Auto loan access improves, UAW Pres. supports tariffs, Ford doubles scholarship program for auto technicians

Hey everyone. Welp—it looks like those “anonymous sources” knew what they were talking about—

Nissan’s NSANY ( ▲ 4.39% ) CEO Makoto Uchida is stepping down.

His replacement? Ivan Espinosa, the company’s chief planning officer, who will officially take over on April 1.

Here we go—a new driver is taking the wheel… now comes the hard part.

— CDG

Used car prices are dropping except…

3-year-old used vehicles—which increased 3.3% year-over-year.

The reason? Tight supply.

If we rewind to 2022—

Only 18% of new cars were leased.

Meaning—only 2 million 3-year-old off-lease vehicles will potentially return to the wholesale used car market in 2025—half of what the industry has grown used to.

The silver lining?

2025 might be the worst of the fallout from the disrupted off-lease cycle. Expect inventory to improve in 2026.

(Data source: Edmunds)

1. Car loans get easier to secure—even for riskier borrowers

Auto credit availability just hit its highest level since late 2022, according to Cox Automotive, climbing 3% year-over-year in February.

 The reasons:

• Approval rates are ticking up, and subprime loans continue to gain share.

• And while longer loan terms are making monthly payments more manageable, down payments and negative equity are creeping higher.

• Despite rising risks, lenders are cutting auto loan rates—likely prioritizing volume in a competitive market.

But with late-stage delinquencies on the rise, the question is how much longer they can keep stretching without breaking … (Go deeper: 2 min. read)

2. UAW President Shawn Fain stands in support of tariffs

Driving the news: Though he supported Kamala Harris in 2024—Fain argues tariffs could reverse decades of U.S. job losses from trade deals like NAFTA and USMCA.

• He points to Stellantis shifting Ram truck production to Mexico as proof that free trade has hurt American workers.

• And With about a third of U.S. pickups built outside the country, Fain sees tariffs as a way to force more domestic investment.

Big picture: Fain’s vocal support, combined with the UAW’s influence over a million workers—many of whom backed Trump—could strengthen the former president’s resolve on trade policy … (Go deeper: 3 min. read)

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3. Ford pumps $4M into scholarships to combat auto technician shortage

Ford F ( ▼ 2.71% ) is doubling its effort to tackle the auto technician shortage, investing $4 million into its Auto Tech Scholarship program.

The details: The initiative—backed by Ford Philanthropy and dealers, will support 800 students pursuing careers in auto service—twice as many as last year’s program.

And with service departments being a major revenue driver for dealerships, attracting and training new technicians is critical.

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects nearly 68,000 openings per year through 2033, while TechForce estimates a need for 350,000 additional techs between 2025 and 2028 …

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

• Trump says he’ll buy a Tesla to help Elon Musk.

• 2024 generated more exclusive Porsche dealerships.

• Volkswagen expects revenue to grow in 2025, says it feels ‘all-American’ as tariffs loom.

• Stellantis has cut thousands of jobs since being born over 4 years ago.

• Ford has sent out 140,000 free Tesla NACS adapters.

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG