New and used car buyers borrowed more but secured lower interest rates in the second quarter as competitive monthly payments helped hybrids gain market share. +

Experian reports subprime borrowers accounted for 15.3% of U.S. auto finance originations in the fourth quarter, claiming their largest share of the market since 2021. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index remained at 100 last month, reflecting offsetting indicators that include a lower approval rate and a growing share of subprime loans. +

Dealertrack reports loan approval rates continue to trend upward as of the end of December, capping a year in which the availability of dealer-arranged financing improved by 3.6%. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability index climbed to 99.1 in November, a new high for 2025 and its best level since October 2022, buoyed by higher approval rates and down payments. +

Experian Automotive’s Q3 auto finance report finds EVs were leased at a significantly higher rate than a year ago, setting the stage for a future disruption to the used car market. +

Experian executives say the new Credit + Cashflow Score is their most advanced scoring system to date, combining credit, alternative, trended and banking data into one score. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index increased to 98.3 last month, offering a counter to affordability concerns and continuing a trend toward loosening conditions that began more than a year ago. +

Despite tightening among captive finance companies, the Credit Availability Index was essentially flat on a month-to-month basis in September, ticking back up to July’s 98.1 mark after falling by 0.2% in August. +

Fifth Third Bancorp will acquire Comerica Inc. in an all-stock transaction valued at $10.9 billion, creating the nation’s ninth-largest bank with approximately $288 billion in assets. +