Through the end of August, model-year 2026 vehicles are still filling dealers’ lots, with CarGurus noting that 85% of new inventory is from this year.
Driving the news: The analysis of inventory through the end of August showed that the current-year mix is the highest since 2020’s 87%.
Last year in August, the 2025s made up only 71.8% of inventory.
Just 12% of the current new inventory is from model year 2027 and 2.1% from 2025.
Myriad of reasons: CarGurus Director of Economic and Market Intelligence Kevin Roberts pointed to a slower rollout of 2027 models, leading to a drop in the percentage of newer vehicles.
“Several high-volume 2027 models are scheduled to launch later in the year, including the next-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra,” Roberts said.
Additionally, he noted that some 2026 models, including the Toyota RAV4, didn’t arrive until later in the calendar year last fall.
Plus, automakers, including Nissan with the Rogue 2026.5, are extending the current model year.
OUTSMART THE CAR MARKET IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK
Get insights trusted by 55,000+ car dealers. Free, fast, and built for automotive leaders.
Models most in supply: Five vehicles stood out with the highest supply, including the Chevy Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Wrangler.
CDG analysis of those five models using Edgar Auto Loan data showed the average loan-to-value ratios were all above 100.
Financing terms have stretched from below 70 months for most models at the start of the year to above 72 for all.
Custom CDG analysis / Edgar Auto Loan Data
Bottom line: As the arrival of more 2027 models nears, the Chevy Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Ford Explorer, and Jeep Wrangler will likely need more aggressive pricing and incentives to move the 2026s.
Roberts noted that total inventory is flat and, with a higher percentage of current-model-year vehicles, OEMs might be looking to better match 2027 arrivals with 2026 departures to avoid swelling overall inventory levels.
A quick word from our partner
Blue sky multiples tell you what the market thinks a franchise is worth.
They don’t tell you what’s driving the revenue underneath.
That’s where the Franchise Horsepower Index comes in, one of the proprietary tools in the Haig Report®, offering our take on the data shaping today’s buy-sell market.
This quarter, Lexus, BMW, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz posted scores more than double the market average.
See how your franchise compares in the Q2 Haig Report®.
