profit than average internet leads[3].

In recent months, Dealer.com’s new digital solutions have been recognized throughout the automotive industry, earning Dealer.com several awards, including two consecutive Automotive Website Awards, the Highest Rated SEO Provider, and Driving Sales Dealers’ Choice Award for Top Rated Website Provider.

Dealers who would like to learn more can visit https://www.dealer.com/products/websites.

About Dealer.com
Dealer.com is the premier digital marketing solution for the automotive industry. Providing an integrated platform of Websites, Advertising, Digital Retailing and Managed Services, Dealer.com allows OEMs, dealer groups, retailers and agencies to leverage advanced digital technology, data and insights to deliver the shortest, fastest and most personalized path to customer engagement. The company practices a deep commitment to its culture of progress, with a focus on community, health, and wellness. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Dealer.com is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.dealer.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

Introduces More Connected Workflow with Launch of Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI®

Addition to Dealertrack uniFI brings truly paperless process to industry’s most holistic deal workflow solution

NORTH HILLS, N.Y., October 14, 2019 – Dealertrack announced today the launch of Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI®, putting the final piece in place to complete the industry’s first single platform that connects the entire deal workflow process from leads to contracts for the company’s network of approximately 22,000 dealers and more than 1,600 lenders.

“Dealertrack uniFI combines as many as 51 different pieces of paperwork from the car deal process into a single online deal jacket, simplifying the car-buying journey for customers and adding efficiency to submission to lenders,” said Firas Makhlouf, chief information officer of Driver’s Village. “By integrating Digital Contracting into this powerful platform, we can now complete the full end-to-end car-buying process without the need to jump between multiple screens and technologies to get a single deal done.” 

According to recent data from Dealertrack, one out of every four paper deals results in delayed funding due to missing or incorrect information.1 With Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, dealers can reduce data re-entry and ensure documentation is complete and error-free before it is submitted, helping eliminate re-contracting and speeding up funding from an average five days to as fast as the same day. 1

In the past, many dealers and lenders have wavered from adopting digital contracting due to misconceptions such as heightened costs, workflow disruption and a perceived lack of critical mass utilization by all parties. However, the reality today is that digital contracting is connecting more dealers and lenders than ever before, making contracting easier and more efficient while also saving time and money by cutting out printing and shipping.

“Dealers and lenders alike recognize the exponential benefits of electronically managing contracts in transit to improve dealer-lender communication, increase operational efficiency and create a better consumer car shopping experience,” said Cheryl Miller, senior vice president and general manager of Dealertrack F&I and Titling Solutions. “Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI is challenging the status quo by giving dealers and lenders the ability to reduce handling errors and secure more deals and loan originations while better meeting the needs of today’s consumer.” 

The Digital Contracting functionality on Dealertrack uniFI adds a host of new enhancements to the platform, including:

- One Deal Jacket: An end-to-end workflow from leads to contracts with all funding documents in a single location, including Aftermarket contracts.

- Real Time Error Display: Data entry validation rules run in real-time, showing in-line errors and alerts to the dealer for quick rectification and greater accuracy prior to contract submission.

- Live Funding Checklist: A dynamically growing, digital list of up-to-date lender-required documents as a particular deal is being finalized — and the status of each of those documents.

- Point of Sale Ancillary Documents Capture: Dealers can now snap and upload high quality stips and trailing document images with their tablets any time, up to the point of funding.

- Multiple Device Support: Engage customers on any device, anywhere in the showroom for a paperless digital review of contracts and an easier signing process — no paper required.

- Local Paper Out: If a digital contract ever needs to be converted to paper, it can now be done independently and on-demand by the dealer, with no fees attached.  

“From creating a lead and penciling a deal to submitting for approvals and digital contracting, Dealertrack uniFI provides an all-in-one service designed with the end-user in mind,” said Will Pollard, finance manager of Tim Short Chevrolet in Kentucky. “With Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, we are now seeing funding within minutes of submission, reducing customer wait times and freeing up cash for us to invest in new stock to drive more sales.”

Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI is available in all 50 states.

For more information about Digital Contracting on Dealertrack uniFI, visit Go.dealertrack.com/goDigital.

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[1] Dealertrack User Data, August 2018 – August 2019.

