Maus Family Automotive adds SureSale to all pre-owned vehicles, increasing purchaser’s peace of mind

Tampa, FL & Santa Monica, CA –  February 22, 2021 –  Maus Family Automotive today announced that it has partnered with award-winning SureSale to offer the industry’s most comprehensive vehicle report on each of its pre-owned vehicles. SureSale offers consumers transparency and confidence in their used vehicle purchases through comprehensive vehicle histories, inspections, and assessments of current quality.

“Adding SureSale’s quality seal to our MausCare will help our pre-owned customers make more informed decisions and increase their long-term satisfaction. We are thrilled that our customers will enjoy the peace of mind that SureSale provides,” said David Maus, owner of Maus Family Automotive. 

Maus Family Automotive operates four dealerships in the Tampa Bay area. Now, each Maus pre-owned vehicle will come with a free SureSale vehicle quality report, an analysis of thousands of data points about each vehicle –  including a 170-point inspection, road test, and history check –  that ensures an informed purchase process.

“Unlike other industry reports, such as CARFAX, that only look at past history, SureSale tells a vehicle’s whole story – past and present. For example, while a vehicle may have a clean history report, its current condition or mechanical state may be far from clean. That is what makes the SureSale vehicle quality report a better, more comprehensive resource for consumers,” continued Maus. 

Maus Family Automotive dealerships have long had an interest in the pre-owned vehicle category and offer car shoppers a large inventory of pre-owned vehicles, which all come standard with MausCare, a benefits service that provides added features to enhance and protect each vehicle. Adding SureSale to MausCare is another step Maus Family Automotive is taking to ensure their customers have the best possible experience when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. 

“While a vehicle’s history is important, what is even more important to consumers is a vehicle’s current condition. Uniquely in our industry, SureSale offers both, helping to increase car buyer confidence,” said SureSale Vice President of Sales Sean Peoples. “It is clear that David Maus, and Maus Family Automotive, put their community and customers first, and that helping their customers better understand the value and benefits of their vehicle purchase is a priority. The deep, credible data and transparency about each vehicle that SureSale provides is a perfect complement to this mission.” 

About Maus Family Automotive

Maus Family Automotive currently operates four dealerships in the Tampa Bay area: Maus Nissan of New Port Richey, Maus Nissan of Crystal River, Maus Nissan of North Tampa, and Maus Acura of North Tampa. Under the leadership of David Maus, a well-respected industry professional with over 25 years of experience, the dealerships insist on a culture of integrity and honesty and in putting the customer first. Maus Family Automotive is dedicated to giving back to the community, regularly supporting organizations that are making a positive impact on the local community, and offering preferred pricing to military, police, and firefighters. The dealerships are conveniently located throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, servicing the surrounding cities and beyond. For more information, visit MausFamilyAutomotive.com. For more information, contact EricEscobio@PowerPlayAdv.com.

About SureSale
SureSale offers used vehicle buyers peace of mind with the SureSale vehicle quality report, which stands alone in the industry for the depth of information it includes on the vehicle’s past and present condition. Delivered through the industry’s first, and only, vehicle quality SaaS platform, SureSale enables franchise and independent dealers to validate, and merchandise, the quality of their used vehicle inventory. SureSale, which won the 2020 Gold Stevie® Award for “Innovation of the Year,” was founded to help the auto market meet the demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit SureSale.com for more information.

SureSale Media Contact:
Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776
Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com, (949) 307-1723

Auto dealerships using SureSale to power used vehicle sales achieve 20% lift in VDP views and marketplace leads

Santa Monica, CA – February 8, 2021 – SureSale, which helps auto dealers provide car buyers verification of vehicle quality and condition, has expanded its digital merchandising options to help auto dealers capitalize on their digital retail efforts and reach more used vehicle buyers online. Because SureSale’s digital merchandising enables used vehicle inventory to stand out in crowded marketplaces, auto dealers are reporting increased vehicle detail page (VDP) views and customers.

“SureSale’s proprietary platform seamlessly integrates with dealer platforms to make it easy for auto dealers to amplify that their vehicles have undergone an inspection, road test and history check,” said Sean Peoples, VP of Sales at SureSale. “The trust and digital engagement this creates is increasing vehicle detail page (VDP) views and buyer consideration for auto dealers, all of which leads to increased used vehicle sales.”

In a recent three-month analysis based on results from multiple auto dealerships, vehicles with a SureSale report experienced a 20% increase in VDP views and leads on third-party marketplaces. Data was determined by comparing vehicles with a SureSale vehicle quality report to a control group on some of the most trafficked auto marketplaces, including CarGurus and Autotrader.

“The SureSale vehicle quality report stands alone in the industry for the depth of information it provides on each vehicle. Unlike other reports that just list vehicle history, SureSale includes the vehicle’s past and present condition, fueling consumer confidence and generating a more informed, efficient and valuable transaction for auto dealers,” continued Peoples.

Empowering auto dealerships with digital tools that facilitate a more contactless transaction, and that boost vehicle visibility, has never been more important as the pandemic has increased the number of car shoppers going online. Meanwhile, the importance of vehicle ownership has heightened as people avoid mass transportation and ride-sharing. This is driving a new wave of car buyers into the market, many of whom are turning to the affordability of pre-owned vehicles in the face of rising new vehicle prices. All of this adds up to increased competition – and opportunity – in the used vehicle market.

By integrating with auto dealer’s inventory feeds and image management systems, SureSale lets its mobile app users instantly validate vehicle quality and condition. SureSale’s proprietary platform analyzes thousands of data points including those from the 170-point inspection and road test, as well as a history check, to generate a SureSale vehicle quality report for each vehicle. SureSale’s enhanced digital merchandising then kicks in, digitally badging each vehicle and merchandising listings across third-party marketplaces. This merchandising, which is completely turn-key for the dealership, increases engagement on vehicle listings, helping dealers to sell more vehicles while building trust and providing peace of mind.

SureSale is an exhibitor at the 2021 NADA Virtual Expo, click here for more information.

SureSale announced last week that it is powering AAA Inspected, a new program that helps AAA members and non-members buy quality used cars with confidence. Click here for more information.

About SureSale
SureSale offers used vehicle buyers peace of mind with the SureSale vehicle quality report, which stands alone in the industry for the depth of information it includes on the vehicle’s past and present condition. Delivered through the industry’s first, and only, vehicle quality SaaS platform, SureSale enables franchise and independent dealers to validate, and merchandise, the quality of their used vehicle inventory. SureSale, which won the 2020 Gold Stevie® Award for “Innovation of the Year,” was founded to help the auto market meet the demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit SureSale.com for more information.

SureSale Media Contact:
Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776
Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com, (949) 307-1723

AAA Inspected, powered by SureSale, independently verifies pre-owned vehicles, so consumers can trust that the vehicle they are buying is a quality vehicle

Wilmington, DE & Santa Monica, CA -- February 1, 2021 – AAA Club Alliance, Inc. (“ACA”) and SureSale, the award-winning platform(1) for quality used vehicles, today announced the launch of AAA Inspected, powered by SureSale. AAA Inspected is a new program that helps AAA members and non-members buy quality used cars with confidence.

SureSale’s proprietary platform and network of qualified vehicle inspectors enables AAA Inspected to assess vehicle quality by analyzing thousands of vehicle data points, combing through vehicle history, and evaluating vehicle condition with an independent 170-point inspection. The program is currently available in ACA’s territories in Kansas and Oklahoma.

“For over 115 years, consumers have trusted AAA to keep them safely on the road, covering members with insurance, roadside assistance, and more. With AAA Inspected, we’ve added quality pre-owned cars to the list,” said Keith McIntyre, Director of Auto Buying and Sales at ACA, the third largest club in the national AAA federation.

