May 30, 2016 — UPDATED — A swift kick in the butt from an activist investor followed by a company-wide restructuring has CDK Global’s stock price climbing while possibly signaling the technology firm could be sold within the next several months. This report analyzes the opportunities and challenges presented by the new restructuring and what it…
May 16, 2016 — FordDirect announced today that industry veteran Mike Jurecki will be its new CEO effective June 6. Jurecki previously served as CEO of RouteOne for 14 years where he led the formation of the joint venture of the financial services firm. He replaces Stacey Coopes who left FordDirect in early December (Big… Continue Reading
April 20, 2016 — Greg Miller, the former CEO of the Larry H. Miller Automotive Group, announced last week that he has acquired Bob Baker Toyota from the Bob Baker Automotive Group in San Diego. According to media reports, Miller’s new venture is separate from the Larry H. Miller Automotive Group, the mega dealer group, he… Continue Reading
Last week’s announcement that Holman Automotive is acquiring the Kuni Automotive Group is significant on numerous levels. The Banks Report, which broke the news of the deal, estimates that it is the biggest dealer acquisition since Warren Buffett’s purchase of the Van Tuyl Automotive Group in March of 2015. So what does the deal mean for…
April 11, 2016 — The Holman Automotive Group will announce tomorrow morning that it is acquiring Kuni Automotive, The Banks Report has learned. The acquisition brings together two storied automotive companies and creates one of the country’s largest privately held dealer groups with 33 dealerships located in eight states generating more than $3 billion in annual revenue.… Continue Reading
April 10, 2016 — On Wednesday, Ed Napleton, owner of one of the largest dealer groups in the country, filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen alleging the automaker engaged in criminal racketeering. Napleton owns three Volkswagen dealerships acquiring the Urbana, IL store three days before the diesel emissions scandal exploded in September. Napleton also claims the manufacturer… Continue Reading
Most dealerships today are configured to yesterday’s processes and experiences. The environment hasn’t kept up with the digital age. While most dealerships have effective websites and Internet processes, their store images often don’t reflect the new realities of today’s society – touch screen mobile devices; interactive and personalized digital signage and virtual reality (VR) applications. But… Continue Reading
Being able to interact with some of the leading minds in automotive retail is one of the perks of what I do that I probably value the most. About two weeks ago I wrote a column on LinkedIn about one of those people — Steve Anenen, the former CEO and President of CDK Global. He retired… Continue Reading
April 5, 2016 — Despite a relatively quiet first quarter, the hot merger and acquisition pace among automotive retail vendors the last couple of years should continue well into 2016. From January 2014 to December 2015, the industry saw 47 IPOs, acquisitions and investments totaling an estimated $37 billion in capital changing hands. (Read TBR’s recap…
April 1, 2016 — Despite most of its 236 dealers not in favor of offering no-haggle pricing, Lexus will begin piloting a one-price initiative at 11 stores within the next few weeks, says Jeff Bracken, general manager for the luxury automaker. Lexus has spent more than two years designing the program, called LexusPlus, along with… Continue Reading
