Green Automotive Co. Bringing Electric Shuttle Buses to US Market

Green Automotive Company (GAC) is bringing electric shuttle buses to the US market for companies looking for electrified transportation for commuter routes. GAC is the holding company for three units – Liberty Electric Cars and GoinGreen in the UK and Newport Coachworks in the US. In November, Newport Coachworks will start building electric shuttle buses at its production facility in Riverside, Calif. Newport is tapping into Liberty Electric Cars’ experience delivering electric vehicles to parcel delivery and postal fleets, and to plumbers, gardeners, decorators, and other business customers……

Fleet Sales No Longer ‘Dirty Words’ for Automakers

Automakers have had to change their standard operating procedures since being hit hard financially in 2008-2009. Fleet sales has been one of the changeovers tied into attempting to stabilize funding, remarketing, and increasing retail new vehicles sales at higher transaction prices. The days of fleet sales being a “dumping ground” appear to have ended. “Fleet and even rental fleet are no longer dirty words deserving of blanket criticism,” said Maryann Keller, an auto industry consultant and former director at Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc……..

Fletcher Jones Motorcars Takes WardsAuto Remarketing Award

Fletcher Jones Motorcars, based in Newport Beach, Calif., has put a lot into marketing pre-owned vehicles. The dealer spends an average of $3,500 on each unit to prepare it for resale, and this includes inspecting it for structural integrity and doing what it takes to make each car look as good as new.

Fletcher Jones Motorcars was just named No. 1 in the 2013 WardsAuto Dealer Remarketing 150. The dealer sold 2,211 used cars in 2012, which brought in $93.9 million in revenue. The dealership has a very large commitment to taking its cars to a different level, said Garth Blumenthal, the dealership’s general manager.

IARA Brings in Tony Long as New Executive Director

The International Automotive Remarketers Alliance (IARA) has a new executive director – Tony Long. He’s a 20-year remarketing and auction industry veteran, and for the past four years has worked at the Credit Acceptance Corp. Long succeeds Stephen Houston, who served as interim executive director after Matt Mark unexpectedly dies in October 2012.

Long has a lot of experience serving the industry. He was an elected official within both the Southern Auto Auction Association and the National Auto Auction Association. He served as president and then chairman of the Board for NAAA from 2003 to 2005. He also served as the first president and a fellow of the NAAA Scholastic Foundation.

Auction Sales Volume Seeing Growth Over Past Year

Dr. Ira Silver NAAA Economist National Auto Auction Association Auctions have been seeing a strong year for unit volume sold, at a time when other remarketing channels are experiencing growth. National Auto Auction Association reports that auction volume was up 10.1% over July 2012 and 5.2% year-to-date. Pricing at auctions has not seen such a […]