Electric vehicle incentives ramp up, VW faces complicated year ahead, Maserati axes EV sports car

Hey everyone. Join us tomorrow at 9 a.m. EST for our 10th Car Dealership Guy ReactionCast—a live discussion you won’t want to miss.

This week—we’re tackling incentive support from the OEMs and concerns with 3rd party listing services when it comes to pricing transparency.

It’s all happening at cdgcommunity.com, where dealers and industry pros connect, share ideas, and dive deeper into CDG content.

Follow along here to stay up-to-date.

— CDG

Used auto loan rates hit a 25-year high in February (14.73%):

And there are several possible reasons why—

1) Despite inflation easing—more meaningful rate cuts have not happened yet.

2) Used car prices remain near historic highs—pushing lenders to adjust rates upward to account for larger loan amounts.

3) Record subprime delinquencies—lenders might be hiking used auto loan rates to build a buffer against potential future losses.

Bottom line: Unlike new car loans, used financing lacks manufacturer incentives—leaving rates fully exposed to market forces.

(Data source: Cox Automotive / Jonathan Smoke)

Automakers are pulling out all the stops to keep EV sales moving, with February incentives averaging 14.8% of the average transaction price (ATP), or over $8,100—more than double the new car market overall.

Helping to fuel the surge are Tesla’s price cuts, elevated inventory levels, and tax season cash.

For now—buyers are seeing some of the best EV deals in years, but with tariffs and policy changes looming, how long they last is anyone’s guess … (Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Volkswagen’s global footprint (once its primary strength) is now a growing challenge as shifting trade policies and fierce competition in China strain profits.

Despite cutting operating costs by 15%, revenue was flat in 2024, and losses in China could reach $1.1 billion this year. On top of that—restructuring costs have piled up.

Big picture: The company is leaning on U.S. growth, where sales climbed last year, but if trade tensions drive up costs—that momentum could vanish just as quickly as it arrived … (Go deeper: 3 min. read)

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Maserati is scrapping its plans for an electric MC20, canceling the $262,000 Folgore before it ever hit the road.

The reason? Buyers still overwhelmingly prefer gas engines, and demand for an EV version never materialized, according to Maserati.

But the move raises bigger questions about Maserati’s future product pipeline—especially after parent company Stellantis recently sidestepped confirming its broader electrification plans … (Go deeper: 2 min. read)

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG