A Missouri dealership upped its sales of used vehicles by incentivizing service techs to get each one through the reconditioning process within 48 hours.

The dealership group hired former Disney creative director Marguerite Celeste as senior vice president and chief marketing officer, effective immediately. It is Celeste's second stint with Lithia.

The acquisition would make Lithia the second public dealership group in the Canadian market.

Gurley Leep Automotive Family and PSD Automotive Group each acquired stores in the second quarter, while dealer Steve Phillipos bought his second dealership in Homewood, Ill.

The automaker is speeding up the establishment of a direct-sales network in China for the locally produced Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, with five more stores opening on July 17.

The tool, Esntial Commerce, has been rolled out initially at Penske's CarShop used-vehicle stores before a planned expansion to franchised dealerships.

Northeastern auto dealer Jonathan Sobel's latest acquisition of luxury stores in Pennsylvania follows his February purchase of three rooftops in Auburn, N.Y.

VW said ending the Passat will allow its Chattanooga plant flexibility to boost sales of its other products, the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport crossovers, as well as the launch of the ID4 EV there next year.

The retailer's net income jumped in the second quarter on record revenue generated by surges in new- and used-vehicle sales and higher margins.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda and other executives will not attend the opening ceremony.