Skip to Navigation Skip to Content

WardsAuto

Steve Finlay

Steve

Finlay

Senior Editor,

WardsAuto

Connect

sfinlay@wardsauto.com

Author Bio

Editor of WardsAuto Dealer Business magazine, Steve writes about automobile dealers and retail practices.

Articles

New Product Aims to Help Car Dealers Get More Clicks on Their Own

CarGurus' senior director-product, draws distinctions when asked if a new product, SEM Plus, isn’t competing against the company that offers it.

More Types of Shoppers Get Financing, Then Pick Vehicle

WardsAuto speaks with Tim Russi, Ally’s president-auto finance, and Clearlane founder Jeff Danford about a car-buying process that started at dealerships’ special-financing operations but now is online and appealing to more than just the credit-challenged.

Imagine a World Without Uber

If Uber and Lyft didn’t exist, surveyed people said they would take fewer rides and walk more.

Giddyup Call for Expediting Autonomous-Car Development

Adient’s advanced-development director offers guidelines for the industry effort of creating autonomous vehicles that will make today’s cars look Jurassic.

Vehicle Market Forecast: Partly Cloudy, Maybe Rain

In a WardsAuto Q&A, Blackbook’s Anil Goyal talks about weakening preowned vehicle values, the prospects of new-car vehicle incentives this year and the possibility of a car-segment comeback.

Predictive Analytics Company Expands Into Customer Conquesting

“Predictive analysis changes the way cars are sold,” automotiveMastermind co-CEO Marco Schnabl says. “It’s better for everyone, not just the customer.”

Buick Hopes Encore Owners Will Buy Up to Envision 2

“It’s for people moving on up,” says Rick Spina, executive chief engineer for the ’19 Envision CUV.

Automotive Lenders Warm Up to Alternative Credit Data

Consumers are not one-dimensional, and neither are their credit profiles,” says Peter Oburu of Equifax.

CDK: New Open Platform Set to Revolutionize Auto Retailing

In a WardsAuto Q&A, top executives describe how and why the company’s heralded Fortellis came into being.

Win at Auto Retailing? Become ‘Student of the Game’

Brian Finkelmeyer of vAuto offers three tips on how dealers can become more efficient during changing times.

Survey Says Consumer Desire to Own Vehicles High 1

Alternative transportation services will supplement not replace ownership, says NADA’s Jonathan Collegio.

Hyundai Intros EV That Doesn’t Try to Look Like One

“People can say, ‘Boy, for not a whole lot more money, I can get into a CUV electric,’” says Chief Operating Officer Brian Smith, predicting the Kona EV’s expected popularity.

In Unveiling All-New Altima, Nissan Touts Cars as Cool

In a WardsAuto Q&A, a Nissan design executive explains why, despite the popularity of SUVs, young people like cars.

Ford’s Farley: Dealers Great; Retail Changes, New Product Coming

For the franchised dealer system to succeed in the future, “it will have to evolve,” Jim Farley says after paying homage to Ford dealers.

All-New Lincoln Aviator Called ‘Seductive’ Not ‘Predatory’

Too often, vehicles in the upscale SUV market look like they are on the attack, says Lincoln design chief David Woodhouse.

Insights

Apr 24, 2018

Article

WardsAuto

U.S. Light-Vehicle Forecast: April Sets Stage for Strong Q2

Sales are expected to continue to run near a 17 million-unit SAAR in the second quarter, but decline in the second half of the year....More

Mar 8, 2018

Video

WardsAuto

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5L Atkinson 4-Cyl. – 2018 Award Acceptance

Masashi Hakariya, project manager-engine development at Toyota, accepts award for Toyota Camry Hybrid at 2018 Wards 10 Best Engines ceremony....More

Apr 24, 2018

Article

WardsAuto

2018 Wards 10 Best Interiors: What a Concept!

This year's competition saw 40 nominated interiors that were all-new or significantly improved from the prior year, and even some of the vehicles that didn't make the list pushed boundaries with regard to style, materials and colors....More