Category Archives: aftermarket

Trumped – Used Car Prices Spike after Hitting 12-Month Low

Posted on 14 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“With rising prices, flexibility is important,” said Sri Melkote, Chief Analytics Officer at CARFAX. “Shoppers should consider different makes, models, years, trims, or even nearby markets to find the best deals that fit their budget. This type of swing in prices suggests a volatile market, so tracking prices right now is crucial. Once you’re ready, a vehicle history report can help you avoid costly surprises and ensure real value.” Continue reading →

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CARFAX Report Now Predicts a Vehicle’s Future

Posted on 7 April 2026 by Ken Zino

“This marks an important milestone for CARFAX and for the people who rely on our data every day,” said Paul Nadjarian, Chief Product Officer at CARFAX. “With over 151,000 data sources and more than 35 billion records, we’re introducing a powerful new insight into a vehicle’s lifecycle. Much like a crystal ball, our future Reliability will help shoppers understand the road ahead, including what repairs to anticipate and what they may cost, and soon, insights into how long that car will last – empowering consumers to buy with confidence and help them plan ahead.” Continue reading →

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Ground Effects Workers – Yet Another UAW Supply Chain Win

Posted on 2 April 2026 by Ken Zino

Auto supply chain workers have voted to unionize at Ground Effects, the UAW said late yesterday in a  second UAW union organizing victory in two days. Workers at Ground Effects have been organizing since last year. “They began their campaign to form a union due to low pay, overwork, forced overtime, management abuse, and favoritism.,” the UAW said in a release. Workers at Ground Effects won a majority in a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with the UAW. Ground Effects produces spray-on truck bedliners, in addition to other aftermarket parts. Continue reading →

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AAA Promoting April as National Car Care Month

Posted on 1 April 2026 by Ken Zino

AAA said today that it is collaborating with industry organizations, including NAPA, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and the Auto Care Association to celebrate National Car Care Month this April. It wants to highlight the importance of preventive vehicle maintenance as drivers gear up for spring travel. Continue reading →

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J.D. Power – Dealer Service Satisfaction High, But…

Posted on 13 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“While it’s no surprise that customers gravitate to operations that serve them well, the study clearly shows that good service leads to loyal customers,” said John Tenerovich, director of automotive retail at J.D. Power. “This phenomenon proves true across all service types – oil changes, repair, tires and brakes. While complimentary maintenance programs drive strong retention, the level of intent to return for actual customer-paid service depends on the service experience delivered by the dealer.” Continue reading →

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Honda Heritage Parts Program Debuts

Posted on 10 March 2026 by Ken Zino

“In this 40th anniversary year of the Acura brand, the launch of Honda Heritage Parts is especially meaningful, giving Acura enthusiasts the support they need to continue enjoying their first-generation Acura NSX,” said Steven Bailey, vice president of Honda and Acura Parts, Service and Technical Division. “At its core, the new Honda Heritage Parts program honors our shared passion for these iconic vehicles and helps ensure they can be enjoyed by future generations.” Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Goodyear Vault Online Debuts

Posted on 3 March 2026 by Ken Zino

Goodyear* (NASDAQ: GT) has introduced another way for consumers to “experience the company, its brands and its 128-year legacy.” The so-called “The Vault” is an online marketplace where consumers can explore and purchase historic artifacts, signed memorabilia, limited-edition merchandise and … Continue reading →

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Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Posts 2025 Loss of $1.7B

Posted on 9 February 2026 by Ken Zino

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT)* reported fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results today. The 2025 2025 net loss came in at -$1.7 billion. The 2025 net sales were $18.3 billion, with tire unit volumes totaling 158.7 million.

“We delivered another strong quarter, driven by execution of our Goodyear Forward plan,” said Mark Stewart, chief executive officer and president. “Our fourth quarter results mark the highest segment operating income and margin the company has achieved in more than seven years. While we continue to face challenging industry conditions in the first quarter, we are operating with greater focus and discipline on the elements within our control – much as we did throughout 2025 – to navigate the current environment.” Continue reading →

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Tesla, Toyota Top Power 2026 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards

Posted on 26 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“Strong wholesale retention, solid brand value and a disciplined approach on rental fleet and incentives propelled Toyota to the top spot among mainstream brands,” said Danny Battaglia, managing director of ALG customer success at J.D. Power. “Toyota topped six segments for 2026, including a four-peat for GR Supra and five-peat for Tundra. Meanwhile, Tesla avoided the high incentives of other luxury battery electric vehicle brands in 2025. That helped earn it the top rank among luxury brands with the highest performers in three segments–including the refreshed Model Y, which included introduction of a lower-priced base version and additional content on mid-level trims.” Continue reading →

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Ford Carhartt Partnership on Products, Workforce Expansion

Posted on 13 January 2026 by Ken Zino

“The multi-year strategic partnership is designed to create long-term impact in three critical areas for the Essential Economy: workforce development, community building and durable products that help strengthen and support the skilled trades,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company CEO, and Linda Hubbard, Carhartt CEO. Continue reading →

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Honda Aircraft Company Offers Performance Upgrade Package

Posted on 22 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Honda Aircraft Company has announced the HondaJet APMG S, a new performance upgrade package for owners and operators of HondaJet Classic and HondaJet APMG (Advanced Performance Modification Group) aircraft. This provides operators of  early production HondaJets, the prospect of  upgrading their aircraft with technical innovations introduced on more recent iterations of the platform, such as the HondaJet Elite S. The APMG S modifications package has been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as of the time of publication for installation on aircraft registered in the United States of America, with foreign certification planned to follow. [Hardly surprising given Honda’s heritage of innovation and advancement– AutoCrat] Continue reading →

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Pre-Owned Vehicle Marketing – Stellantis, Cox Automotive

Posted on 12 December 2025 by Ken Zino

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA. STLAM.MI) and Cox Automotive Europe today announced the signing of a long-term collaboration agreement that is intended at creating a remarketing ecosystem dedicated exclusively to Stellantis-owned Pre-Owned Vehicles, to be accessible to all professional operators in the … Continue reading →

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Used Ford Vehicles Now for Sale on Amazon Autos

Posted on 19 November 2025 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor (NYSE: F)* said earlier this week that customers can now shop for, finance and purchase Ford Blue Advantage certified pre-owned (CPO) Ford vehicles on Amazon Autos (NASDAQ: AMZN). Key, however, is that the business relationship remains with the participating Ford dealer. Amazon enables the transaction. All follow-up, service, and privacy matters are handled by the dealer, not Amazon. Initially only a small number of dealers are participating.

“This new collaboration allows customers to browse a participating local dealer’s inventory directly through Amazon’s website, complete most of the paperwork online, and then schedule a convenient time to pick up the selected vehicle,” said Wendy Lane is senior manager of Ford Blue Advantage vehicles. Continue reading →

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Annals of Marketing – Porsche Credit Card

Posted on 11 November 2025 by Ken Zino

In Stuttgart today Porsche said that the new Porsche Card offers more than just the simple payment function, it is the key to the Porsche world.*

“‘Feel Porsche in every moment’ – With this motto, the new Porsche Card promises the Porsche spirit in credit card format. The comprehensive service package is specially tailored to Porsche customers and focuses on experiences, comfort and convenience. At the heart of the card are services from the areas of Porsche Family, Exclusive Lifestyle, Mobility and Peace of Mind. Popular benefits such as free Avis Priority airport parking or the comprehensive insurance package have been retained and expanded to include many other services,” Porsche said. Continue reading →

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Goodyear Tire Posts Q3 2025 Loss of $2.2 Billion

Posted on 3 November 2025 by Ken Zino

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT)* posted Q3 2025 results today that showed a net loss of $2.2 billion ($7.62 per share) compared to a Goodyear net loss of $37 million (13 cents per share) a year ago. Third quarter 2025 adjusted net income was $82 million compared to adjusted net income of $102 million in Q3 of last year. Adjusted earnings per share was $0.28, compared to $0.36 (diluted) in Q3 2024.

“We delivered a meaningful increase in segment operating income relative to the second quarter in an industry environment that continued to be marked by global trade disruption,” said Mark Stewart, chief executive officer and president. “This growth underscores our strong product portfolio and the consistency of our execution under the Goodyear Forward plan, both of which we expect to support further acceleration in our earnings during the fourth quarter.” Continue reading →

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