Panelists at the National Remarketing Conference highlighted business trends including reconditioning changes, CPO vehicles, repossessions, selling platforms (physical auction and online) and pricing. Bank of America, ARI, Mercedes-Benz, and GM were represented on the panel.
Sugarcane grown in California and refined at a refinery in the state's Imperial Valley could be a viable alternative to the controversial corn-based ethanol, and be a source for the fuel much cheaper than paying tariff fees on imported sugarcane ethanol. This ethanol will meet California's low carbon fuel standard - a standard that was heavily supported by voters turning down Proposition 23 on election day.
NADA analyst Jonathan Banks sees mixed messages in the used-vehicle market. On one hand, the auto industry is showing signs of vibrance, but consumers are not as optimistic, due to unemployment and worries over another recession.
EPA and DOE have released the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide. The guide finds that best fuel economy performers are hybrids, but the 2011 fuel economy leader list also includes fuel-efficient clean diesels as well as gasoline models. For the first time, the guide includes medium-duty passenger vehicles, which are generally large SUVs and passenger vans.
As the smartphone market continues to burn white-hot, automakers need to ask themselves one crucial question: Which comes first, the app or the money? The business models are still fuzzy because so many issues around software production and delivery, safety concerns, and consumer demand are still unclear. Some automakers wonder whether they should even expect to make money from in-car apps or just put apps down as cost centers or marketing expenses.