CDK analysts report U.S. dealers earned a 66% “Easy to Purchase” score last month, down from 85% in October and the single lowest score in the survey’s history. +

Hudson Automotive Group has acquired all 15 Baton Rouge, La.-area All Star Automotive dealerships, which collectively account for 17% of the market’s new vehicle sales. +

Protective’s Rick Kurtz urges dealers and agents to maximize F&I product sales by treating every presentation as an opportunity to help customers manage affordability and mitigate risk. +

A new Cars.com survey of U.S. car shoppers finds 44% are already using AI-powered search tools built into online marketplaces and 97% believe AI will affect their vehicle selection. +

Ford dealers in select cities have a new marketplace for certified pre-owned units: Amazon Autos, where shoppers can secure financing, start their paperwork and schedule a dealership visit. +

Team Velocity and VINCUE have partnered to launch Trade Cycle Intelligence, a new, AI-based solution designed to target and engage customers who may be in the market for a new vehicle. +

Lotlinx analysts say new vehicle sales and supplies improved in a third quarter marked by a run on new EVs while a growing need to clear out 2025 units could produce an incentive-rich Q4. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index increased to 98.3 last month, offering a counter to affordability concerns and continuing a trend toward loosening conditions that began more than a year ago. +

Each of America’s six largest publicly traded dealer group say gross profit per new vehicle retailed declined on a year-over-year basis in the third quarter, some by double digits. +

The Michigan Department of State briefly suspended LaFontaine Chevrolet’s license after accusing the store of selling “new” vehicles that don’t qualify as such under state law. +