Category Winners Named for 2017 F&I Digital Media Awards
TORRANCE, Calif. — Organizers of the inaugural F&I Digital Media Awards have announced the five category winners as determined by a panel of five judges. Category winners will be honored at the upcoming Industry Summit, where the Grand Prize Winner will be announced. The awards are presented by F&I and Showroom magazine and sponsored by F&I Express.
The winners of the 2017 FIDMAs are:
Category No. 1: Best Product-Specific Digital Media
Axiom: “Key Replacement”
Category No. 2: Best General Education Digital Media
Justin Gasman, McCaddon Cadillac Buick GMC: “Car-Buying Advice”
Category No. 3: Most Unique and Artistic Content
AutoGravity: “How It Works”
Category No. 4: Best Website Feature
GWC Warranty: “Video Carousel”
Category No. 5: Best Mobile App
AutoGravity: “How It Works”
Serving as judges for this year’s contest were:
Gregory Arroyo, editorial director, F&I and Showroomand Auto Dealer Today
Brian Crisorio, vice president of marketing, United Development Systems (UDS)
David Gesualdo, publisher, F&I and Showroomand Auto Dealer Today
Brian Reed, president and CEO, F&I Express
Michael Tuno, president, ARMD Resource Group and World Class Dealer Services
“Congratulations to each of our winners, and thanks to everyone who entered,” said Tariq Kamal, associate publisher of F&I and Showroom and Auto Dealer Today. “The F&I Digital Media Awards were designed to honor innovation in the auto finance space, and these videos, website features and mobile apps prove that innovation is happening at the product provider and dealership levels.”
To watch the videos submitted by all 13 finalists, click on the “Finalists” tab at the contest’s website. Industry Summit will be held Sept. 11–14, 2017, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, and the awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
More Industry

Achromatic Autos
The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens
Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.
Read More →
First-Half Dealership Deals Up
Buy-sell activity shows that acquirers are looking for value and scale as many retailers seek to leave an increasingly competitive and complex market, Kerrigan Advisors reports.
Read More →
Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →