- 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

ATLANTA, Ga., October 23, 2019 – Autotrader is tipping off its 16th season of partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA), featuring several opportunities to be front and center all season long as the Official Car Search Engine of the NBA.

The brand is the exclusive partner of the NBA on TNT Tip-Off Show presented by Autotrader, with at least 34 pre-game shows scheduled to air throughout this season featuring analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson.  Autotrader also will see in-game exposure through the regular season and playoff game broadcasts on TNT and NBA TV, as well as online via NBA.com, reaching millions of fans each week.

“Integrating Autotrader with the NBA has proven to be a very successful marketing strategy for our brand, and we’ve made a great team for more than 15 years now,” said Greta Crowley, vice president of marketing for Autotrader. “Our audiences overlap nicely, and the partnership really is seamless. As one of the most recognized automotive marketplaces, Autotrader is excited to reach millions of NBA fans again this season to help them along the journey of finding the right car.”

In addition to having a pre-game, in-game and digital streaming presence, for the 14th year Autotrader will support the donation of a vehicle to a deserving recipient via the All-Star Drive Charity Giveaway during NBA All-Star.

Autotrader’s 16th season as an NBA partner premiered on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, with a special two-and-a-half-hour Tip-Off Show presented by Autotrader, followed by a doubleheader. Regular season NBA games will be broadcast on TNT on Tuesday and Thursday nights through April 2020, with playoff games from April through June of 2020.

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

# # #

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

Consumers save time by making online and in-lane payments directly through Xtime

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 17, 2019 -- Dealers using Xtime can now leverage the payment processing capabilities of CenPOS, which is now part of Elavon, to customers creating an enhanced vehicle ownership experience through quicker online and in-lane payment options.

The CenPOS payment solution integrates into Xtime's Spectrum Platform, which makes it easier to capture and report customer payments efficiently either in the service lane from a tablet device or any service department workstation. All U.S. and Canada-based franchise dealership customers can immediately use the CenPOS payment functionality, creating more convenient, reliable payment options without requiring a significant investment or process change.

"Giving our service advisors the ability to own the experience from start to finish on one platform is pivotal in the way we intend to do business in the future," said Chance Wiseman, fixed operations trainer at Del Grande Dealer Group in San Jose, Calif. "This one key change in technology will drastically streamline the active redelivery process. Another opportunity Xtime is providing us to exceed our customers' expectations."

CenPOS provides dealership customers with more control over their experience. With the choice to make payments remotely thorough their computer and smartphone, or onsite at the dealership with the new and improved Xtime Engage Tablet Reception application, customers can pay as they choose.

"Dealers should look at the service experience they are offering their customers in order to drive greater customer loyalty and retention," said Tracy Fred, vice president and general manager of Xtime. "The powerful combination of CenPOS and Xtime's single platform gives both service management and advisors a more streamlined and easy-to-use solution that meets consumers' demands and saves them time and energy throughout the entire service experience, from write-up to payment."

An efficient check-out process is also critical to keeping consumers happy and coming back. Consumers who are most satisfied spend 2.5 hours or less at the dealership for service.1 As a result of this new integration, dealers interested in using Xtime's Engage payment solution will soon have their choice of multiple merchant processing providers.

"With extensive expertise in providing payments for the auto industry, together with Xtime, we can offer rich, secure solutions that are specific to the needs of this industry," said Joey Orozco, director of business development, CenPOS. "By streamlining service check-out, dealerships can increase customer satisfaction and save their customers valuable time."

For more information, click here.

1 2019 Cox Automotive Service Industry Study

About CenPOS:
CenPOS is a merchant-centric, end-to-end payments engine that drives enterprise-class solutions for businesses, saving them time and money, while improving their customer engagement. CenPOS' secure, cloud-based solution optimizes acceptance for all payment types across multiple channels without disrupting the merchant's banking relationships. 

About Xtime
Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust.

Xtime books 52 million service appointments and processes 120 million repair orders annually. Twenty-nine global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $13 billion in service revenue annually for more than 7,500 dealerships.

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

Burlington, Vt., October 16, 2019 – Dealer.com, a Cox Automotive brand, recently teamed up with Cartender, a provider of digital marketing technology, to announce a new opportunity for dealers to leverage video advertising to more effectively communicate and engage their car shoppers. With the growing shift away from television toward smartphones and tablets, Dealer.com and Cartender deliver high quality video advertisements to an engaged audience at scale for dealers across these digital platforms.