AAA Inspected provides the information consumers need to feel sure about the used vehicle they are purchasing. This includes an independent inspection by a certified mechanic, and a Factfile™ vehicle report, a comprehensive accounting of the vehicle’s past history, current condition and future quality assurance. The Factfile™ report is free, and car shoppers and buyers can access it online or at the dealership.

“Unlike other industry reports, such as Carfax, which are limited to a vehicle’s past history, SureSale tells the vehicle’s whole story – past, present and future. Thanks to our partnership with SureSale, our members will be able to quickly and easily know that they can trust the quality of a used vehicle,” continued McIntyre.

AAA research shows that its members place a higher value on vehicles that are independently inspected,(2) which is why ACA and SureSale analyze multiple data points to ensure that the vehicle is in excellent condition. Only when SureSale has determined that a vehicle meets its quality standard does it become a AAA Inspected vehicle.

“We are proud to partner with ACA to bring a universal standard of quality to AAA Inspected vehicles. AAA is one of the most trusted consumer brands in the country and, with AAA Inspected, consumers can, at last, get an answer to the question: ‘Am I buying a reliable, quality used vehicle?’” said Jeffrey Schwartz, SureSale Founder and President.

AAA Inspected, powered by SureSale is free to all car buyers and includes a limited warranty and 3-month trial subscription of SiriusXM for vehicles with a factory-equipped radio. Additional benefits, exclusive for AAA members, are also available.

Car buyers in Kansas and Oklahoma can access AAA Inspected, powered by SureSale at AAA.com/Inspected.

About AAA Club Alliance 

AAA Club Alliance, Inc. is the third largest AAA club in the national AAA federation and serves more than six million members in Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services, advocates for the safety and mobility of its members, and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. AAA is a non-stock, not-for-profit corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit www.AAA.com.

About SureSale
SureSale offers used vehicle buyers peace of mind with its Factfile™ vehicle report, the single source of truth on the past history, present condition and future assurance of a used vehicle. SureSale’s universal standard for used vehicles is delivered through the industry’s first, and only, vehicle quality SaaS platform, which also enables franchise and independent dealers to validate, and merchandise, the quality of their used vehicle inventory. SureSale, which won the 2020 Gold Stevie® Award for “Innovation of the Year,” was founded to help the auto market meet the demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit http://www.suresale.com for more information.

Media Relations Contacts:

SureSale
Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776

AAA Club Alliance, Inc.

Shawn Steward, steward@aaa-alliedgroup.com, (785) 409-0678 mobile

(1) SureSale won the Gold Stevie® Award in the “Innovation of the Year” Business Services category in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®.

(2) Source: AAA Certified Qualitative Research Study – “Used Vehicle Inspection and Certification Concept & Pricing Test”, AAA Club Partners, Inc., January 2011 (83% of AAA members say they would or might pay more for a vehicle that is inspected by AAA) 

Veteran of CarGurus, Edmunds, LotLinx and Chrome brings record of sales and product innovation success to SureSale’s mission of helping dealerships sell more used vehicles, faster

Los Angeles, CA – December 9th, 2020 – SureSale, the universal standard for pre-owned vehicle quality, today announced that automotive sales and product innovator, Sean Peoples, has joined the company as Vice President of Sales. Peoples, who held leadership roles at CarGurus, Edmunds, Lotlinx and Chrome, is charged with bringing SureSale’s award-winning* platform to auto dealers across the US, to help them increase gross profits and accelerate inventory turn on their pre-owned vehicles.

“Sean has a deep and successful footprint in the auto industry, working with some of its most cutting-edge, and established, service-providers. He not only understands the rapidly evolving automotive market, but he is keenly aware of its impact on auto dealerships,” said Jeffrey Schwartz, SureSale Founder and President. “Never has there been a time when rapid innovation, smart products and vendors attuned to customer needs were more needed by auto dealers. We are so pleased that Sean has brought his considerable expertise and insights to our team as we strive to help auto dealers increase sales velocity and customer acquisition for their used inventory, through SureSale’s quality assurance platform.”

