As the year comes to a close, I couldn't help but look back on some of the informative posts my colleagues here at Auto Finance News have provided our readers. The auto industry certainly had a memorable year so why not take a look back on what got you talking the most? I've compiled the Top 5 posts that I feel triggered the most attention and had our members buzzing.  

Let the countdown begin! 

5.  …

Hi Everyone! My name is Jack Papesch and I'm in Tampa, and I'm looking to expand my business. I'd like to find a partner who is knowledgeable about the business and has capital to buy cars with. I have 30+ years of experience in the car business and a ton of contacts and am looking for someone to join me in a mutually beneficial partnership. My company, Tampa Bay Trading, specializes in buy here, pay here deals and sub-prime loans, but I would like to expand my inventory and need some…

Every now and then, you come across an idea that is so simple, yet so genius, you can't help but let your jaw go slack. 

That was my reaction to reading about an incentive offer currently available from Toyota. 

Tweet about buying a Toyota and you'll get a $500 rebate. For every follower or friend who re-tweets the message within 48 hours (up to 10 friends, total), receive another…

Toyota Motor Company announced today its sales and production plans for 2012 which include a 20% increase for the Japanese manufacturer. Could this help the company reclaim its crown as the world’s biggest auto manufacturer after slumped sales this year put them lower on the rankings? Time will tell, but unfortunately the company is destined to lose the No. 1 ranking for 2011 as the…

The forecast continues to look bright for auto sales leading up to yearend. According to J.D. Power and Associates, new-vehicle retail sales continue to show strength, consistent with November performance. 

The monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive reveals that December will be the first time retail sales will…

It’s certainly been a dark week for Saab Automobile, as the Swedish carmaker, formerly owned by General Motors, filed for bankruptcy Monday after a deal with Chinese investors fell through due to opposition from GM.

In the wake of the disappointing news, Ally Financial said on Monday that it does not expect the bankruptcy to have a sustainable impact on its business. Ally, also formerly owned by GM, is the preferred financing provider for Saab vehicles in the U.S. and Europe. The…

In a completely online experience, auto-buying startup CarWoo! aims to help consumers purchase vehicles in a “stress-free” environment. From beginning to end, the process is completed in cyber space — all the shopper needs to do after the process is schedule a pickup. This week, the California-based company announced the closing of a $6 million funding round, bringing its total funding to more than $12 million. The additional funds come…

Ask anyone in auto finance, and they’ll tell you that competition is getting tougher. New companies are cropping up, LTVs are inching higher, and lenders are developing more innovative products.

But how will competition in 2012 differ from competition in years past? What must lenders do to prepare for the showdown? And what’s the likelihood the industry will emerge unscathed?

Buying patterns, pent-up demand, and competition can all affect where auto finance is headed in the year to come, but so far, things are looking pretty good.

“There’s a very attractive nature to the landscape, as auto sales in general are expecting growth,” Peter Turek, automotive vice president in TransUnion’s financial services business unit, told AutoFinanceNews.net. “Other segments don’t have the same certainty.”

In its annual national auto delinquency forecast, TransUnion…

Let me say right from the start that I am pro-Christmas. The lights, the festivities, the fun. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As retailers have used Christmas as a reason to open stores on Thanksgiving and stay open 24 hours in December and introduce doorbuster into everyday English, I've wondered to what degree people were actually spending more money.

That brings me to some recent ads I have…

I've made no secrets about how I think auto lenders should be more innovative and…

NEW YORK ― Auto sales are rising, the unemployment rate has decreased, and consumers are spending an increasing amount this holiday season, but a double-dip recession is still pretty likely, said Beth Ann Bovino, deputy chief economist of global fixed income research for Standard & Poor’s, during a presentation this week.

In fact, the likelihood of another dip in the economy is about 35%, Bovino predicted, noting that improved unemployment data prompted her to lower her estimate…

A faction of the “Occupy Wall Street” campaign has set its sights on the education finance sector. Its strategy: urging people to default on their student loans.

The Occupy Student Debt Campaign, as the initiative is called, was formed as “a response to the student debt crisis and the dependency of U.S. higher education on debt-financing from the people it is supposed to serve,” according to its web…

Consumers in the market for used cars can secure vehicle inspections, financing, and protection plans online, thanks to a new venture developed by Bank of America and inspection company DataScan Field Services.

The service, available at PRNDL.com (pronounced Prindle), is available for cars, boats, and RVs.

“Our goal is to provide consumers with one tool to streamline what can be a cumbersome process when purchasing a used car,”…

Upon the retirement of Barney Frank, leader of the House Financial Services Committee, House democrats will compete for the throne he has occupied since 2003.

This article, featured on Open Secrets Blog, spotlights the contenders, as well as some information about Frank:

Since 1989, Frank has raised more than $13 million for his…

The subprime sector in recent months has been regaining share, signaling some loosening in underwriting practices. In fact, subprime lending accounted for nearly 40% of total loan financing ― including independent and franchised dealers ― as of Sept. 30. Last quarter's 39.9% share was up from 36.7% in 3Q10, according to Experian Automotive’s latest data. Among prime loans, marketshare fell to 60.1% from 63.3%.

Specifically, 21.9% of loans new-vehicle loans were made to people with…

As we’ve seen in recent months, the subprime sector has made its way back into the marketplace, signaling some loosening in lending. According to Experian’s review of 3Q2011, subprime lending is approaching 40% of the marketplace of total loan financing-- including independent and franchised dealers-- up 8.7% from 3Q2010. Prime is down 5% to 60.11% of all financing.

Specifically, on new-vehicle financing, the total subprime market has increased to about 21.87% of all new-vehicle…

A three-year investigation has ended with the indictment of 18 people who allegedly defrauded 18 financial institutions to the tune of $1.9 million. At the heart of the two fraud schemes: 47 loans for high-end vehicles.

Here’s how the alleged fraud went down, according to New York City Police Department and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, which…

Solid sales reports have been trickling in all day, and word is that November sales will push the SAAR to a 13.4 million rate, up 8% from November 2010. The recent buzz in the industry points at sales looking better than we’ve seen since August 2009.

Here’s a taste of November sales (compared with November 2010) for the manufacturers that have released numbers…

Though overall economic activity has increased at a “slow to moderate pace,” auto sales have fared well, according to the Beige Book, an economic report culled from the Federal Reserve Bank’s 12 districts.

Here’s a look at the auto-related data from yesterday's Beige Book:

Motor vehicle sales increased in a number of Districts. Gains in auto sales were noted in…