About Dealertrack

Dealertrack provides industry-leading software solutions that give dealerships, lenders, and partners the confidence to thrive in an ever-changing automotive market. The company’s integrated suite of powerful easy-to-use products and services helps dealerships and their lending partners grow by increasing efficiency and improving decision-making. Dealertrack is part of the Cox Automotive family, a company that is transforming the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars. Dealertrack—along with its unmatched network of dealership and lending partners—is improving the car buying experience by embracing the technologies that will shape the future of automotive retail. For more information about Dealertrack, visit www.dealertrack.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

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- New study from Cox Automotive shows 67% of consumers believe personalization technology will improve the car-buying process. 

- According to 72% of dealers, automation and AI technology will help empower employees and improve consumer satisfaction without reducing staff. 

• - Consumers expect auto dealers to know something about them before they walk onto the showroom floor, according to 76% of consumers. 

ATLANTA, Sept. 25, 2019 – Auto dealers and consumers agree that personalization enabled by automation and artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to greatly improve the car-buying process and the overall ownership experience. Artificial intelligence – advanced data techniques that allow computer systems to make predictions, make decisions and work more like the human brain – is currently transforming many industries, including automotive retail. According to a new study by Cox Automotive released today, 67% of car buyers believe personalization technology will improve the car-buying experience. Nearly as many, 63%, believe personalization technology will improve car ownership.  

“Automotive retail is going through a period of transformation right now,” says Marianne Johnson, chief product officer at Cox Automotive. “AI is not just a buzzword. It’s already impacting the way consumers gather information about cars, learn about which car to purchase, and decide when to interact with a dealer. Artificial intelligence is also helping dealers become more efficient and transparent and deliver a better consumer experience.” 

It is well known in the automobile industry that the car-buying process needs to be improved. According to the most recent Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey Study,, 61% of buyers believe the process did not change or became worse since their last purchase. Research also shows that buyers are visiting fewer dealerships, so it is more important than ever for dealers to make every contact count. Insights gathered in the Cox Automotive Technology and Transformation of Retail Study show that one path to improvement is the smart adoption of AI technology.  

Know Thy Customer 

Advanced data techniques enable the harvesting and management of vast amounts of personal data, and some consumers are leery of privacy issues related to personal data. At the same time, 68% of consumers surveyed in the Technology and Transformation of Retail Study indicated that they don’t mind dealers using personalization technology if it improves the overall vehicle-buying experience. In fact, 76% of consumers expect their dealer to know something about them before they walk onto the showroom floor.   

The study indicates that technology used smartly delivers a more personalized, customer-based approach to selling that helps U.S. auto dealers build better, long-term relationships with their customers. Shifting from a seller of products to a trusted advisor is ultimately what most consumers are seeking from the dealership staff.  62% of respondents want a more trusting relationship, where their dealer is more of an advisor, mentor, partner or friend—not just a retailer. Technology adoption can help make that happen. 

The Dealer’s Conundrum 

In the Cox Automotive Technology and Transformation of Retail Study, 63% of dealers agree that adoption of automation and/or AI is necessary to adapt to changing dealership pressures. And while there is widescale awareness of AI and automation, only about half of dealers know “a lot” about these technologies, making adoption more challenging.  

Many obstacles are slowing the adoption of automation and AI technology at U.S. dealerships, the study shows, with “not worth the cost,” “staff resistant to change” and wouldn’t fit in current process” cited as top challenges.   

Importantly, the survey indicates that 72% of dealers see AI technology as a tool to help improve efficiencies and provide time for staff to focus on other areas of the dealership. Conversely, only 28% of dealers believe adoption of AI will lead to staff reductions. Slightly more than half of dealers surveyed indicated that adopting automated processes can help them deliver a better customer experience and improve retention and loyalty.   

As the process of car buying and owning transforms, the biggest priority will be personalization—the ability for dealers to deliver an experience that feels unique for each consumer. Approximately three-out-of-four consumers (74%) feel that a personalized experience at the dealership is important. This is particularly true with younger cohorts, where 87% of people ages 18-24 and 81% of people ages 25-34 say a personalized dealership experience is important.  

Personalization also means understanding that most consumers feel strongly that human interaction is a necessary and irreplaceable part of the vehicle buying and owning experience. For example, 62% of respondents want to review and sign the final documents and contracts in person, with a dealership representative. In other words, a 100% online buying experience is still not the preference of the majority.  

