July New-Vehicle Inventory Declines as Stronger Sales Outpace Replenishment
New-vehicle inventory declined in July as consumers purchased vehicles at a faster pace than automakers replenished dealer lots. According to data from vAuto Live Market View, available inventory at the start of August totaled 2.73 million units, down 3.5% from…
Bonus Episode: Freight Pressures, Rising Costs, and Why Uptime Matters More Than Ever
The Auto Market Brief – Bonus In this Episode Why is uptime becoming one of the most important metrics in transportation, and what do freight markets reveal about the state of the economy? In this episode of The Auto Market…
Kelley Blue Book Report: New-Vehicle Prices Trend Higher in July as Incentives Decline and Sales Pace Slows
New-vehicle prices increased in July to $49,855, the highest level of 2026, according to new data from Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive brand. The average transaction price (ATP) was higher year over year by 1.9% but remained below the…
The Internet Changed Automotive Retail. Will AI Follow the Same Path?
Twenty-five years ago, automotive retail faced a technological shift that would permanently change the industry. As the internet became mainstream, dealers wrestled with familiar questions: Was this a true business opportunity or simply another trend? Would consumers actually change their…
Auto Credit Access Improves Again in July as Yield Spreads Narrow and Approval Rates Climb
In July 2026, the Dealertrack Credit Availability Index rose to 105, the highest level since November 2015. The All-Loans Index increased 0.5% from June’s 104.5 and is up 7% from July 2025. The monthly gain was driven primarily by a…
Auto Market Weekly Summary
This edition of the Auto Market Weekly Summary includes updates on new-vehicle sales and pricing, job growth and employment trends, and consumer credit. Bottom Line Up Front The market found a reason for optimism last week, as hopes for a…
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index: July 2026 Trends
Key Metrics Expert Perspective — Jonathan Gregory, Senior Director, Cox Automotive “Wholesale values kept normalizing through July, continuing the pattern since the spring bounce peaked in March. The Manheim Index closed the month at 210, down 1.4% from June and…
Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch: Audi, Kia and Subaru Improve, As Hybrid Vehicles and SUVs Dominate Shopper Interest Through the First Half of 2026
The latest Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch reports show that new-vehicle shoppers continue to prefer SUVs over sedans, hybrids over pure electric vehicles, and that affordability and fuel efficiency are factors gaining importance with shoppers. While consideration was stable or…
Ep. 14: A New Automotive Market: Tariffs Persist, Chinese Competition Grows, and Profitability Shifts
The Auto Market Brief – Ep. #14 In this Episode How are tariffs, global competition, and shifting profit models changing the rules of automotive? In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating and Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb…
Auto Market Weekly Summary
This edition of the Auto Market Weekly Summary includes updates on personal income and spending, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, and the Consumer Confidence Index: some of the best data we get all month. We’ve…
Bonus Episode: Why AI Is Only as Good as Your Data
The Auto Market Brief – Bonus In this Episode What opportunities become possible when dealers can connect their data, understand their customers more completely, and put AI to work in meaningful ways? In this bonus episode of The Auto Market Brief,…
Cox Automotive Forecast: New-Vehicle Sales Pace Strengthens in July as Buyers Shrug Off Economic Headwinds
Updated, Aug. 4, 2026: Initial estimates suggest July new-vehicle sales totaled 1.36 million units, with a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 16.3 million. The result was below Cox Automotive’s 16.7 million forecast (below), as sales declined 1.8% year over year…