Manheim Reports Used Vehicle Prices for Q2 End on High Note
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index hit a record high for the second consecutive month as wholesale used vehicle prices (on a mix-, mileage- and seasonally adjusted basis) rose 1.1 percent month-over-month in June.
The increase brought the Index reading to 129.3, which also represented a 2.5 percent increase from a year ago.
"The volume of transactions is up more dramatically than supply thanks to real demand from dealers and, in turn, consumers," said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for Cox Automotive.
Effective Performance Coaching – ‘Influencing’ and ‘Helping’
By Mike Cieri
The ultimate purpose of performance coaching is the systematic and specific identification of a subordinate’s developmental needs.
Coaching involves three main processes: communicating, influencing, and helping. When communicating, the manager listens, initiates and responds, and gives feedback. We talked about effective communicating in a previous column.
When influencing, the manager persuades the subordinate to move in a particular direction by positively reinforcing desirable behavior.
When helping, the manager expresses concern and empathy for the subordinate, establishes the mutuality of the relationship, and assists the subordinate in identifying his or her developmental needs.
Helping Multinational Fleets Choose the Right Insurance
Fleet Insurance Plus helps multinational fleets understand how effectively and economically structured their insurance programs are - as well as how their insurance can be improved.
Driverless Car Battle Lines Get Blurry
In the earliest years of the push to bring driverless and electric cars to the American masses, the narrative came easily: It was Silicon Valley and its high-tech wizardry squaring off against the old-school manufacturing power of Detroit.
The question of who will lead the development and manufacturing of autonomous and electric cars remains, carrying the weight of who will benefit from the jobs and revenues they create. An April 3 posting on Wired told readers "Detroit is Stomping Silicon Valley." Two days later, Robotics Trends declared "No, Detroit Isn't Beating Silicon Valley."
The answer may lie somewhere in between.
Time to Convert to Fixed-Rate Leases? Talk to Your Finance Department
By Mark Boada, Senior Editor
With short-term interest rates rising, fleets have a critical decision to make: whether to exercise the one-time option of converting their floating-rate leases to a fixed rate.
The upside to a conversion is the avoidance of a possible stream of higher expenses, potentially to the point where short-term, floating rates are higher than fixed rates. The downside is an increase in interest expenses for the remaining life of the lease.