SureSale, which has created a universal standard for quality used vehicles, bridges a major auto market gap to meet demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale provides dealers with the Factfile™ vehicle report, which follows the vehicle everywhere it goes online, including all major marketplaces, the dealership website, and point of sale, as well as access to digital merchandising to standout in busy marketplaces. The Factfile is the most comprehensive report a used vehicle can come with and analyzes thousands of data points about the car including a 170-point inspection, road test, and history check, telling a used car’s whole story, past, present, and future -- increasing consumer confidence and speeding up vehicle consideration and inventory turn.

“Used car buyers spend 40% more time researching used cars online and visit fewer dealerships than ever before. Capturing their interest online has never been more important, and SureSale’s new universal standard for quality does just that, with information that empowers both sides of the transaction equation,” said Peoples. “I am excited to join a team that not only has decades of expertise in moving the auto innovation needle forward, but that is also deeply committed to furthering trust, transparency and efficiency in the pre-owned sales process to the benefit of both auto dealer and car buyer.”

Prior to joining SureSale, Peoples served as Chief Revenue Officer at LotLinx, where he built, managed, and led their sales and customer support organization, doubling customer initial contract value and reducing revenue churn by 75%. Previously, he served as Vice President of Sales for CarGurus, Executive Director of Business Development and Dealer Initiatives for Edmunds, and as Director of Product Management for Chrome Systems Corporation.

*SureSale won the Gold Stevie® Award in the “Innovation of the Year” Business Services “category in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®

About SureSale
Founded and led by a team of automotive/tech innovators, SureSale has created a universal standard for quality used vehicles. Delivered through the industry’s first, and only, quality standard and independent inspection platform, SureSale bridges a major auto market gap to meet demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale offers used vehicle buyers peace of mind with its Factfile™ vehicle report, the single source of truth on the past history, present condition and future assurance of a used car. The SureSale platform, which won the 2020 Gold Stevie® Award for “Innovation of the Year,” also offers franchise and independent dealers across the US a turnkey program and technology that enables them to validate more of their used vehicle inventory. SureSale is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit http://www.suresale.com for more information.

SureSale Media Contact:

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com, (949) 307-1723

Veteran of TrueCar, eBay Motors, Google, Autobytel/AutoWeb charged with further innovating and expanding SureSale’s platform for quality used vehicles

Los Angeles, CA – September 30, 2020 – SureSale, the award-winning platform for quality used vehicles, today announced that veteran automotive product innovator, Michael Rose, will join the company as Vice President of Product Development. Michael joins the company’s growing team as it focuses on expanding SureSale’s platform to help auto dealerships validate more of their used car inventory, offering peace of mind to used vehicle purchasers. Michael joins the company from TrueCar where he served as Vice President of Product.

“No one knows or understands the automotive digital space – and the intricate relationship between consumer, auto dealer and OEM – better than Michael Rose,” said SureSale Co-founder and President Jeffrey Schwartz. “He has been on the digital frontlines since the first vehicle image was posted on a website and, from Autobytel to Google to TrueCar, he has been ahead of the curve when it comes to developing products for our industry. Michael’s expertise will be key to our mission of creating the global quality standard by which used vehicles are measured at the point of sale.”

SureSale provides independent and franchise dealers with a turnkey inspection program and technology that enables them to validate the quality of more of their used vehicle inventory, earning consumer trust, while meeting and exceeding the needs of shoppers who want to “be sure” about their used vehicle purchase. The SureSale platform helps to facilitate a more socially distanced purchasing process, and includes mobile vehicle inspections, as well as VIN specific data, including vehicle history, all presented through SureSale’s industry-leading, proprietary Factfile™. Each vehicle that uses the SureSale platform also benefits from VIN level digital marketing and point of sale merchandising support. Founded by automotive and technology entrepreneurs, Jeffrey Schwartz and Donny Hall, SureSale recently received the 2020 Gold Stevie® Award for Innovation of the Year.*

“I could not be more impressed with the SureSale team and the innovative way they are addressing a huge gap in the automotive landscape. The SureSale platform could not be timelier, nor more critical, to our industry as consumers increasingly opt for used vehicles and digital retail is accelerating,” said Michael Rose. “I am excited to join forces with Jeffrey, Donny and the SureSale team to help auto dealers, and our industry, better meet this shift, while also providing significant benefit to today’s used vehicle consumer.”

Michael is charged with helping the company further tap into the used vehicle market, expanding its proprietary vehicle quality standard platform, its distribution into franchise and independent dealerships across the country, and its partnerships with key automotive brands, product providers and indirect lenders.

Michael began his automotive career at the dawn of the Internet as Director of OEM and Portal Products at AutoWeb and as SVP, Lead Management at Autobytel. Since then he has continued as an innovation driver, working in product development roles for Google, eBay Motors and, most recently, TrueCar. In addition, through his consulting firm, his deep understanding of digital automotive, operations, and lead generation, has helped multiple large and small companies understand the space they are operating in and to make the connections, analysis, and decisions needed to successfully enter or expand in a market. 

*SureSale won the Gold Stevie® Award in the “Innovation of the Year” Business Services “category in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®

About SureSale

Founded and led by a team of automotive/tech innovators, SureSale has created the gold standard for quality used vehicles. Delivered through the industry’s first, and only, independent inspection platform, SureSale bridges a major auto market gap to meet demand for inspected, high-quality pre-owned vehicles among the US’ 40 million used car buyers. SureSale’s award-winning platform, which is supported nationally by the SureSale brand, offers franchise and independent dealers across the US a turnkey program and technology that enables them to validate more of their used vehicle inventory. Each SureSale vehicle comes with an independent inspection and a Factfile™ vehicle report, the single source of truth on the past history, present condition and future assurance of a used car. SureSale is based in Santa Monica, CA. Visit www.suresale.com for more information.

SureSale Media Contact:

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com, (949) 307-1723

‘AAA Inspected’ Expands Consumer and Dealership Access to Quality Used Vehicles through New AAA Club Alliance and SureSale Partnership

March 9, 2020 - Auto dealers now have access to a program that enables them to brand used vehicle inventory as ‘AAA Inspected.’  The program is the result of a partnership between SureSale and AAA Club Alliance, the third largest AAA auto club in the national AAA federation.  The program is scheduled to launch initially in Kansas and Oklahoma.

‘AAA Inspected’ is powered by SureSale, which offers a comprehensive platform to guarantee used vehicle quality across 30 different makes and hundreds of models.  ‘AAA Inspected’ vehicles have passed an extensive background check and come with a clean title, a 150+ point vehicle inspection, a 5-month, 5,000-mile limited warranty, and include a 5-day exchange guarantee.  

According to Keith McIntyre, Director of Auto Buying and Sales at AAA Club Alliance, the affordability crisis for new vehicles is driving a market shift towards quality used vehicles.   As new car costs have risen, consumers have shifted their attention to quality used vehicles and driven the growth of original equipment manufacturer CPO vehicles, which are now experiencing their tenth consecutive year of record growth.  

“‘AAA Inspected’ increases auto dealers’ opportunity to meet consumer demand for quality used vehicles with a turnkey program,” says McIntyre, “all while ensuring the rigorous quality of the vehicles for AAA members -- from extensive inspections, to VIN-specific history and comprehensive warranties.”

SureSale President Jeffrey Schwartz emphasized the importance of the AAA brand: “AAA is one of the most trusted and valued brands in the world.  The SureSale platform enables AAA Club Alliance to offer their members a rock-solid vehicle inspection program that lives up to the AAA brand, while increasing both the range and affordability of quality used vehicles their members have access to.” 