Staying in touch after the purchase is important as well, the new study shows. More than 8 in 10 consumers want to hear from their dealership in some capacity after a vehicle purchase, a process that can be automated with AI technology. A majority of vehicle owners believe automated and/or AI technology should be used to help improve the service process. Nearly 9 in 10 vehicle owners expect a dealer’s service department to know something about them when they reach out for service. Typical new-car owners want to be contacted via email every three to six months with information about special service promotions and advice on the best time to trade in a vehicle. Alerts on open recalls are also welcome.  

“Customer interaction must be carefully managed,” cautioned Lori Wittman, senior vice president of Cox Automotive Dealer Software Solutions and general manager of VinSolutions, an industry-leading CRM provider. “This new study clearly underscores what we see with CRM usage every day: New-car owners do not want to be spammed or stalked by their dealership. Having the right data at the right time to be relevant instantly is paramount to successful personalization.”  

Cox Automotive Technology and Transformation of Retail Study 

The Technology and Transformation of Retail Study was undertaken to discover the latest trends in automation and artificial intelligence technology and help guide the industry through the ever-changing dealership landscape. The study was led by Cox Automotive’s VinSolutions team and conducted from April 30 to May 23, 2019. The results were compiled from a survey of 532 franchised dealerships and 2,032 recent automotive consumers.  

Download the entire study for additional study findings or download the white paper. 

About Cox Automotive 

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com 

Dealertrack’s Accelerated Title solution gives Virginia dealers faster vehicle payoff and title release on top of existing expedited registration and title processing

Groton, CT - September 12, 2019 – The Virginia Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) has expanded its preferred endorsement of Dealertrack Registration and Title Solutions to include Accelerated Title in a continued effort to improve efficiency and bring a more modern, streamlined and electronic registration and title process to Virginia dealers.

As dealers continue to battle with margin compression, they look to their technology partners to provide new ways to maximize efficiency and cut costs. On average, dealers pay a holding cost of $32 per day, per vehicle that sits idle on their lot.¹ In addition, long-standing proprietary research found that vehicles with titles at auction are nearly two times more likely to sell on the first pass through an auction lane than those without titles.² 

With Accelerated Title, dealers who take in trade-in vehicles are able to obtain instant payoff quotes, see title images, pay off loans with the click of a button and receive the title in as quickly as four to six days. This unique technology removes the need for dealers to hand write and mail checks overnight, and then wait for the delivery of the title, which according to industry standards could take 12 to 18 days or more.³ Dealertrack’s unique lender and dealer solution substantially speeds up the standard payoff and title release process by up to 70 percent.³

“As competitive and economic pressures rise, dealers are looking for new ways to add value and efficiency to protect their bottom line and exceed rising customer expectations,” said Kaitlin Gavin, vice president and general manager of Dealertrack Registration and Title Solutions. “Through modern yet easy-to-use technology, Dealertrack’s one-of-a-kind tools will help Virginia dealers meet these needs and facilitate a transparent and expedited title process for vehicles taken in on trade as well as those sold in and outside of state borders.”

“Expanding our preferred endorsement to Dealertrack’s Accelerated Title closely aligns with our mission to create an opportunity-rich environment for Virginia dealers to grow their businesses while providing optimal experiences for consumers,” said Don Hall, president and CEO of VADA. “We are pleased to share this news with our members, as this endorsement solidifies our commitment to providing industry-leading solutions that ease all aspects of the car buying and selling process.”

¹ Manheim Online Dealer Community survey 2016.

² Source: 2014 (2X) & 2018 (1.6X) Manheim Auction "Impact of Delayed Titles at Auction".

³ Based on average industry timeframe for vehicle title release and vehicle payoff process of 18+ days, as determined by Dealertrack data.

About Dealertrack

Dealertrack provides industry-leading software solutions that give dealerships and lenders the confidence to thrive in an ever-changing automotive market. The company’s integrated suite of powerful but easy-to-use products helps dealerships and their lending partners grow by increasing efficiency and improving decision-making. Dealertrack is part of the Cox Automotive family, a company that is transforming the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars. Dealertrack—along with its unmatched network of dealership and lending partners—is improving the car buying experience by embracing the technologies that will shape the future of automotive retail. For more information about Dealertrack, visit www.dealertrack.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

Atlanta, GA. - September 10, 2019 – With new-vehicle sales declining, it’s more important than ever that dealers seize the opportunity to close every deal. To do so means providing a flexible, customer-friendly car buying experience, which in today’s automotive market, requires dealers to source up-to-the-minute information across industry channels. Recognizing this challenge and in an effort to give dealers and OEMs the best data possible, Cox Automotive Rates & Incentives (CAR&I) is announcing the introduction of three new enhancements that will generate a more consistently accurate industry indicator of retail buying motivation available on a monthly basis.

