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Reynolds and Reynolds Co., Cox Automotive and CDK Global are all seeking or contemplating new acquisition deals in 2023 as they work to modernize their offerings. And they may have their pick of potential targets because of a tough fiscal environment for startups.

Leaders of the three biggest retail technology companies confirmed to Automotive News that they're looking to buy other companies or products or are at least open to opportunities should they arise. While none offered details, they'll likely target dealer management software technology that includes legal compliance, consumer data platforms, robotic process automation and new-vehicle inventory tools, said Steve Greenfield, CEO of venture capital firm Automotive Ventures.

"The three legacy DMS providers have the benefit of thousands of existing paying dealer customers and are thus ideally positioned to acquire 'tuck in' acquisitions to cross-sell into their installed dealer base," Greenfield told Auto…

Anyone overhearing Ram's Super Bowl ad from another room might confuse it with a run-of-the-mill male enhancement pitch.

Ram's spot, however, is about providing a different kind of spark. The truck brand is taking on range anxiety ahead of the 2024 launch of its electric pickup that will be known as the 1500 REV.

The innuendo-packed commercial planned for the fourth quarter is one of two from Stellantis after the company sat out last year's Super Bowl. Jeep is also using Sunday's game to spread the word about its electric ambitions. It's the first time Jeep created a Super Bowl spot to be deployed at a global level, the company said.

Stellantis is expected to be joined by only a few other automakers. General Motors is promoting its transition to EVs, while Kia is touting a new off-road version of its gasoline-powered Telluride crossover.

Ram's 60-second commercial provides the first glimpse of the production version of the 1500 REV and explores "…

GM, Kia and Stellantis have ponied up the money for 60-second ads during Super Bowl LVII. Here is a look at the ads.

Ram: Premature Electrification

Comedian Jason Jones, a former correspondent on "The Daily Show," offers a reassuring message for those who might be suffering from EV range anxiety. The upcoming electric 1500 REV pickup has a cameo.

Jeep: The Jeep 4xe “Electric Boogie”

This second Stellantis offering for the big game features a remix of the popular "electric slide" line dance by Jamaican Reggae singer Marcia Griffiths. Reggae artist and producer Shaggy joins Griffiths for the new track, which also has performances by up-and-coming artists Amber Lee, Jamila Falak and Moyann.

Kia: Binky Dad

A desperate dad needs a vehicle that will help him retrieve his baby's binky, and his odyssey becomes a viral sensation. Kia is presenting three alternate endings for the ad on its TikTok channel to generate engagement.

The MIT research scientist discusses his work with the Advanced Vehicle Technology Consortium probing how new driver-assistance tech influences human behavior, and how these systems differ by manufacturer.

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Detroit's City Council is calling for Stellantis to resolve long-standing complaints about foul odors emanating from a Jeep assembly plant by relocating some of the nearby residents.

The council last week approved a resolution urging the automaker to "offer home buyouts at fair market value." It also asks Stellantis to cover the costs of retrofitting homes near the plant with air filters, air monitors, HVAC systems and new windows — or to "completely and permanently eliminate the noxious odors emanating from the facility."

Stellantis has agreed to a $1.8 million fund to repair residents' homes to protect them from local environmental effects, the resolution said, but the money is "apparently insufficient" to meet residents' needs.

Air pollution issues near the Detroit Assembly Complex - Mack date to 2021 when the plant began production and neighbors started complaining of foul paint smells.

Since September 2021, Stellantis has been subject to a ha…

Auto dealers fear higher interest rates will affect consumer vehicle demand in 2023, and some expect the increased borrowing cost to erode finance and insurance product sales volume or force lower rate reserve margins.

Automotive News' 2023 Dealer Outlook Survey of 264 dealers and dealership managers in January found interest rates were overwhelmingly dealers' biggest concern for 2023, with 70 percent of respondents ranking higher rates among their top three worries for the year.

Dealers said higher interest rates would affect not just their ability to sell vehicles but their ability to stock them, with higher floorplan costs expected by many dealerships.

