New-vehicle sales rose 14% in the second quarter, but nearly half (49%) of new inventory remained “aged” (on lot for at least 45 days), and more than half of new-vehicle listings received no vehicle detail page views on an average day, according to Lotlinx’s Q2 2026 Vincensus Report.

The report, built on more than 24 billion proprietary VIN-level data points, finds that the sales rebound — driven in part by the return of the Chevrolet Bolt and the launches of Toyota’s bZ Woodland, the Subaru Trailseeker and Kia’s first hybrid Telluride — masked persistent inventory risk. Average sold price held steady at $44,450 and day supply fell four days to 62. But markdowns rose to 29% of new-vehicle sales.

“The real competitive advantage is inventory precision: seeing risk early at the VIN level, understanding why a vehicle is underperforming and knowing whether the right response is pricing, merchandising, marketing or shopper activation,” writes Randy Kobat, CCO of Lotlinx. “Dealers who act before aging becomes obvious will protect both turn and margin.”

Hybrid demand was the standout powertrain story, with sales up 28% and day supply tightening six days to 49. New EV sales rose 26% but average price fell 12% year over year to $48,144, and 54% of new EV inventory aged — the highest of any powertrain, according to the report.

Lotlinx’s June 2026 Inventory Health Survey found that only 9% of dealers can identify a struggling vehicle within 15 days of its arrival.

Read the full report at Lotlinx