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%. +
The latest new vehicle sales reports show U.S. dealers sold more vehicles in 2025 than in 2024 but performed better in the first three quarters of the year than in Q4 and December. +
Record numbers of new and used vehicle buyers committed to a monthly payment of $1,000 or more in the fourth quarter, but interest rates ticked down for both groups. +
Automotive News reports Nissan has revamped its stair-step incentive strategy for 2026, eliminating a $1,200 per vehicle bonus for U.S. dealers who reach 110% of their quarterly sales goals. +
Tesla sold 418,227 new EVs in Q4, down 15% year-over-year, finishing 2025 with sales of 1.6 million new units, an 8.1% decrease from 2024 and less than half the global tally of China’s BYD. +
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. +
Cox Automotive’s Q4 Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index finds dwindling optimism among retailers as escalating costs, prices and uncertainty affect profits and consumer confidence. +
U.S. dealers enjoyed gains in F&I profit per vehicle retailed, products per deal and monthly F&I income in the third quarter, offsetting losses in average front end gross and total gross per vehicle. +
CDK analysts report U.S. dealers earned a 66% “Easy to Purchase” score last month, down from 85% in October and the single lowest score in the survey’s history. +
