CarGurus COO: CarOffer digital wholesale platform remains solid

By on
Editor’s note: CarGurus said it has the right to buy the rest of CarOffer but has not made a final decision to do so. An earlier version of this story said the company planned to move ahead with that transaction. CarGurus Inc., which acquired a majority stake in CarOffer in 2021, might proceed with plans to buy the rest of the wholesale digital trading platform, a move that could be a show of confidence for the struggling division. And CarGurus COO Sam Zales said CarOffer is poised to break even or become profitable in the second quarter because of the…
Continue reading

Mullen Automotive gives updates on EV deals, factories

By on
Mullen Automotive Inc. MULN, -15.21% gave a business update before market open Monday, with the electric vehicle maker providing details of its latest factory developments and a recently announced $15.8 million contract with MGT Lease Company. The fleet sales and leasing provider took delivery of Mullen’s EV Cargo Vans earlier this year. “The company afterward signed a vehicle purchase agreement, as announced on May 11, 2023, for 250 all-electric commercial Class 3 Cab Chassis EV Trucks,” said Mullen Automotive, in the update. “The contract is valued at $15.8 million and MGT expects to take possession of the vehicles between August…
Continue reading

Ford, reversing course, to keep AM radio on all models

By on
Ford Motor Co. will keep AM radio in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln models and restore it on two electric vehicles via a software update, according to CEO Jim Farley. In a tweetFarley said the decision was made “after speaking with [U.S.] policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system.” The company removed AM radio from the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning and planned to discontinue it on all products moving forward. Farley said the company would look for other ways to deliver emergency alerts in the future. “Customers can currently…
Continue reading

Tips for Pairing Bluetooth Devices

By on
Bluetooth devices are convenient for streaming, communicating, and controlling things remotely. Once connected to Bluetooth, devices can work together seamlessly without needing an intermediary like a router.Unfortunately, each device must be individually connected to share data. Here are some tips for successfully pairing Bluetooth devices. Ensure Devices Have Bluetooth Support The most important thing to look for when pairing your Bluetooth devices is that both devices are compatible with one another. If you’re trying to connect to Bluetooth from a computer or smartphone, check the version to ensure it’s compatible with the other device. You can check the listings in…
Continue reading

I oversee car repairs at a dealership. Here’s what you need to know about maintenance and how we do our job.

By on
Mike Wilhelm is an auto-dealership service director in southeast Michigan.Mike WilhelmMike Wilhelm is a service and parts director at a car dealership in Michigan.He says drivers have some misconceptions about car repair and how EVs differ from gas-powered cars.Here’s his advice for car repair and maintenance, as told to the reporter Alexa St. John.Mike Wilhelm is a 44-year-old parts and service director at Tamaroff Honda and Jeffrey Automotive Group in southeast Michigan. Wilhelm has held various auto-service advisor roles in the industry for more than 22 years and has spent six years with his current employer.…
Continue reading

Auto industry, partners, researchers join the EV charging consortium

By on
The National Charging Experience Consortium has more industry involvement than other government-led consortia, Smart said. The industry has struggled with charging consistency and reliability for a number of reasons, including a lack of data sharing as automakers and charging companies are reluctant to share data with competitors. The national labs will keep members’ data confidential and provide an independent review of data from all participants, Smart said. Industry participation is critical to scaling and validating EV charging infrastructure, Smart said. “Our goal is to produce solutions that the industry buys into and can immediately implement to overcome barriers to charge…
Continue reading

Used car brands that have lost the most value in 2023

By on
Used car prices are still elevated, but there are signs that the market is finally cooling. CarGurus’ used car price index shows that the average used pricing for most brands has fallen over the last year, with some seeing double-digit percentage drops. Tesla, which has reduced its new vehicle pricing several times in recent months, led to a charge with an almost 27 percent drop in used pricing year-over-year. The top 10 list:Tesla: -26.95% Wagoneers: -18.42% Fiats: -14.05% Jaguars: -13.47% Scions: -13.02% Land Rovers: -10.62% Infinity: -9.89% Subaru: -9.41% Alfa Romeo: -9.36% Nissan: -8.91%Some of the numbers are…
Continue reading

The green deal industrial plan and automotive sector impacts

By on
European automobile manufacturers have expressed concerns about the risks posed by the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act and the possibility of ‘investment leakage’ out of the European Union (EU). Also, due to the arrival of Chinese government-subsidized EV manufacturers, more and more brands like NIO, Xpeng, BYD, Byton and several Geely brands have become visible on European streets. Without stronger financial and regulatory support for nascent industries, the scale of the subsidies available in the US and China may attract green and advanced technologies at Europe’s expense – from development to production and manufacturing. The four pillars To address this…
Continue reading