Video advertising is a consistently undervalued channel, especially given 20% of the population is no longer reachable through television as people continue to obtain information elsewhere and find other forms of entertainment[1]. A major hurdle for dealerships is finding a scalable creative solution, to turn over new video assets every month. With this enhanced technology, Dealer.com seamlessly provides the details that dealerships want to highlight, such as their incentives, vehicle imagery and branding. Cartender will then take that information and transform it into compelling video templates.

“Dealer.com takes pride in finding undervalued modes of advertising channels for our dealers and removing barriers of entry to those channels,” said Mark Bernstein, associate vice president of advertising, Dealer.com. “We’re thrilled for this new venture, as video advertising gives dealers the ability to build brand and inventory awareness by connecting Facebook and YouTube audiences with their dealership in a dynamic and engaging format.”

Dealer.com works with dealers to identify their specific goals, build creative, and automate monthly video updating to alleviate the time burden for dealers managing video assets.

“Video advertising is an effective way to communicate and engage with customers, but getting the content to market in a timely manner has been a major challenge until now,” said Collin Davis, CEO and co-founder of Cartender. “Working with Dealer.com is the perfect combination of video production expertise, technology solutions, and the most comprehensive vehicle dataset in the industry. Dealers can now target automotive shoppers with a video solution that saves them time and resources by getting their brand to market ahead of the competition.”

Nearly half of auto shoppers who used online video for research said that it helped them discover a vehicle they weren’t previously aware of or considering[2]. However, many automotive dealers have been slow to invest in digital video. The typical dealership lacks digital video assets for content, or they have not previously invested in television or video advertising due to its high cost of entry.

Digital video should be considered an essential component for dealers’ digital advertising strategies because 97% of consumers either visit a dealership, search for inventory or conduct further vehicle research after watching in-market video content[3].

Dealer.com continues to provide multiple creative solution options to help deliver the highest quality and scalable creative content to dealers. For dealership seeking custom video content, Dealer.com also offers an Advanced and Premium level video solution that combines store footage, branding, running vehicle footage and monthly offers allowing dealers to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

To learn more about Dealer.com’s video advertising capabilities, visit https://www.dealer.com/products/advertising/video/.

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.

_____________________

[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

###

New functionality provides values for repairs and makes service appointment scheduling easier

IRVINE, Calif., September 30, 2019 – Kelley Blue Book announces its new Auto Repair Guide experience, addressing both consumer and automotive industry needs for a principal source of trustworthy recommendations related to servicing and maintaining a vehicle. The all-new experience on KBB.com guides consumers through three primary service categories: Recalls, Maintenance and Repairs.  KBB.com is also including the ability to allow consumers to schedule service online through the Featured Auto Repair Center, a pilot with its sister company, Xtime.

To point consumers in the right direction, the Auto Repair Guide on KBB.com helps car owners answer their top service and repair questions: What do I need to get done? When should I get it done? Where should I get it done? How much should it cost? With this new experience, Kelley Blue Book serves as a trusted advisor that connects consumers and service departments.

Kelley Blue Book’s all-new Auto Repair Guide includes:

• - Information on recalls, maintenance and repair work

• - A Fair Repair Range estimator—similar to the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor tool—to guide consumers on service and repair price ranges, based on average dealer service pricing

• - The ability to schedule service appointments with local dealerships directly on KBB.com through the Featured Auto Repair Center

Kelley Blue Book, backed by more than 90 years of experience and the most trusted third-party automotive brand,[1]  enables both consumers and dealers to remain on the same page for pricing and now, in the service lanes with its integration with Xtime, the leading integrated software platform for retail automotive service departments.

“Car shoppers have long trusted Kelley Blue Book to provide them with vehicle values, new-car information and more,” said Jim Roche, vice president at Cox Automotive. “With this new auto repair feature on KBB.com, now they can rely on Kelley Blue Book throughout the ownership experience for guidance on service and repair costs, all while experiencing the same trust and transparency they’ve come to expect from the brand.”

Consumers have negative perceptions about getting their vehicle serviced at dealerships, citing unreasonable total cost, overcharging, and labor or parts charges among top reasons for not using their dealership service department[2].  In reality, common maintenance and services provided by dealerships are on par from a pricing standpoint with independent offerings[3]. Kelley Blue Book’s new Auto Repair Guide also makes service appointment scheduling easier for both consumers and dealers. Car owners can see the Fair Repair Range, select a service provider, and book service without leaving the site. Meanwhile, the Featured Auto Repair Center can connect dealers with engaged car owners, increasing consumer trust and confidence by validating their service pricing within the Kelley Blue Book Fair Repair Range.

“The complexities of how to maintain and repair a vehicle, as well as understanding the associated costs, are a major pain point for most consumers,” said Tully Williams, fixed operations director of The Niello Company in Sacramento, California. “Not only has our dealership increased service cost transparency and communication with our customers, but they also have an increased sense of trust from knowing they are being fairly charged for every service visit.”

To learn more about Kelley Blue Book Auto Repair Guide visit https://www.kbb.com/auto-repair, https://www.kbb.com/car-maintenance-service and https://www.kbb.com/ownership/recalls.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

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

Customers Can Leverage Industry-Leading Ownership-Cost Data from KBB.com

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 26, 2019 -- Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost to Own data is now available for syndication via API. Previously only available on KBB.com, now customers can integrate this valuable information within their own website experiences, helping consumers to be more informed about the total ownership cost picture of the new vehicles they are considering for purchase.

Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost to Own data takes into consideration depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees for new vehicles. 

"Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost to Own breaks down typical ownership costs, so consumers can evaluate the out-of-pocket expenses they will incur beyond just the initial purchase price of a new car," said Damon Bennett, senior director of syndication for Kelley Blue Book.  "Given the extensive data insights available across Cox Automotive, we are excited our customers now can leverage another industry-leading product within our syndication portfolio that offers valuable information to help smooth the car-buying process for consumers and dealers alike."

Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own information is developed using Kelley Blue Book® Residual Values to calculate depreciation costs.  Kelley Blue Book calculates total ownership costs for new vehicles by applying a sophisticated valuation methodology along with critical financial data from third-party providers. In addition, each year Kelley Blue Book uses this data to announce its 5-Year Cost to Own Award winners, honoring the new vehicles and brands with the lowest projected ownership costs. 

Available now to OEM, Dealer, Website Publisher and Auto Industry Product Developers, customers interested in syndicating Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own data via API should contact kbb.syndication@coxautoinc.com for more information.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

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

- 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 

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., September 20, 2019 – Xtime clients are invited to attend Xperience, a cutting edge virtual user summit taking place entirely online. Beginning Oct. 23 through Oct. 24, attendees are able to participate in virtual sessions led by industry experts right from the convenience of their own desks. Xperience’s introduction is particularly timely this year as fixed ops continue to be an increasingly important revenue stream to ensure dealership success in a slowing sales cycle. The event demonstrates Xtime’s commitment to clients as a true partner in success and navigation in the shifting auto service industry.

Over two days, interactive training sessions will focus on helping dealer clients discover best practices and master their Xtime technology and processes to grow their service department revenue as well as tackle industry challenges.

Offering a flexible agenda attendees can build a customized itinerary around, the event will highlight:

• - New research coupled with guidance to grow dealerships

• - Opportunities to connect and share with peers across the industry

• - Expert knowledge and pro tips in every session including but not limited to, Win the War for Talent, Schedule 101: Success Starts Here and Inspect: This Way to Profitability

Bringing these insights and information to life will be a robust series of speakers, including executive members of the Xtime and Cox Automotive teams. The summit will kick-off with a welcome from Tracy Noonan Fred vice president and general manager of Xtime, followed by presentations from Darrel Ferguson director of performance management of Xtime, and Isabelle Helms vice president, research and market intelligence of Cox Automotive. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear a panel of dealership veterans discuss their unique perspectives and the successful changes they’ve implemented in their own businesses to adapt to changing consumer behavior. 

“We are extremely excited to introduce this new event to our clients and provide an additional resource for valuable information that they can put into practice at their own dealerships,” said Tracy Noonan Fred, vice president and general manager of Xtime.

“Xperience was created as a virtual summit to further partner with dealerships in their success in the service drive and in the industry.” 

Registration is currently open to all Xtime dealers. For more information and to register for Xperience, visit the event’s website.

About Xtime
Xtime is the leading software solution for automotive dealer service departments, increasing retention and revenue with technology and industry experts that help dealers meet changing customer expectations. As an advanced solution that connects the entire service drive and provides exceptional support, Xtime is committed to helping dealers deliver the ultimate service experience with transparency, convenience, and trust. Xtime is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

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