Lower payments, shorter trade cycles, improved credit markets and increased sales pressure from the OEM's are all contributing to push vehicle leasing back into the forefront of consumer automotive finance. Our friend Jennifer Reed of Cherokee Publishing just posted an article "Leasing Opens Back Up as Automakers Seek Higher Sales" that details everything going on in the current auto market.

Our friends at Auto Remarketing are reporting about a recent Microsoft survey focused on the buying habits, expectations and preferences of Millenials - the newest generational demographic made up of buyers 18-29 years of age. Respondents were asked a series of questions including their thoughts about making a choice between negotiating at a dealership or going to the dentist. http://digg.com/

Auto Dealer Monthly's latest issue has a nice report how Boch Honda in Attleboro, Mass. is finding vehicle leasing is coming back in a big way. www.autobidsonline.com/news/boch_honda.pdf And although I disagree that residuals have to be inordinately high or subvented by the OEM's to have consumer appeal, Boch is still driving shorter trade cycles, increasing customer satisfaction and realizing

Unbeknown to many consumers is that you can actually lease a used car. And when you think about it, the whole idea makes complete sense. A 1 year old used car has already encountered the dramatic first year of depreciation. In years, two through four, a car depreciates far less and as a result, you get a great 'new' car for about 20-30% of the money. According to used leasing expert David

We're getting stories almost every day that used vehicle prices are strengthening and this is certainly great news for vehicle lessors. Today, we get two stories from our friends at Cherokee Publishing / Auto Remarketing Today: KBB Sees Strong Used Vehicle Values, Demand Continuing Ford Reports Resale Values Up 23 Percent We all know strong resale values mean less residual risk to lessors.

Revisiting How To Use TMV And What Exactly Is It?A year ago we published a highly regarded article on how to use Kelly Blue Book's TMV in your next new car purchase. Here we, take a look back a year later and update the article with some amazing developments that have occurred in the last twelve months.

Dr. Mike Smitka is one of the world-renowned experts on the Japanese automotive business. I met him through David Ruggles who shares the rights to their AutosAndEconomics blog on Google Blogger. Check out Smitka's latest take on Toyta and let me know what you think!

Attended the opening of the 2010 Dallas Car Show. There are some great new rides out there. I hope you enjoy the pictures!http://www.flickr.com/photos/autobidsonline/sets/72157623428937487/

Great news on the indirect consumer leasing front. It's been a long way since the crash of July 2008.Jim Henry reports some green shoots are beginning to show in an article posted at BankRate.com. On the heels of the Toyota debacle, this is certainly great news!

After Toyota's dramatic decision to halt sales on its eight biggest selling models, it announced yesterday that it would begin selling again - provided dealers have enough parts to repair existing customers vehicles first.http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100205/RETAIL07/100209917/1290Surely this is a smart decision for the manufacturer who has blundered its PR management