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0% - 3% APR new car deals are roaring back:
After hitting the lowest point since 2019 earlier this spring, low-interest financing has dramatically surged back up—representing over 20% of deals vs. less than 10% in April.
In other words…
Automakers are trying to keep the showroom traffic moving as economic headwinds limit consumers’ capacity to absorb price hikes.
(Data source: Cox Automotive)
Tariffs spark auto lending rebound, but credit cracks remain
Auto loan originations climbed 5.9% year-over-year in Q1 2025, lifted by tariff-driven demand, bigger incentives, rising wages, and softer used-car values.
On paper, it was one of the best affordability windows dealers have seen in years.
But the gains didn’t run deep.
Lending volume is still down 5.5% compared to 2019, with growth concentrated almost entirely among super prime borrowers. By Q2, OEM incentives were already pulling back, monthly payments were rising again, and delinquencies had inched up to 1.31%.
Big picture: Even if 2019 isn’t a perfect benchmark, it shows the market isn’t bouncing back evenly. And that loan growth is being carried almost entirely by the strongest-credit buyers, not a broad recovery across the board.
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Subaru dethrones Toyota in customer satisfaction, Lexus leads luxury rankings
Subaru just overtook Toyota in customer satisfaction, while Lexus surged past rivals to lead luxury.
The latest ACSI rankings show Subaru at 85, Toyota and Mazda at 82, and Lexus climbing 6% to 87. On the flip side, Stellantis brands—Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram—landed at the bottom.
For dealers: Satisfaction is a predictor of loyalty and repeat sales. The brands winning on safety, dependability, and service are set up for staying power, while lagging OEMs leave their dealers fighting perception uphill.
Ford, SK On look to unload surplus batteries in light of EV challenges
Ford and SK On are shifting gears at their BlueOvalSK battery venture, looking to unload surplus packs as EV demand cools.
The Kentucky plant still supplies the F-150 Lightning (sales fell 26% in Q2), but slowing growth has Ford and SK On seeking outside buyers, with Nissan reportedly close to a deal. Plans for additional plants in Kentucky and Tennessee have been cut back, as Ford pivots toward lower-cost EVs powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Bottom line: Ford isn’t exiting EVs, but it’s hedging bets, diversifying customers, and focusing on affordability as the market grows at a slower, uneven pace.
Majority of dealers expect Chinese EVs to hit U.S. shores within a year — report
40% of American consumers would consider buying a Chinese-made vehicle, while 75% of dealers expect Chinese brands to hit the U.S. market within a year, according to a new report from the Dave Cantin Group.
All Star Auto Group agrees to sell 13 dealerships to Hudson Auto for $700M
Matt MacKay, owner of Louisiana-based All Star Automotive Group, has agreed to sell his dealership empire to South Carolina group, Hudson Automotive, for $700 million, reports The Advocate.
(Go deeper: 1 min. read)