First launched as its own brand in 2016, CAR&I is the powerful combination of two of Cox Automotive’s well-known operations: Dealertrack Rates & Residuals, a data provider for lease and residual value calculation, and AIS Rebates, a reader-friendly guide to incentivized manufacturer offers. Both brands demonstrated decades of success before joining forces to power CAI applications and external client needs. Today, CAR&I is the industry’s only source for reliably precise data, currently feeding more than 86,000 dealer applications per month.

The breadth and depth of CAR&I’s incentive database, containing more than 10 million individual data points collected across all industry verticals, is unparalleled. Moreover, the speed of publishing, continued advancements and reduced time to market are all best in class within the industry. Now, the addition of three new enhancements will enable CAR&I to outperform its own high standards, much to the benefit of dealers, customers and OEMs. 

1. - Automation of Data Input: facilitates added speed and accuracy of information release by allowing dealers and software integrators to publish and update new incentives quicker for more precise and up to date offers and discounts
2. - Dynamic Transaction Templates: reformatting data allows for real-time deal scenario-building, enabling the consumer to transact 100% online with incentives that are specific to their household, vehicle and location with full compliance
3. - Advertised Specials: full set of OEM compliant tier I and II advertising offers used in digital advertising and competitive research making it easy to implement single integration for all OEM’s including factory and dealer disclaimers

Thanks to these enhancements, CAR&I has new capabilities to systematize data faster and with improved accuracy. With the advent of digital retailing, speed and accuracy of information are non-negotiable for customers,” says Brad Korner, CAR&I general manager. “In a climate where the impact of a missed sale is so great, every deal is critical and having the information you need to close every deal at your fingertips is essential.”

New Incentives Insights Offered by the Cox Automotive Rates & Incentives Team
Using insights gleaned from its unmatched data set, the CAR&I team has begun providing insights to help dealers make smarter, more informed rates and incentive decisions. Whether it’s closing a key deal in the showroom or devising franchise-wide inventory strategy for next quarter, the CAR&I team is helping provide the insights necessary to succeed. Visit Cox Automotive’s website to see the latest from the CAR&I team at www.coxautoinc.com/rates-incentives/. The team’s insights, the volume of OEM programs, guaranteed vs. conditional offers, best payment criteria and improved capabilities help provide a much-needed advantage during a slow sales cycle when, more than ever, each and every sale counts. 

About Cox Automotive 
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

MISSION, Kan., Sept. 3, 2019 -- VinSolutions will host its annual VinWorx user summit from Oct. 7 through Oct. 9, where automotive industry insiders will convene and discuss how to discover superpowered success with new CRM skills and industry insights. The complimentary event will take place at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, and event registration is now open.

Attendees are invited to participate in hands-on training while connecting with other dealers and exchanging key best practices at the VinSolutions Connect CRM user summit. Over two days of interactive breakout sessions, VinSolutions Performance Managers and other industry experts will share their expertise on how to unleash the superpowers of Connect CRM and make the most of the tools it offers, from process management and desking to reporting and more. Attendees will also hear from industry-leading keynote speakers on automotive and marketing trends driving dealership success.

"As data becomes an increasingly dominant driver of dealership success, it is important we take the time to connect with our customers and provide the tools and insights they need to succeed in today's evolving market," said Lori Wittman, Senior Vice President of Dealer Software Solutions at Cox Automotive and General Manager at VinSolutions. "It is our goal to create an interactive learning experience that benefits every VinWorx attendee. We want dealers to leave with a refreshed understanding of how to harness the superpowers of Connect CRM and the confidence to take control of their data."

Keynote speakers from Cox Automotive will include Chief Economist, Jonathan Smoke, Chief Product Officer Marianne Johnson, Senior Vice President of Product & Engineering James Maynard and VinSolutions Senior Director of Performance Management Mark Vickery. Tech entrepreneur, author, and keynote speaker on a mission to drive creativity, innovation and reinvention, Josh Linkner will also make an address.

