Latest dealership buy/sell trends, VW caught in a tough spot, luxury EV owners take a hit

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1. Dealership M&A activity falls in Q2 after record start of the year

By the numbers: Dealership mergers and acquisitions cooled off in the second quarter after a hot start to the year, with buy-sell transactions dropping nearly 50% from Q1.

Bigger dealership groups are offloading smaller stores, opening up chances for smaller players and first-time buyers to jump into the market.

What’s more? Analysts predict potential rate cuts could boost demand and lower costs for dealers … Read more

2. VW weighing first-ever factory closures in Germany

Volkswagen is considering shutting down some of its factories in Germany as competition from Chinese carmakers heats up. 

Driving the news: Despite heavy investments in EVs, Volkswagen's sales are lagging behind rivals like BYD and Tesla, putting pressure on the automaker to make drastic changes.

The move could trigger a showdown with local unions and even lead to layoffs, breaking a promise to protect jobs until the end of the decade … Read more

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3. Lucid Air owners take a hit as used EV prices plummet

Big picture: EV depreciation is causing a stir, with some jaw-dropping deals popping up on the second-hand market—but at a steep cost to sellers.

Take the Lucid Air, for example. It is barely two years old and already selling for less than half its original price.

While that’s a win for buyers, it's a harsh reality for owners facing rapid value losses.

As EV technology evolves quickly and new models hit the market, used prices will likely keep falling … Read more

• Tesla Cybertruck is in a category of its own, for better or worse.

• A 12-year-old keeps burglarizing Maryland dealerships.

• UAW's tall task: Rebuilding its political power to boost the Harris campaign.

• Hacker reveals Tesla is gathering extra data around its Robotaxi launch site.

• Hyundai's wild sci-fi sports car slated for production.

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG