IRVINE, Calif., January 13, 2021 – As cars become more advanced, electronic technology and integrated systems are musts to consider when shopping for a new vehicle. The array of safety, security, connectivity, and communication systems available in today’s cars makes life on the road easier without causing driver distraction. Today, Kelley Blue Book names the 10 Best Automotive Technologies of 2021 to help consumers make sense of what to look for when it comes to the latest and greatest car tech this year.

“In 2021, we continue to be amazed by the incredible advancements made by automakers, as the technology within a vehicle deserves as much consideration as the mechanics under the hood,” said Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor for Kelley Blue Book. “Kelley Blue Book prepared this list of technologies to provide car buyers with a handy reference as they evaluate the systems that make their trips safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable.”

10 Best Automotive Technologies of 2021

Advanced Driver Assist Systems

These systems can react to hazards, reduce driver fatigue, and even park the car. Shoppers seeking technologies like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot alert, cross-traffic alert or reverse brake assist can secure these services as standalone options or in bundled suites, such as Ford's Co-Pilot360, Subaru’s EyeSight, and Toyota Safety Sense, among others.

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

AEB is a part of many advanced driver-assist systems, and it’s becoming more common. Often a standalone feature, it can sense a potential accident before the driver does and immediately apply full brake pressure to stop the vehicle quickly, possibly preventing a collision.

Connected Mobile Apps/Digital Key

Carmakers continue to offer the next evolution of connected smartphone apps that can remotely lock and unlock the doors, check the fuel level and tire pressure, and even remotely start the car. Additionally, the digital key has extra security measures built in to link individual vehicles to owners.

Teen Driver Technology

Teen Driver – offered exclusively by General Motors – serves as a safeguard for new drivers, allowing owners to be notified if the car is driven over a certain speed or if seatbelts aren’t in use, and to set a volume limit on the sound system. There is even a report card that will tell parents if safety systems like ABS or forward collision alert have been triggered.

Exit Warning to Protect Cyclists

The exit warning alert uses rear-looking sensors to detect approaching bicycles and traffic, ensuring that a passenger doesn’t open a car door as a cyclist passes. The most advanced systems will even physically lock the door to prevent it from being swung open into the path of the approaching object.

Wireless Smartphone Charging and Connectivity

Most vehicles today offer audio connectivity through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Wireless connectivity allows drivers to stow their phone anywhere within the vehicle instead of tethering it to a USB port. These features can also be enhanced through wireless charging, which typically uses a charging pad that is easy to set up and use.

360-Degree Camera

A 360-degree camera changes the way drivers park cars by providing increased confidence, visibility, and safety. Cameras on every side of the car combine to show a virtual top-down view of a vehicle’s surroundings. This enhanced visibility can prevent dents and scratches – and can even reduce insurance claims from low-speed crashes.

Video Rearview Mirror

A video rearview mirror uses a rear-mounted camera to display the view behind the car in the same position as a rearview mirror, allowing drivers to toggle between the mirror view or the video setting as needed. This is particularly helpful for drivers when their view may be impeded by distractions or objects within the car preventing clear line of site.

Stolen Vehicle Tracking Software

With hundreds of thousands of vehicles stolen each year, built-in tracking technology affords a new level of security for car owners. In addition to its ability to locate a vehicle’s exact location for law enforcement to recover it, this software also provides diagnostics, concierge, and post-crash notifications for rescue services.  The technology is part of assistance and security systems, such as Subaru Starlink, Kia UVO, Hyundai Blue Link, and GM OnStar.

Blind-Spot View Monitor

A video-based blind-spot view monitor uses a small camera on either side of the car to display traffic in adjacent lanes, which aide in the prevention of collisions during lane changes. Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai vehicles each offer particularly easy-to-see displays within the gauge cluster.

For additional information on the 10 Best Automotive Technologies of 2021, visit https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-car-technologies/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, 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 more than 27,000 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 annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

Media Contact:
Brenna Buehler                                                                               
949-473-6595

brenna.buehler@coxautoinc.com           

ALBANY, N.Y., and NORTH HILLS, N.Y., January 11, 2021 — Auto/Mate, a business unit of DealerSocket, and F&I solutions provider Dealertrack today announce a new integration that connects Auto/Mate’s award-winning Dealership Management System (DMS) to Dealertrack’s Digital Contracting. The real-time data exchange is designed to streamline and automate a dealer's digital contracting process, resulting in seamless contract submission, reduced errors from manual data entry, and faster deal funding.

Auto/Mate users simply log into Dealertrack Digital Contracting and enter the deal number to import the contract information from the DMS and populate the required data fields. All that is left is contract validation, having the customer sign electronically, and submission to the finance source for funding.

"Since the acquisition of Auto/Mate, we have directed significant investments toward streamlining workflows, reducing keystrokes, and addressing what matters most to dealers when it comes to their F&I operations: faster funding and reduced contracts in transit," said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi. "Today's announced integration with Dealertrack Digital Contracting accomplishes all three while giving our customers access to one of the industry's leading providers of digital contracting."

