General Motors Scales Back Car-Sharing Service Maven

General Motors Co. reportedly is scaling back its car-sharing service, Maven, by stopping the service in eight markets after launching more than three years ago. A GM spokeswoman confirmed the OEM plans to shut down the service in major markets like Chicago and Boston "within the next few months," the Wall Street Journal reported. However, Maven will […]

• Nicole Casperson
• May 21, 2019
• Innovation & Mobility, Operations, Strategy

U.S. Bailout From Last Recession Lives on as Downturn Risks Rise

TARP, the U.S. government bailout program born of the financial crisis a decade ago, lives on today as economists warn of a new recession. Congress authorized the Troubled Asset Relief Program in late 2008 to stabilize the financial system with up to $700 billion — later reduced to $475 billion. To date, about $450 billion in […]

• Bloomberg News
• January 14, 2019
• Capital Markets, Risk, Strategy

4 Auto Initiatives to Watch in 2019

While slowing car sales, an unpredictable tariff war, and a growing affordability issue could all make for a tough 2019, there are a number of auto initiatives that are looking to take off next year. Among them: Fair The used-car leasing app company has its sight set on global expansion in 2019 – and it’s […]

• Bianca Chan
• December 28, 2018
• Innovation & Mobility, Technology

Sedan Sales Marketshare Falls to Record Low in November

Sedan popularity has dropped to an all-time low, as evidenced by November’s new-vehicle sales figures. As a percentage of new-vehicle sales, sedan — or “car” — segment marketshare dropped to 28.8%, the lowest monthly share on record, according to Cox Automotive unit Manheim. By comparison, the segment that comprises light-duty pickups, vans, SUVs, and crossovers […]

• Bianca Chan
• December 11, 2018
• Archives, Capital Markets, Sales & Marketing

General Motors Seen Tightening Integration With Captive Amid Leadership Changes

General Motors‘ latest executive management change appears to be part of a push for integration between the OEM and captive finance arm GM Financial, Jeremy Acevedo, Edmunds‘ manager of industry analysis, told Auto Finance News. Chief Executive Mary Barra is taking charge of GM Financial, according to several reports. GM’s President Dan Ammann, who had been overseeing […]

• Nicole Casperson
• December 7, 2018
• Operations, Strategy

How General Motors’ Closings May Affect GM Financial

General Motors’ plans to close five North American plants, cut 15% of its staff, and halt the manufacture of several car models including the Cruz, raised questions from an Edmunds analyst about how the moves will affect GM Financial. On Nov. 26, the OEM said it was making the cuts to improve near-term performance and […]

• Nicole Casperson
• November 30, 2018
• Innovation & Mobility, Operations, Strategy

Ally Boosts Used Financing to Offset Lower GM, Chrysler Penetration Rates in 3Q

Despite lower penetration rates financing General Motors and Chrysler vehicles, Ally Financial’s efforts to diversify originations kept volume consistent year over year, according to the lender’s third-quarter earnings. Ally’s penetration rates for General Motors and Chrysler were the lowest seen this year. GM’s penetration rate decreased to 5% compared with 7% during the same time […]

• Nicole Casperson
• October 29, 2018
• Earnings, Strategy

At the Big 4, Incentive Spending Drops, Even as Sales Dip

Old truisms apparently do not apply to auto finance. At least for now. When car sales fall, generally captives counter with greater subvention. But after years of incentives marching higher, incentives are dipping. At the Big Four — Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Toyota — the aggregate incentive per unit fell 1.9% to $4,150, […]

• JJ Hornblass
• October 25, 2018
• Credit Performance, Risk, Sales & Marketing, Strategy