"As a regular user of VinSolutions products, I can speak to the many advantages Connect CRM has afforded my team through the sales process," said Rick Clift, General Manager at Serra Honda Grandville. "Attending VinWorx, networking with other dealers and industry experts, and taking part in hands-on training gives my staff and I the leg up we need to maintain our success as the highest volume Honda dealer in Michigan."

For more information and to register for VinWorx, visit the event's website.

About VinSolutions

As the provider of Connect CRM, a leading dealership customer relationship management system, VinSolutions helps more than 5,000 dealers make every connection count. VinSolutions products integrate dealership systems, processes and tools to deliver a single view of the customer across the business – so dealers can focus on building relationships throughout the sales cycle. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mission, Kansas, VinSolutions fosters dealership success by providing a fully customizable suite of solutions, including equity mining, market pricing and desking tools, combined with the continuous, personal support of a designated Performance Manager. VinSolutions is OEM certified by every major manufacturer and is Autosoft, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds and Dealertrack DMS certified. VinSolutions is a Cox Automotive™ brand. Learn more at vinsolutions.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. coxautoinc.com

F&I Express to Power Dynamic F&I Experience Within DealerSocket’s Digital Retail Offering

DALLAS-- At their User Summit this week, DealerSocket Inc., a leading software provider to the automotive industry, is launching a new integration between the company’s Precise Price digital retailing solution and F&I Express’ network of approximately 160 F&I product providers. This new impactful combination will enable an even more accurate and intuitive digital retailing process for dealers and customers alike.

Precise Price, initially developed to address the strong interest among consumers to transact online from any mobile device, marked DealerSocket’s entrance into the burgeoning digital retail category. It was the first digital retailing platform to come equipped with integrated desking software, allowing for the delivery of dynamic price quotes with rebates, incentives, and all applicable taxes and fees factored into deal calculations.

“DealerSocket’s Precise Price integration with F&I Express’ Digital Media solution helps dealers and their customers have a better experience during the digital retail process,” said Brad Perry, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of DealerSocket. “Utilizing the integration within Precise Price leads to happy customers that convert and buy more backend protection packages. Our initial pilot found that dealers who used the integration saw a nearly 20% increase in backend gross.”

Now, through Precise Price’s integration with F&I Express’ Digital Media solution, the platform is able to display VIN-specific, state-specific, and dealer-specific F&I product rates and dynamic content. This powerful connection also allows digital retailers, dealer websites, menu systems and other platforms to dynamically access F&I product ratings and content.

“Trends reveal that car buyers are becoming more partial to an online retail experience. In fact, research shows 71 percent of consumers prefer to get online information about their entire deal, including aftermarket add-ons,” said Gary Peek, Vice President and General Manager, F&I Express. “By giving customers more transparency and authority over the course of their deal, Express Digital Media can help dealerships reach consumers earlier in their car buying journey. This can improve customer satisfaction and for revenue through more F&I sales.”

About DealerSocket

DealerSocket is a leading provider of software for the automotive industry, offering a suite of seamlessly integrated products to help dealers sell and service vehicles more profitably, while improving their customers’ experience. DealerSocket’s suite of products offers dealers of all sizes advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM), innovative Digital Retail, Marketing and Websites, robust Vehicle Inventory Management, insightful Analytics Reporting, and solutions to streamline dealer operations such as Desking, Credit Reporting, Compliance, and an independent-geared Dealer Management System (DMS). DealerSocket’s software has helped its customers sell more than 100 million vehicles throughout its 18-year history. For more information, visit DealerSocket.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

About F&I Express

F&I Express is dedicated to leading the aftermarket industry into the digital age with innovative technology solutions. With solutions that cut costs, educate consumers, improve compliance and increase efficiency for dealers, agents, providers, lenders, digital retailers and menus, F&I Express offers various technology solutions based on the needs of the customers in accessing F&I providers. Express Recoveries is an optimized eCancellation solution connecting lenders, providers and dealerships to streamline the cancellation and recoveries process in an efficient and compliant manner. Express Digital Media gives digital retailers the power to educate car shoppers online with accurate and dynamic aftermarket rates and content. For more information about our innovative solutions, please visit fandiexpress.com or follow us on Twitter @fandiexpress.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com