Recent Dealertrack user studies1 reveal that 60% of dealership F&I staff who have not yet adopted an eContracting solution feel DMS integration is the most important capability they lack.

"We view the DMS as the core of a dealer's business and an enabler of everything they do. That's why this integration with Dealertrack is so important, as digital contracting and eContracting represent a critical step toward delivering a digital car-buying experience," said Tony Graham, executive vice president and general manager of Auto/Mate. "Enabling a seamless flow of data while preserving data integrity is equally critical for dealership employees operating in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, and the elimination of unnecessary paper-pushing and user errors often results in steadier cash flow for the dealer."

Cheryl Miller, vice president of operations for Dealertrack F&I Solutions, added: “With the addition of the Auto/Mate DMS integration, we advance our goal to have as many dealerships as possible benefitting from the ease of use of the completely digital contracting workflow that Dealertrack Digital Contracting can provide.”

Auto/Mate DMS customers must be on Dealertrack uniFI and signed up for the platform's digital contracting enhancement to take advantage of the new integration.

_____________

1 Source: 2019 eContracting/Digital Contracting Research Study; (size=84)

About DealerSocket

DealerSocket is a leading software provider to franchised and independent dealerships in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our award-winning, innovative software solutions simplify dealership operations and increase efficiency to help dealers grow their business and maximize profitability. Our tools are seamless, easy to use, and designed to meet the needs of dealerships of all sizes — from small operations to the industry’s largest dealer groups. We currently serve 9,000 dealerships and more than 400,000 users with an integrated suite of solutions, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Dealership Management System (Auto/Mate DMS and IDMS specifically for independent dealerships), Inventory Management (Inventory+), Websites (DealerFire), Digital Retailing (PrecisePrice), and Data and Equity Mining (RevenueRadar). Our team is dedicated to the success of our dealership customers and strive to offer best-in-class customer service every day. DealerSocket team members are former dealership employees and software industry experts who live by our taglines of “By Car People for Car People” and “We Are Automotive.” For more information, visit DealerSocket.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 

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, lenders, providers, and their partners grow by increasing efficiency and improving decision-making. The Dealertrack Ohio Registration & Titling solution, delivers a unique combination of industry-leading technology, best-in-class service and support, and an unwavering commitment to compliance that can help mitigate margin compression, maximize profitability, and help you deliver the start-to-finish experience your customers expect. 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.

Media contacts:

Greg Arroyo

garroyo@dealersocket.com

m. 323.253.1998

Lisa Aloisio

lisa.aloisio@coxautoinc.com

m. 404.725.0651

New integration of Ford Accelerate and vAuto’s Stockwave boosts buying power for Ford dealer base through personalized local market insights and stocking recommendations

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Dec. 17, 2020 – Ford Credit’s dealer-direct purchasing site, Accelerate, is now integrated with vAuto’s Stockwave used vehicle platform, vAuto announced today. Helping save time and energy, the new integration helps eliminate the guesswork of what will sell and for how much for Ford and Lincoln dealerships through real-time local market data and pricing insights that match upstream off-lease inventory to the right market faster.

“As new vehicle inventory remains tight in today’s environment, a strong and efficient used car operation grounded in data has become a key pillar of success for OEMs and their dealer bases,” said Patrick Janes, business development director for vAuto’s Stockwave. “By integrating Ford Accelerate and Stockwave, dealerships can let the local market data drive their purchase decisions to help ensure that when they bring an off-lease vehicle to the lot, it will always make a profit.”

In addition to automatically factoring in aspects of vAuto’s Live Market View for more informed, investment-minded decisions, the integration provides Ford and Lincoln dealerships with personalized buying and stocking level recommendations based on their sales velocity and target days’ supply. This allows them to communicate more seamlessly with their OEM to analyze and buy inventory more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

“Today's car shoppers are very clear about their vehicle preferences so we can’t afford to fly blind when it comes to stocking decisions,” said Mark Rodgers, general sales manager for Koons Ford in Baltimore.  “Having vAuto Stockwave’s insights and recommendations directly inside Ford Accelerate puts our finger right on the pulse of local market demand as we manage inventory.”

For more information on Stockwave, visit www.vauto.com/products/stockwave/.  

About vAuto
vAuto® provides innovative technology, tools and business intelligence to thousands of dealerships across the United States and Canada, helping them compete more effectively and increase new/used vehicle sales volumes and profits. Founded in 2005, vAuto revolutionized dealers’ used vehicle operations with the groundbreaking Provision® suite of tools. Leveraging The Velocity Method of Management®, pioneered by vAuto founder, Dale Pollak, Provision helped dealers adopt a more transparent- and turn-focused approach to used vehicle acquisition, appraising, pricing and merchandising based on real-time, local market supply-and-demand data. vAuto’s solutions also include Conquest, a new vehicle inventory management and pricing system, and Stockwave, which enables dealers to efficiently find and purchase vehicles from leading wholesale sources via a single platform. In 2018, vAuto released the Provision ProfitTime metric and methodology to help dealers maximize inventory turn and gross profit based on the investment value or profit potential of each vehicle. In 2020, the company debuted an all new iRecon solution, integrated with Provision, to help dealers recondition vehicles and get them retail ready faster.

Headquartered near Chicago, Illinois, vAuto is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected services. Ford employs approximately 188,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Media Contact

Lisa Aloisio

Lisa.aloisio@coxautoinc.com

c. 404.725.0651

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IRVINE, Calif., December 8, 2020 – What better time than end-of-year to expand your horizons and embark on the car shopping journey? Following head-to-head testing, evaluation and data analysis of 2021 model-year vehicles across 17 major categories, Kelley Blue Book® revealed today the 2021 Best Buy Award winners—with the coveted trophy for the Best New Model for 2021 awarded to the Kia Seltos.  

Following a year like no other, where cars have become a safe haven and even an escape, Kelley Blue Book is giving consumers an exciting new way to experience the 2021 Best Buy Awards with the launch of KBB.com HQ, a fully immersive virtual island created within the popular video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Players who visit the island can snap share-worthy photos, grab cool merchandise from the shop and participate in games and activities like virtually fishing in the ocean and rivers. As players fish out items to keep the water clean, Kelley Blue Book will donate up to $10,000 to American Rivers to help preserve rivers across the country.  

“Car buying is meant to be an enjoyable experience, and what better way to celebrate the 2021 Best Buy Awards than through engaging with consumers in a way we’ve never done before with an activity that’s not only fun, but has also been a small escape from everything going on during 2020,”said Greta Crowley, vice president of marketing for Kelley Blue Book. “Games based on life simulation have surged during this time and we’re excited to venture into the gaming world for the 2021 Best Buy Awards. For those on the hunt for their next vehicle, we’ve designed the Best Buy Awards to instill confidence in the car shopping journey and help buyers narrow down their consideration set by defining the best of the best, so there is sure to be a car for everyone.” 

Players can visit KBB.com HQ in Animal Crossing: New Horizons from December 8 through December 17 between 3:00 p.m. – midnight ET each day to celebrate the 2021 Best Buy Awards with “Kelley,” the island tour guide. Visit Kelley Blue Book's Twitter to get more information on how to get a custom code to enter the island. 

The annual Best Buy Awards are determined based on a year-long regimen of expert vehicle evaluation and testing of nearly every new vehicle available in the U.S., along with analysis of a broad array of vehicle-related data, including vehicle pricing, 5-Year Cost to Own data—which includes depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees and taxes for new cars—consumer reviews and ratings and vehicle sales information. To be considered for Kelley Blue Book’s highest accolade, Best New Model, the vehicle must be an all-new or redesigned vehicle and offer a strong value proposition to consumers based on pricing, innovation, and available standard technology and safety features.   

2021 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award Winners 

Best New Model: 2021 Kia Seltos 

The 2021 Kia Seltos has become the new benchmark in the subcompact SUV segment. The Seltos is full of surprises, starting with its stylish, refined interior. Not only is the Seltos available with class-above convenience and connectivity features like a 10.25-inch touch screen with navigation and Bose premium audio, but there is plenty of rear-seat legroom, even for tall passengers.  

Compact Car: 2021 Hyundai Elantra 

In a tough segment, the all-new Elantra has come out on top. How? Hyundai has brought the refinement and quality of its larger siblings (the Sonata and the Palisade SUV come to mind) into the realm of the compact sedan. In addition to a stout chassis and attractive styling, the new Elantra boasts excellent driving manners and a thoroughly modern interior.  

Midsize Car: 2021 Honda Accord 

The Honda Accord continues to stand out for its roomy cabin, particularly the rear seat, large trunk, and advanced powertrains, including a hybrid that delivers up to 48 mpg. The Accord is the complete package, from its affordable price through to its traditionally high resale value. 

Subcompact SUV: 2021 Kia Seltos 

The all-new 2021 Kia Seltos is this year’s winner, thanks to its impressive roster of modern tech, a choice of two excellent engines, and striking good looks. It also has plenty of space – boasting best-in-class cargo area and excellent rear-seat legroom.  

Compact SUV: 2021 Toyota RAV4 

No matter which RAV4 you choose, they have something in common: Easy manners and great practicality. The RAV4 is a pleasant partner in both the city and beyond. Non hybrid models use a well-matched 8-speed automatic transmission that feels more natural than the CVTs of competitors.  

Midsize SUV – Two-Row: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe 

The Hyundai Santa Fe was all new just two years ago and already an excellent choice among 2-row/5-passenger midsize SUVs, proved by its Best Buy Award win last year. But for 2021, Hyundai has made it even better with significant revisions.  

Midsize SUV – Three Row: 2021 Kia Telluride 

The 2021 Kia Telluride is our Best Buy not just because of all the bells and whistles available here, but that many of these features come with such an affordable price tag. The base price for the Telluride is below the average transaction price of all new vehicles, which is pretty remarkable when you consider the size of the Telluride and the class in which it competes. 

Full-Size SUV: 2021 Ford Expedition 

The 2021 Ford Expedition continues with a proven formula based on a rugged ladder frame with independent rear suspension. As such, the big aluminum-bodied Ford shines as a comfortable truck-based family hauler that’s at home in the daily grind or when doing work like towing a trailer to a campsite.  

Pickup Truck – Midsize: 2021 Toyota Tacoma 

The tough, rugged Toyota Tacoma is built to last. Even as newer models have arrived on the scene, the Tacoma remains a favorite, thanks to its reliability, excellent resale value, and wide range of models designed to suit the needs of just about every midsize truck buyer. 

Pickup Truck – Full-Size: 2021 Ford F-150 

The Ford F-150 has been a Best Buy Award winner seven years in a row, staying in this top spot because it continues to advance the full-size truck segment. New for 2021, the F-150 has best-in-class towing and payload capacity. It also offers the only full hybrid powertrain available in a pickup, with 430 horsepower and more than 700 miles of range.  

Minivan: 2021 Toyota Sienna 

The 2021 Toyota Sienna assumes the crown this year on the strength of its new design, standard hybrid powertrain that racks up some impressive mileage, available all-wheel drive, and the comfort and flexibility of its interior. Beyond the mechanical changes, Toyota also boasts a good track record when it comes to quality, reliability and solid resale value at the end of your ownership experience. 

Electric Vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric 

Hyundai's secret is that it managed to make it simple to forget that you were driving an electric car. The Hyundai Kona Electric is certainly a spirited little ute with instant-on acceleration that allows you to light up the front tires almost at will. The rest of the time, while commuting, shopping, heading into the big city at the end of the day to see a drive-in movie, or just cruising along the coast for a few hours, you'll find yourself completely satisfied. 

Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime 

With the combination of the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and tri-motor setup checking in with a total of 302 horsepower, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime sprints to a very impressive zero-to-60-mph time of just 5.7 seconds. When you pair that truth with the little SUV's fuel economy of 40 mpg in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway, you've got an AWD "performance" SUV that can also take you towards 600 miles with a full charge and a full tank of gas. 

Luxury Car: 2021 Lexus ES 

The 2021 Lexus ES continues to offer a blend of elegant styling, a high-quality interior, refined road manners, and pricing that makes it a value in a segment where the competition is only getting stiffer. There are plenty of choices among luxury 4-door models, even as the mass market midsize sedan competitive set continues to shrink.  

Subcompact Luxury SUV: 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA 

At a time when this segment is hotter than ever, Mercedes committed itself to doing great things at the entry level, replacing the old GLA with a model that's shorter, but roomier, and packed style and substance. The new 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA strikes a modern look that is more SUV than ever, while still lathering lots of Mercedes-Benz elegance and ability. 

Compact Luxury SUV: 2021 Audi Q5 

The 2021 Audi Q5 has the goods to satisfy a wide variety of buyers. Whether you desire innovative technology, great safety systems, engaging driving manners or all-around practicality – all awash in the premium experience expected in an Audi – the Q5 delivers. 

Midsize Luxury SUV: 2021 Genesis GV80 

The GV80 is the first SUV from Genesis, and it’s a big hit. This 2- or 3-row SUV exudes elegance inside and out, and its outstanding chassis blends excellent daily ride comfort with great composure on winding roads. Available with a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine or a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, the rear- or all-wheel-drive GV80 also has a robust infotainment system (with a 14.5-inch touchscreen) and a thorough standard safety suite that includes automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. All that, plus a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. 

For full coverage of the 2021 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, including additional editorial comments about each model, photos, video reviews, pricing details, listings and more, visit https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-buy-awards/. 

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, 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 more than 27,000 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 annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com 

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ATLANTA, December 2, 2020 – Each year, automotive technology advances into new territory, and the innovations become more and more exciting for consumers. Whether that’s under the hood or inside the cabin, car shoppers will be delighted to find how much new auto innovations can help their daily drives become more efficient, convenient and exciting. To help car buyers navigate the breakthrough technology in vehicles, Autotrader put together a list of the Best New Automotive Technology for 2021. 

"Technology is really what’s driving new cars today. From the seemingly simple Apple CarPlay to the sophisticated augmented reality and adaptive cruise systems, technology is no longer an option. Today, it’s a real and tangible way automakers can set themselves apart in a crowded field. If you pay close attention, you can start to see the personal automobile of the future take shape,” said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. “This year’s top advancements in auto tech encapsulate the unique needs we have seen consumers express this year, including a higher standard for entertainment, safety, and environmentalism.” 

Best New Automotive Technology of 20211 

2021 Cadillac Escalade 

With the all-new 2021 model, the Cadillac Escalade has cemented its place as the American luxury brand’s showcase for new and luxurious technologies. Starting with the advanced Super Cruise, one of the best-kept secrets in automotive technology. It’s a semi-autonomous technology suite that is arguably the most advanced system of its kind since it allows for hands-free driving on the highway (you still need to stay alert and keep your eyes on the road). Super Cruise is now more advanced than ever on the new Escalade with the addition of lane-changing capability. The 2021 Escalade also boasts a curved 4K OLED display with a whopping 38 inches of total diagonal display space—one massive and beautiful display with three different screens.  

2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 

For 2021, the luxurious Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S has arrived. This high-performance luxury SUV combines luxury, technology, and raw power in a graceful way that few other brands can match. Under the hood lies a twin-turbo V8 engine pumping out 603 horsepower. This engine is also equipped with an EQ Boost starter/generator mild hybrid system powering a 48-volt electrical system. It gives the engine a performance bump of 21 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It also makes for smooth and quick automatic stop/start technology which has been infamously clunky in some applications in competing brands. 

2021 Rolls Royce Ghost 

We know what you're thinking, the new Ghost (all-new for 2021) is so expensive, no one can afford it. True, it is expensive, but that's usually where leaps in technological advancement come from.  Also, the $300,000 Ghost has been the brand's best-selling vehicle. In addition to the expected Rolls tech surrounding hand-crafting a car, the new Ghost has a few tech features that only serve to enhance its Rolls-Royce-ness. The Ghost's "Flagbearer" system uses cameras to see the road ahead and adjust accordingly. The result is an amazingly smooth ride virtually free of bumps and unpleasantness. Rolls-Royce's Planar Suspension System uses a combination of air-suspension, sensors, cameras, weights, dampers, and a transmission that uses GPS information to select the best gear for the corner ahead. The result is a car feels like it's gliding over the road. 

Aftermarket Head-Up Display 

A head-up display was considered a luxurious feature that was only found in high-end cars not that long ago. However, in 2021, anyone with a car and a smartphone can have an advanced head-up display. One good example is the Hudway Drive. This $229 device can mount to any dashboard, plug into a 12V outlet, and connect to your phone to show you important information. It can show you your speed, turn-by-turn navigation, and notifications from your phone like calls and text messages. It delivers all of this useful information right in your line of sight so you can keep your eyes on the road with minimal distractions. Customize it to show you everything you want to see and -- just as importantly -- not show you anything you don’t want to see. If you’ve been driving around with your phone mounted somewhere on your dash, a head-up display that talks to your phone is a very nice upgrade. 

Hydrogen-Powered Cars 

There have been varying degrees of hype around hydrogen fuel cell cars for decades. The idea dates back more than a century. However, we’re at a point where we have real cars powered by nothing but hydrogen on the road. It’s a segment that’s growing, albeit quite slowly. The Toyota Mirai gets a big update for 2021. In a surprising move, the hydrogen-powered Mirai has evolved from a hatchback into a premium sedan. It’s gone from being a quirky and weird-looking oddity to a bit more of a traditional look that you wouldn’t guess is an alternative fuel vehicle at first glance. The Hyundai Nexo is an EV that also uses an electrochemical process to generate electricity. The Nexo has a sophisticated look, pretty good range, and a roomy cargo hold that helps make it a practical crossover. Honda's Clarity Fuel-Cell is also a real-world car that some consumers can get and drive today. 

Hummer EV CrabWalk 

There’s a lot to love about the upcoming 2022 GMC Hummer EV. Not only does it have a daring look and an insane electric powertrain with up to 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft of torque, but it has a fascinating feature called CrabWalk—a new twist on four-wheel steering. Since the Hummer is a big truck that aims to be a proficient off-roader, it needs all the help it can get from modern technology to be more maneuverable. The Hummer’s rear wheels can turn up to 10 degrees in either direction. In conjunction with the front wheels, the Hummer can move diagonally without the body of the truck turning at all. This should prove useful for getting out of tight spots on the trails. There are also cameras (with washers) under the body to show you what’s going on around the truck while CrabWalking. 

Lexus AR Play 

Lexus AR Play is a new app that can give you a tour of the all-new 2021 IS using augmented reality. Augmented reality is kind of like virtual reality, but instead of immersing you in a totally virtual world, it’s a sort of hybrid between virtual reality and real reality. For example, Lexus AR Play virtually puts an IS in your driveway allowing you to do a 360-degree tour and even open the doors and check out the interior. You can even drive it around remotely from the app. Customize your virtual IS with whatever paint color, interior color, wheel design, and interior features that you’d like. Customizing your own IS and getting a thorough tour of it gives you a much better idea of what that car is like in person compared to just looking at photos. 

Nissan ProPilot Assist 2.0 

Nissan's ProPilot 2.0 is a system that will allow "hands-free" driving. Nissan says it like this: "ProPILOT Assist 2.0 gives you the option to experience hands-off single-lane driving, as well as hands-on guided lane changing abilities." The first car in the U.S. to employ this will be on the all-electric Nissan Ariya SUV. This will be available as soon as late 2021. It's essentially a super-sophisticated lane control/adaptive cruise control system but the "hands-off" part means the system won't time out. The result will be less driver fatigue on long trips and, probably, fewer rear-end and lane-change accidents. 

Toyota Hybrids 

The best way to say this is that Toyota has forced the "Democratization of hybrids." Toyota didn't invent the hybrid, many automakers experimented with them for decades. But Toyota has done for hybrids what Henry Ford did for the automobile, they brought it to the masses. Now, some models come only as a hybrid. Especially noteworthy is the fact that both the 2021 Toyota Sienna and 2021 Toyota Venza are offered only as a hybrid. There's also a plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4 called the RAV4 Prime.  

Trombia Technologies Electric Autonomous Street Sweeper 

Finnish street maintenance tech company Trombia Technologies has launched the first-ever high-power, all-electric, autonomous street sweeper. It’s called the Trombia Free and it looks like a concept for a future machine, but this is a real thing that will be quietly sweeping streets starting in January 2021 as part of a pilot program. Mass deliveries could happen as soon as early 2022. About 3 million metric tons of CO2 are pumped into the air by diesel-powered street sweepers annually according to Trombia CEO Antti Nikkanen. Electrifying those machines could seriously cut those emissions down without compromising on power and performance. 

To view the entire Best New Automotive Technology list from Autotrader, visit https://www.autotrader.com/car-tech/best-new-automotive-tech-of-2021. 

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 more than 27,000 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 of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com  

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IRVINE, Calif., November 18, 2020 – While this year’s holiday season may look vastly different than years past, Black Friday is still considered to be the biggest shopping day of the year. From 0% financing to “Employee Pricing,” this year’s car deals can save you thousands of dollars on a new vehicle. Whether you are shopping online or staying socially distant at your local dealership, this year’s Black Friday deals are shaping up to last into the first weeks of 2021.  

To help car shoppers find the best year-end deals, Kelley Blue Book has compiled its list of the Best Black Friday Car Deals for 2020. These deals can sometimes be difficult to navigate with their fine print and different rules, so Kelley Blue Book has made the process easier by putting all of the information in one place for consumers. Not only does this list provide information on the best car deals from each manufacturer, but it also gives shoppers tips on how to look for sales while also remaining safe and compliant.  

“Even though production has resumed, and inventories are beginning to climb, makers are seeing strong demand still for hot models,” said Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor for Kelley Blue Book. “They are seeing fairly healthy margins as reflected in average transaction prices, which continue to climb. While we may not see a lot of big discounts this year like we have in the past, many manufacturers are offering 0% and low interest-rates and lease deals.” 

Tips for Black Friday Car Shopping:  

• If shoppers decide to visit the dealership on Black Friday this year, know what you want before you get there and be prepared for longer-than-normal waits as the dealership sanitize vehicles and safely work with customers.  

• It will be best to schedule test drives and appraisals early to avoid crowding and to be sure you have enough time to check out a particular vehicle. Shoppers also can leverage Dealer Home Services to do research, book test drives and take local delivery of their new car.  

• It always pays to come with a pre-approval for financing or a loan in hand for the car you want, which can be done online.  

• Do your research and be sure to read the fine print of any deal before you sign on the dotted line. Many of these deals come with lots of limitations, so be sure you understand the details before you buy or lease. 

To see the full list of Best Black Friday Deals for 2020 on Kelley Blue Book, visit https://www.kbb.com/best-cars/best-black-friday-car-deals/.  

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, 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 more than 27,000 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 annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com 

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Expanded flexible financing options allow dealers to offer access to buy now, pay over time payment plans that work for more than 90% of Sunbit consumers*

MISSION, Kan., November 11, 2020 - Xtime, the automotive industry’s leading end-to-end software service solution, today announces its collaboration with Sunbit, the technology company improving the buying and selling experience for everyday things through flexible monthly payment plans. Together, they will provide access to additional payment options for dealerships to offer consumers directly from Xtime.

Xtime helps dealerships build loyalty, increase customer satisfaction, and drive revenue in the service department, all by providing the tools and technology to create a superior customer experience. As Sunbit has become a major player in fixed ops financing with a footprint in 19 of the top 25 largest auto groups and more than 3,500 auto dealerships in the U.S. served, including Sunbit integration with Xtime’s FlexPay was a natural next step.  

With the new Sunbit relationship, consumers can see payment plan options and pre-qualify, all from the quote provided to them through Xtime. This option can easily be enabled and put into action for any dealership using both Sunbit and Xtime.

“Especially in light of a challenging economy, dealerships are seeing growing demand for financing options,” said Matt Schwartz, senior director of business development for Xtime. “With flexible payment options available, the customer experience only improves by making comprehensive automotive repairs more affordable and lessening the impact on consumers’ budgets. Sunbit is integrated seamlessly, making the process easy and contactless for both consumers and service employees.” 

Sunbit helps deliver a premium customer experience by providing customers access to financing with a 90% approval rate and an application that doesn’t impact a consumer’s credit score. Sunbit leverages machine learning technology to personalize underwriting solutions that result in more transparent and fairer rates for more people. Now found in one out of every six U.S. dealership service centers, Sunbit technology has helped service departments complete more than 200,000 repair orders, ringing up more than $142M in revenue for these auto dealerships.

"Xtime has a great reputation in the industry and is used by over 7,500 dealerships,” said Tal Riesenfeld, head of sales at Sunbit. “We’re pleased to be working with them to ensure that dealerships minimize losses from unsold services, and that consumers have the best experience possible while getting the repairs that they need to be on the road safely. We think that’s a win all around.”

For more information about Xtime and Sunbit integration, visit http://choose.xtime.com/flexpay-sunbit/.

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. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year 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 more than 27,000 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 annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

About Sunbit:

Sunbit is a technology company that improves the buying and selling experience for everyday purchases. Sunbit reduces the stress involved at the register by providing fast, fair, and transparent installment financing solutions to people across the credit spectrum. Sunbit is offered in 4,500 retail locations in 45 states, including 1 in 5 auto dealerships, veterinary care, eye care, dental and specialty health care service industries.

*Visit http://www.sunbit.com/rates_and_terms for more details. Loans are made by Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., dba TAB Bank, which determines qualifications for and terms of credit.

A simple, personal, and comprehensive approach to customer reviews
 

Burlington, Vt., November 10, 2020 – As the car shopping journey moves increasingly online, more consumers are turning to each other for guidance on products and services. Today, customer reviews have emerged as one of the top factors that people consider when selecting a business, but dealerships often lack an efficient, easy way to solicit reviews while the experience is still top of mind. To help dealerships bolster their reputation management and get the most volume and frequency of customer reviews, Dealer.com is launching a new Review Generation solution that makes managing a constant stream of personalized reviews simple for dealership staff and straightforward for the customer. Dealer.com is making it easier for dealerships to attract and promote customer reviews which ultimately strengthen a dealer’s local SEO, proactively attracting shoppers while earning customer loyalty.

“An overwhelming majority of consumers say that positive reviews are a primary consideration when deciding to use a business,” said Erica Danford, head of Managed Services at Dealer.com. “Ratings and reviews are the second-most influential contributor to a solid local SEO strategy, which makes Dealer.com’s Review Generation enhancements an essential component for success and searchability. Ultimately, the constant stream of customer review content can contribute to a stronger local SEO impact, reinforce dealership reputation, and can work to attract new shoppers.”

Review Generation offers dealerships a personalized way to request and collect consumer reviews, elevating the voice-of-the-customer using an always-on SMS-based review growth strategy, which includes:

• - Sending personalized automated or manual SMS text review invitations from your salesperson to the customer as soon as the transaction is complete, so their experience is still top of mind.
• - Reaching customers via text, a familiar communication tool that has a 98%[1] average open rate and doesn’t require apps, accounts, or passwords making the process painless for the reviewer.
• Distributing reviews for both sales and service to Google My Business locations for no additional cost which creates a holistic customer review portfolio across channels that helps boost local SEO to attract new shoppers.
• -Giving dealers the control to select what review sites its solicited reviews will appear on and the order in which they are listed.
• -Identifying performance opportunities across the dealership and to get more reviews with analytics and reporting while preventing spam messages from being sent.

For more information on Review Generation, visit https://www.dealer.com/products/managed-services/social/#reviewgeneration.

About Dealer.com

Backed by unmatched expertise and unrivaled consumer behavior data, 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, delivering over 43M unique visitors monthly across 15,000 plus Dealer.com websites. 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 27,000-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 annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

IRVINE, Calif., November 5, 2020 – Kelley Blue Book, with Upper Diamond, today announced its coveted Brandon Hall Group Gold award win for “Best Sales Training Program for Extended Enterprise” and Silver award win for “Best Use of Video for Learning” for its Instant Cash Offer training program delivered by The Learning Academy e-Learning Platform. Since launching the program in early March 2020, enrollment has surpassed 900 dealerships, equating to more than 6,000 dealership employees.  

The Learning Academy e-Learning Platform solves a real need for an easy-to-use, well-priced custom system designed to deliver extended enterprise learning to any network of dealers, affiliates or franchises, who buy the Instant Cash Offer product and require training. It offers quick onboarding, especially for individuals who do not spend much time on computers and prefer the use of mobile devices.  

“The team set out to build a best-in-class training program for our dealership clients, investing in the opportunity to enhance and strengthen the already existing virtual and in-person dealership training efforts and drive overall dealership success,” said David Berry, senior manager of operations for Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. “The Learning Academy e-Learning Platform allows dealerships to access Instant Cash Offer content at any time and on any device to onboard a new employee until the virtual or in-person training is scheduled.” 

With this program, dealership staff can be onboarded at a faster rate. The program establishes a standard to certify an employee in the use and application of the Instant Cash Offer product and processes, as well as be interactive, engaging and relevant. This illustrates best practices for turning a car inspection into a lead for a vehicle sale, all while integrating Kelley Blue Book’s trusted brand into the dealership experience and prestige in the mind of consumers.  Through the mobile-friendly platform, dealership staff experience how to be successful with Instant Cash Offer across multiple customer touchpoints, including in-showroom, online, home and remote services, how to follow-up, the walkaround inspection, and more.  

The Instant Cash Offer training program helps create fast, easy conversations that alleviate price anxiety and leverage the Kelley Blue Book brand in conversations with customers. Dealership personnel also have the ability to manage and monitor their staff performance across multiple dealerships, helping each employee move from proficiency to trade-in mastery with ease.  

Award entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran, independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall Group analysts and executives based upon the following criteria: fit the need, design of the program, functionality, innovation and overall measurable benefits. Excellence Awards winners will be honored at Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Excellence Conference, January 26-28, 2021, at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida.  

“The Excellence Awards serve the critical function of reinforcing the essential business benefit of creating great experiences for candidates and employees,” Brandon Hall Group CEO Mike Cooke said. “All award winners must demonstrate that their HCM programs drive bottom-line business results. That’s what sets our awards program apart from all others.” 

For more information about Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer, visit https://b2b.kbb.com/ico/. To see the Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer program in action, visit https://vimeo.com/upperdiamond/review/401087434/3c9fbc6b09. For more information about The Learning Academy e-Learning Platform, visit https://thelearning.academy/. For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/.                                                                           

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 of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com  

About Upper Diamond (www.upperdiamond.com)

Upper Diamond is strategy driven 14-year-old digital agency dedicated to elevating conversations that deliver maximum results in learning, sales enablement and marketing. Our development of thelearning.academy is a result of our legacy of innovation in the marketing, technology, and content creation space.  When it comes to supporting sales-centric organizations, we know that a single-digit percentage increase in conversions can lead to substantial gains in revenue and sales force retention.

From our experience in automotive, we know that your salesforce is your most valuable resource and that keeping them motivated, prepared, and engaged is the key to not only the company’s success but their own success.  We’ve produced numerous assets, designed curriculum, and created tools tailored to support recruitment, retention, personal development as well as decreasing the time needed for new salespeople to be proficient. Upper Diamond’s learning and development focus includes an expertise in promoting diversity and enhancing understanding of organizational inclusion opportunities.

About Brandon Hall Group

Brandon Hall Group is an HCM research and advisory services firm that provides insights around key performance areas, including Learning and Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Talent Acquisition and HR/Workforce Management.

With more than 10,000 clients globally and 25 years of delivering world-class research and advisory services, Brandon Hall Group is focused on developing research that drives performance in emerging and large organizations, and provides strategic insights for executives and practitioners responsible for growth and business results.

Our mission: Empower excellence in organizations around the world through our research and tools each and every day.

At the core of our offerings is a Membership Program that combines research, benchmarking and unlimited access to data and analysts. The Membership Program offers insights and best practices to enable executives and practitioners to make the right decisions about people, processes, and systems, coalesced with analyst advisory

services which aim to put the research into action in a way that is practical and efficient. (www.brandonhall.com)                                                                                                          

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Top Finance, Lease Offers Now Available on New and Used Cars, Trucks and SUVs

ATLANTA, and IRVINE, Calif., October 22, 2020 – Choosing a good car is easier than ever but getting the best deal can be tricky. To provide consumers with the most recent information on the best car deals monthly, Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book are rolling out a variety of new lists—rounding up standouts and bringing them together in lists that help make car shopping easier. Purchasing a car can be a stressful process, and trusted brands Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book are looking to alleviate any consumer uncertainty.

With the changing of the seasons comes a new batch of new and used car deals for the month. Now more than ever, it is essential to be informed when making large purchases, such as a vehicle. Not only do the latest lists from Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book highlight new types of deals to meet consumers’ specific needs and interests, but these resources will also be updated monthly to ensure they include the most up to date and accurate information.

A sample of the expanded coverage of top new and used car deals includes:

• Best SUV Lease Deals Under $300

• Best Truck Lease Deals

• Best Used SUV Deals

• Best Used Car Deals

• Best Luxury Car and SUV Deals

“With so many good cars to choose from nowadays, it’s okay to start your car shopping by first seeking out the most enticing incentives,” said Jason Allan, editorial director for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. “The automakers typically update their deals near the beginning of every month and staying on top of these offers is an important part of the shopping process for buyers looking to get the most car for the money.”

To view this month’s Autotrader lists, visit https://www.autotrader.com/car-deals. To view the most recent Kelley Blue Book lists, visit https://www.kbb.com/awards/awards-best-cars-and-top-10-lists/ for new car deals and https://www.kbb.com/awards/best-used-cars/ for used car deals.

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 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 of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com