AutoGO.ca now offers a new tool for gauging theft frequency that could benefit both dealers and their consumers.

The theft frequency estimator, developed by the website in conjunction with National Bank Insurance Auto | Home and Adviso Conseil Inc., is integrated into the used-car listings on AutoGO's website to help buyers looking for a car in the Quebec area visualize the likelihood of theft of the vehicle they're interested in.

The tool could also be useful for dealers who have listings on the site, making them aware of the probability of theft, not only from a purchaser's point of view, but also for the safety of the vehicles on their lot.

With the unfortunate reality of how theft rates positively correlate with insurance rates, the theft frequency estimator is another method to help decide which vehicles are worth listing and maintaining in dealer stock.

Dominic Caron, the marketing manager for National Bank Insurance Auto | Home, hopes the tool will help automotive customers gauge their finances.

"Damage, such as theft, generally impacts the insured's premium," Caron said. "The theft frequency estimator gives consumers an additional tool to assist them in making well-informed decisions when managing their insurance budget."

The national car theft rates which power the estimator are based on data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

AutoGo.ca Integrates Used Car Theft Frequency Estimator........ www.redlineautosales.ca/autogo-ca-integrates-used-car-theft-frequency-estimator.htm

GM Canada to Recall Over 57K Vehicles

GM Canada to Recall Over 57K Vehicles

OSHAWA, Ontario - 

After recalling 187,000 units the week before, General Motors Canada announced late last week yet another safety issue involving air bag inflators – bringing the recall count closer to 50 this year for the GM automaker.

The most recent recall covers 57,706 vehicles in Canada, involving a variety of models.

First up, dealers will replace the driver’s side air bag inflator in 4,066 2013-2014 model year Chevrolet Cruze sedans in Canada.

“The inflator in the driver’s front air bag may rupture and/or the air bag may not inflate during air bag deployment,” the company statement said. “A rupture could propel metal pieces of the inflator into the vehicle cabin, possibly striking and seriously injuring the driver or other vehicle occupants.”

Furthermore, if the inflator does not inflate the air bag, there is an increased risk of injury to the driver.

The company is aware of one injury related to the issue.

Next up, dealers will recalibrate transfer case control module software in 53,607 full-size pickup trucks and SUVs in Canada.

Affected are four-wheel-drive versions of the 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra; the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban; and the 2015 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL.

“In these vehicles, the transfer case may electronically switch to neutral without input from the driver,” the company explained. “If this occurs while a vehicle is in motion, no power will go to the wheels. If the vehicle is stopped or parked, it may roll away if the parking brake is not set.”

GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this particular issue.

Lastly, dealers will also replace the two rear shock absorbers in 33 2014 model year Chevrolet Corvettes in Canada with the FE1 or FE3 suspension to repair a possible insufficient weld in the rear shocks that could lead to a fracture and/or reduce the shocks’ service life.

GM is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to this issue, either.

Shortly after GM announced this recall last week, a group of Toronto dealers launched a suit against GM Canada and parent company General Motors Co.

a group of prominent GM Canada dealers is suing the company and its parent General Motors Co.

Adria MacKenzie, corporate communications manager at GM Canada told Auto Remarketing Canada this morning, "A number of Toronto dealers have taken legal action against GM. The claims are without merit, and we plan to defend against them vigorously."

"We will continue to be focused on our customers," MacKenzie added.


GM Canada to Recall Over 57k Vehicles............. www.redlineautosales.ca//gm-canada-to-recall-over-57k-vehicles.htm

CarProof Finds 37% of Canadian Used Vehicles Have a Lien

LONDON, Ontario - 

In news relevant to both dealers and consumers, CarProof data reveals that more than one-third of the vehicles have a lien, or security for debt owing.

The company shared, interestingly, this is a fact that most Canadians are "largely unaware of."

Specifically, CarProof's study of vehicle history reports showed that 37 percent of vehicles in Canada have a current lien on them.

Liens present an interesting issue for both dealers and consumers as they represent the right of a lender to keep possession of the vehicle belonging to another person until a debt owed by that person is paid in full.

After discovering how common car liens are, CarProof conducted a consumer survey to measure how aware Canadian consumers really are when it comes to this issue.

Survey results shows 63 percent of respondents "underestimated the presence of liens."

That said, most respondents - 88 percent - said they do see the value of a lien search before buying a used vehicle.

Many vehicle history reports include this information, such as CarProof and Carfax.

In response to the study, CarProof put together a video further detailing what a lien is and how to look for one during the vehicle shopping process.

Video can be found here:  https://www.carproof.com/car-advice/buying/what-is-a-lien

Wholesale Prices Push Down in May

Though wholesale prices remain elevated, rates were on the way down in the lanes this past month.

In May, the Manheim Canada Used Vehicle Value Index was down four points from April to sit at 98.9.

Though rates are falling from early-spring highs, this number remains up 12 points year-over-year.

That said, Don Wallace, general manager at Manheim Toronto, told Auto Remarketing Canada, "The industry is seeing softening to the hyper-inflated used vehicle prices of 2013.

Don Wallace, Manheim Toronto

"The first quarter of 2014 has shown more traditional levels. Retail new volume generating the majority of the auction business through dealer trades is noticeably, as well," Wallace said. "Prices have also been inflated due to U.S. buyers, or exports to U.S. by Canadian sellers, which have declined in the past quarter, as well."

All vehicle categories Manheim Canada tracks decreased month-over-month.

When asked what is pushing the index down in 2014, Wallace said, "Several manufacturers have experienced shortages in new vehicle deliveries for the 2014 model year, but productions has now caught up to demand, influencing late model demand at auctions."

Compacts led the way in May for price declines, with a 7.8 point decrease on the index.

This trend is primarily due to prices at the pump.

"Compacts have steadily declined in the past year as consumers have adapted to current pump prices. This has become the norm every time we see spikes in the price of gas after initial quick run ups," Wallace explained.

Vans followed with a decrease of 5.1 points; mid-size cars fell by 4.9 points; luxury cars dropped by 3.6 points; and pickups dropped by 2.4 points.

The smallest price drops seen this month was in the SUV segment. These vehicles saw a drop of 1.4 points on the index.

"Pickups are still in very short supply. SUVs are tied to gas again where the buyers have been acclimatized to current price at the pump," Wallace said.

Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Wallace said, "Time will tell," but he predicts incentive movement might serve to push prices down further.

"I suspect more micro-economic factors affecting new vehicles sales will drive OEM's to adjust incentives to maintain sales volume, which will have a bigger effect on used vehicle pricing than economic conditions," he said. "If one or more of the top sellers' sales decline through the summer months then we can expect aggressive incentive spending to recapture business. Heavy incentive spending, which has been on the decline, would adversely affect used car prices. Seasonal prices are also expected to normalize to traditional adjustments."

http://www.redlineautosales.ca/wholesale-prices-push-down-in-may.htm

 

Carfax to Offer Canadian Dealers Subscription Rates

Carfax is redisiging their vehicle history reports for Canadian dealers.

Carfax is ramping up their presence in Canada, with a redesigned vehicle history report for Canadian dealers as well as a subscription-based offering.

Now, Canadian dealers can enjoy similar benefits to those U.S. dealers have been enjoying since 2011, through the Carfax Advantage Dealer Program.

This news comes after the company hired Jon Arnett as head of Canadian operations last October.

"This is really just some updates to our service in Canada to better meet the needs of Canadian dealers and consumers," Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax, told Auto Remarketing Canada. "I think Canadian dealers are going to find some new tools to make our products even more valuable to them as they are trying to sell cars in the country."

read more here: www.redlineautosales.ca/carfax-offer-canadian-dealers-subscritption-rates.htm

Traderev partners with Apex for inspection services.......................... www.redlineautosales.ca/traderev-partners-with-apex-for-inspection-services.htm 


TradeRev and Apex Inspection Solutions announced today a strategic partnership to offer vehicle inspection services to TradeRev buyers across Canada.
TradeRev customers can now order post-sale vehicle inspections right from their desktop with the simple click of a mouse, thanks to a new partnership between TradeRev and Apex Inspection Solutions. This new feature will also soon be available to users on their iOS or Android device.
"Partnering with Apex adds yet another value-added service that helps ensure our buyers receive as much vehicle information as possible" said Brad Hart, TradeRev COO. "We strongly encourage our buyers to take advantage of this service and realize the benefits of Apex's national coverage, quick response times and detailed accurate inspections."
Inspection services are of particular value to buyers who purchase from outside their province. Inspections are conducted before transportation expenses are incurred and allow out-of-province buyers to assess the condition of their purchases long before vehicles arrive on their lot.

BMW Canada reveals new top exec

BMW Canada has a new leader.
Hans Blesse assumed the role on Tuesday after the company announced former president and chief executive officer of the BMW Group Canada Eduardo Villaverde was leaving the company.
Villaverde had taken on the role in September 2011 after running the company's operations in Spain.
Blesse has been with the company for 27 years and has served in the role of vice president of BMW Motorrad USA since 2012.  Kris Odwarka succeeds Blesse as VP, BMW Motorrad USA.

Read More Here: www.redlineautosales.ca/bmw-canada-reveals-new-top-exec.htm