Pedestrian Safety

Kylie Chappell, Safety Compliance Manager It is reported that about 6,000 pedestrians are killed every year by automobiles with an additional 85,000 that report having non-fatal injuries.  As you read these numbers, you might think, “Wow, but I am not a pedestrian because I have a vehicle and drive…so it does not affect me.”  I […]

Using GPS Tracking to Take Away Dangers of Texting

There are still a lot of drivers on the roads getting communications from their employers through texting. Transportation and delivery companies may text drivers to find out about their location and status, or to send them addresses and directions for a new route. Studies keep coming out on the dangers of texting and distracted driving, […]

Tred Auto Experts Launching Unique Public Service

Tred Auto Experts hope to streamline the process of buying a car by bringing on-demand test drives to your home or office, launching its service in Seattle, Washington.

Dealers: find out the benefits of home test drives to your customers. [More]

Edmunds.com Reports on Q2 Used Car Market and Rest of Year

Edmunds.com released a report on second quarter used car activity and found that prices rose 1.9% from first-quarter levels; the average retail price for used vehicles sold at franchised dealerships was $16,134. Year-over-year, prices in the second quarter were down 1.2%

For the rest of 2013, the industry can expect a typical seasonal used price pattern – increasing in spring, stabilizing through early summer months, and then decreasing after that. Edmunds.com also thinks that the midsize car segment may drop more than the average in the coming months. This will likely be due to increasing levels of available inventory.

Are Lengthy Used Car Loans a Bubble Ready to Pop?

Used car loans have been getting longer, according to Experian Automotive – loans of 61 to 84 months made up nearly half of used vehicle loans in the first quarter of this year. Loans in the 61 to 72 month rose 6% during that time, and loans in the 73 to 84 month range spiked up 23%. There was decline in loans with 60 months or less.

The loans are appealing to consumers but are something to watch. Tom Webb, chief economist at Manheim Consulting, thinks it’s a significant trend. Webb thinks it’s a bubble in the early stages of formation.