Contacts:   

Angela Jacobson
mWEBB Communications
Email: angela@mwebbcom.com 
Phone: 714-454-8776

Melanie Webber
mWEBB Communications
Email: melanie@mwebbcom.com
Phone: 949-307-1723

Veteran automotive tech entrepreneurs have developed a standardized certification-as-a-service platform to expand the availability of CPO inventory for 40 million used car buyers

Los Angeles, CA – February 6, 2020 –SureSale, the first and only certification-as-a-service platform to create a consistent, high-quality standard for used vehicles, today closed $7 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Los Angeles-based Upfront Ventures, which has backed successful innovative automotive tech firms TrueCar and DealerTrack.   The funding round includes participation from Coffin Capital and Ventures, who led the seed round, among others.

Founded by automotive and technology entrepreneurs, Jeffrey Schwartz and Donny Hall, SureSale redefines the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) category with a platform that expands the availability of CPO inventory for the 40 million consumers who purchase a used vehicle each year, while meeting the growing consumer demand for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles.

“The used vehicle industry is the largest retail segment of the US economy that, surprisingly, still has major untapped potential to create an independent, gold standard brand and maximize value for both dealers and consumers," said Upfront Ventures partner Kobie Fuller. "Donny and Jeffrey are veteran entrepreneurs who are bringing unmatched industry expertise and a technology-first approach to disrupt the traditional certified pre-owned category. We are excited to be their partners in this journey, especially as it's happening in LA."

As new car costs skyrocket, consumers have shifted their attention to quality used vehicles.  As a result, buyer interest in Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, which come with a guarantee of quality and reliability, has increased 25% since 2016, and OEM CPO programs are experiencing their ninth consecutive year of record growth.  However, because existing CPO is limited to OEM programs, only a small fraction of the quality used car supply is available as CPO.  This means that, nationwide, auto dealers are unable to effectively meet what comprises an estimated two-thirds of used car buyer demand.  

“SureSale’s unique platform, and recognized quality standard, bridges this certification gap by providing auto dealers with expanded opportunities to certify their inventory to increase profitability and meet the needs of the growing population of used car buyers who want to “be sure” about their used vehicle purchase,” said Hall, Co-founder and CEO of SureSale. 

SureSale Certified provides independent and franchise dealers with a turnkey, state-of-the-art certification and marketing platform that allows them to certify more of their used vehicle inventory, across 30 makes and hundreds of models. The SureSale platform provides vehicle history data, mobile vehicle inspections, and VIN specific data, including recalls, as well as current warranty coverages, available coverages and detailed purchase protection. This is all presented through SureSale’s industry leading, proprietary Comprehensive Auto Report (CAReport). Each vehicle that uses the SureSale platform also benefits from VIN level digital marketing and point of sale merchandising support.

“With SureSales’s standardized ‘proof-of-quality’ and nationwide distribution, CPO buyers can have assurance that their vehicles have been checked, inspected, and protected,” continued Hall. “And this provides benefits to auto dealerships as well: studies show that CPO vehicles turn faster, are considered higher value by consumers and increase customer satisfaction.” 

A recent case study of one of SureSale’s auto dealership pilot partners demonstrated that, in just a few months as a SureSale dealer, the dealership’s used vehicle sales increased by 30%, nearly three times greater than the average for the local market YOY. The dealership also reported increases in turn rates and opportunities for gross pick up.

Hall and SureSale co-founder and president Jeffrey Schwartz bring deep backgrounds of success with disruptive automotive technologies that challenged the existing landscape, creating value for both investors and industry.  Hall built one of the largest direct-to-consumer marketers of vehicle service contracts in the country. Over his career, Hall has been a leader and executive of multiple successful technology businesses in Southern California including LowerMyBills.com (sold to Experian), HomeLoanCenter.com (sold to LendingTree) and LeadPoint.com. Schwartz is widely recognized as a pioneer in the automotive Internet with 20+ years of automotive and technology experience. As CEO at Autoweb and Autobytel, both Nasdaq-listed companies, Schwartz formed relationships with every major automotive manufacturer and dealership group and over 25,000 retail franchises. Under Schwartz’ tenure in these roles, over $50 billion in retail sales were generated for participating customers.

SureSale has partnered with dealerships in select markets during its beta program and will use the funding round to further tap into the used vehicle market, expanding its proprietary certification-as-a-service platform, its distribution into franchise and independent dealerships across the country, and its partnerships with key automotive brands, product providers and indirect lenders. 

About Upfront Ventures

Upfront Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm making national investments in technology-forward companies and founders. Since 1996, Upfront has invested more than $2 billion in companies including Maker Studios (acquired by Disney), TrueCar, Ring (acquired by Amazon), Kyriba, Overture, Dealertrack (acquired by Cox Automotive) and Envestnet. upfront.com.

About SureSale

SureSale’s mission is to create the global quality standard by which used vehicles are measured by both buyer and seller.  The new category of vehicle, SureSale Certified, gives consumers access to a greater range of quality used vehicles and the peace of mind that comes from buying a vehicle that has gone through a 150-point inspection and rigorous background check, and comes with a clean title, a detailed CAReport (Comprehensive Auto Report), a 5-month / 5,000-mile comprehensive warranty, a 5-day / 500-mile exchange guarantee, and extended protection plans up to 36 months.  SureSale’s iconic spokesperson, ‘Shirley,’ gives used vehicle buyers peace of mind when buying a SureSale Certified vehicle.  SureSale Certified Dealers benefit from a turnkey, state of the art certification and marketing platform which allows them to certify more of their used vehicle inventory (over 30 makes with eligibility up to 15 years old and 150K miles) and sell more cars. Visit www.suresale.com for more information.

To become a SureSale Certified auto dealership: Contact: 800.818.4575 Email: sales@suresale.com Visit: https://www.suresale.com/dealers

SureSale Media Contact:

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, angela@mwebbcom.com, (714) 454-8776

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie@mwebbcom.com, (949) 307-1723

New sales team includes five auto industry pros with proven track records in growing new markets and a deep understanding of how auto dealerships can fuel CPO sales and ROI

Los Angeles, CA – January 28, 2020 –SureSale, the certification platform that has created the gold standard for quality used vehicles and purchase protection, today announced five additions to its national sales team, each of whom have a track record of growing new markets and a deep understanding of what auto dealerships need to fuel CPO sales and increase ROI. The new SureSale sales team members are: Larry Delwiche, Regional Sales Director; Mike Lisk, Regional Sales Director; Ron Medise, Area Sales Manager; Dino Roussos, Area Sales Manager, and James Driscoll, Area Sales Manager.

The new team, which brings backgrounds that include recent sales leadership roles at automotive companies such as TrueCar, Fair, CarFax, and Edmunds, is charged with expanding the SureSale Certified platform to more auto dealers nationwide just as an affordability crisis hits the new vehicle market, driving more consumers to opt for used - and specifically certified - vehicles.  SureSale enables auto dealers to certify 30 makes of vehicles up to 15 model years and 150K miles, bridging the gap between automakers’ CPO offerings - which are brand specific and have mileage and age limitations – and their “As Is’ vehicles, which offer no consumer assurances, by certifying a much larger percentage of their used vehicle inventory.

“Our new sales team has deeply relevant and extensive expertise at bringing new and beneficial services to auto dealers nationwide.  This will be key to our success as we continue our rollout of SureSale into new markets in 2020,” said SureSale President and Co-founder Jeffrey Schwartz.  “With shopper interest in CPO having increased 26% over the past three years, and OEM programs able to meet only a fraction of that demand, SureSale helps auto dealers meet this CPO surge, as well as maintain a competitive edge over disruptive used vehicle sales models that are trying to capture market share.” 

SureSale Certified provides auto dealers with a turnkey, state-of-the-art certification and marketing platform which allows them to certify more of their used vehicle inventory. Every SureSale Certified vehicle also includes a detailed Comprehensive Auto Report (CAReport), a 5-month / 5,000-mile limited warranty, a 5-day / 500-mile exchange guarantee, and extended protection plans up to 36 months. Studies show that CPO vehicles turn faster, are considered higher value by consumers and increase customer satisfaction.  In fact, auto dealers who use SureSale report increased sales and turn rates. 

Founded by automotive and technology entrepreneurs Jeffrey Schwartz and Donny Hall, SureSale is redefining the CPO category by enabling dealers to expand the availability of CPO inventory for the 40 million consumers who purchase a used vehicle each year, all while meeting the growing consumer demand for Certified Pre-Owned vehicles (CPO). 

About SureSale

SureSale’s mission is to create the global quality standard by which used vehicles are measured at the point of sale or by used vehicle buyers.  The new category of vehicle, SureSale Certified, gives consumers access to a greater range of quality used vehicles and the peace of mind that comes from buying a vehicle that has gone through a 150-point inspection and rigorous background check, and comes with a clean title, a detailed CAReport (Comprehensive Auto Report), a 5-month / 5,000-mile limited warranty, a 5-day / 500-mile exchange guarantee, and extended protection plans up to 36 months.  SureSale’s iconic spokesperson, ‘Shirley,’ gives used vehicle buyers peace of mind when buying a SureSale Certified vehicle.  SureSale Certified Dealers benefit from a turnkey, state of the art certification and marketing platform which allows them to certify more of their used vehicle inventory (over 30 makes with eligibility up to 15 years old and 150K miles) and sell more cars. Visit www.suresale.com for more information.

To become a SureSale Certified auto dealership: 

Contact: 800.818.4575; Email: sales(at)suresale(dot)com; Visit: https://www.suresale.com/dealers. 

SureSale Media Contact:

Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications,  angela(at)mwebbcom(dot)com, (714) 454-8776

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, melanie(at)mwebbcom(dot)com, (949) 307-1723

Used or Certified? More often than not that seems to be the choice car buyers are making during this unsteady sales year. Consider: Edmunds expects new vehicle sales to be down around 20% in September compared to August – and about 10% below September 2018. On top of that, used cars are popular, but demand isn’t spectacular. ALG is forecasting a September increase of just 0.1%, compared to August. 

CPO is different, this year. Cox Automotive and others are predicting increases of around 10% or more, month-to-month. So far, CPO cars are expected to set another record in 2019 – with almost 2 million units sold through the end of August. 

And that spells opportunity for auto dealerships.  

The challenge is that most CPO programs are limited by brand and mileage. Most dealers still have plenty of good quality used vehicles on their lots that are both off-brand and/or with mileage/age that falls outside OEM CPO requirements. Finding a way to bridge that gulf and leverage consumer demand for certification programs was something that the sales pros at Reed-Lallier Chevrolet were looking to accomplish – so they called us. 

We’re proud to have been able to help them increase YOY used vehicle sales 30% after implementing SureSale Certified. So, I thought I would share the positive results and a link to our case study. 

General Manager Cory Lallier is the one who saw the trend and knew they needed to innovate – even though they already had a 1:1 new-to-used sales ratio. He took a look at their sales trends, inventory patterns and studied what consumers were really interested in – then found a way to adapt to the market, create faster turns, and ultimately deliver more quality used vehicles with the peace of mind of a certification program. Our SureSale Certified program fit their market and helped them stay a step ahead of consumer demand. 

After implementing SureSale Certified, the YOY used vehicle sales increase of 30% was nearly three times greater than the average in the local market.  In fact, SureSale contributed to an increase of over 60% in used car sales in just the first month - significantly higher than the YOY average for the top 25 dealerships in the DMA and far greater than the overall used vehicle market in that area. SureSale vehicles also had a faster turn rate 10% higher than non-SureSale vehicles.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the Case Study here. It’s a good story about what one dealer did to keep sales running at a high level. 

Learn more about SureSale Certified here.