Thomas Castriota, dealer principal of Castriota Chevrolet in Hudson, Fla., said dealers are beginning to regain access to inventory and vehicles are not turning as quickly. So inventory expense is likely to grow in 2023, he said.

But he thought dealers also were concerned about interest rates "…

A week later, it's hard for me to understand how Elon Musk won his defense from a lawsuit by investors saying they were misled when he inaccurately tweeted that he had "funding secured" to take Tesla private.

It was a case of a CEO publicly stating something that was important, relevant and not true.

Musk had already settled a Securities and Exchange Commission suit over the tweets, with the automaker and him each paying fines of $20 million, which is a lot of money for most of us.

In May, a U.S. District Court judge said Musk's comments were inaccurate and irresponsible, as discussions over Saudi funding were "clearly at the preliminary stage."

Said Judge Edward Chen: "No reasonable jury could find that Mr. Musk did not act recklessly given his clear knowledge of the discussions."

He would leave it up to a jury to decide if the false comments led the stock to rise.

Seeing how the share price jumped dramatically, it seemed like a n…

Imagine a tiny army of software "robots" that perform mundane and repetitive data-entry tasks for dealership employees — actions such as inputting online sales leads or determining the value of trade-ins.

While that may sound far-fetched, it's a reality at the nine stores owned by Servco Pacific on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui and Kauai. (Servco also owns 19 stores in Australia.)

Since early 2022, the stores have been using an advanced technology called robotic process automation that automates the manual transfer of data, said Brandon Kamigaki, auto retail product manager at Servco.

"Our employees used to come to work in the morning and review and input leads and type vehicle information into valuation tools, then send a price back to the customer," Kamigaki said.

"But now the robots do all that work," he added. "And they can create a valuation and send it back to the customer in about 15 minutes, rather than having the customer wait unti…

Ford Motor Co. on Monday plans to announce details of a massive electric vehicle battery plant it has decided to build in Marshall, Mich., two people with knowledge of the company's plans told Crain's Detroit Business, an affiliate of Automotive News.

The automaker is scheduled to hold a news event at Ford Ion Park in Romulus on Monday, according to an advisory Ford sent Friday.

The event will be centered on how Ford "is working to scale EVs quickly and, ultimately, make them more accessible to customers," Ford said.

The announcement will include details about the $3.5 billion factory and 2,500 new jobs in Marshall, the two officials told Crain's.

The state has offered $1 billion in incentives, including cash and site development funds, from Michigan's Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, one of the sources said. The account has around $200 million that is not spoken for. Lawmakers will be asked to add $800 million in a supplemental s…

Ross Gerber, a vocal Tesla Inc. shareholder, said he will pursue a board seat at the electric-vehicle maker, with a goal of reining in Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.

Gerber, co-founder and chief executive of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, confirmed his intentions during a Twitter Spaces audio conference Bloomberg hosted Friday. He said he's formally announcing his plans next week.

"I think it is crucially important to take criticism and this is something that I have realized over the years with Elon, you know, he's very thin skinned," Gerber said. "I've kind of had enough."

Musk and Tesla representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gerber did not say how he intended to secure the board seat. He said he had close relationships with some of Tesla's biggest institutional investors including Ark Investment Management LLC (0.15 percent) and Baillie Gifford & Co. (0.85 percent), but did not say if they specifically sup…

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday mandating that vehicle owners and independent repair shops have the same access to repair and maintenance tools and data as automakers and their franchised dealerships.

The bill — known as the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act — was previously introduced last year by Illinois Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush, who retired after his term ended Jan. 4.

The legislation would require all tools and equipment, wireless transmission of repair and diagnostic data and telematics systems needed for vehicle repairs be made available to the independent repair industry.

To ensure cybersecurity, it would allow automakers to secure vehicle-generated data and require NHTSA to develop standards for how that data can be accessed securely.

The bill would create a stakeholder committee with the authority to provide recommendations to the Federal Trade Commission on …