Insights

Cox Automotive provides forecasts on the new and used vehicle markets, leasing, fleet and CPO sales, and the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index. Updates to the full-year 2026 forecasts were announced during the Industry Insights and 2026 Forecast Call on Dec. 17. The Economic and Industry Insights team reviews the full-year forecasts quarterly and updates …

ATLANTA, Dec. 17, 2025 – December new-vehicle sales are expected to finish down from last year, but the pace should pick up slightly from previous months and help push total new-vehicle sales in 2025 above year-ago levels. According to the Cox Automotive forecast released today, the December seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales (SAAR) is …

The U.S. auto industry is a trillion-dollar industry – an economic engine that is not a single business, but a collection of businesses touching nearly every household and community in the U.S. It’s also an industry deeply influenced by a massive web of economic, policy, social, and technological factors. Calendar year 2025 was a perfect …

The Cox Automotive Q4 2025 Industry Insights and 2026 Forecast Call will be held today, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. EST. The presentation is available for download. The Economic and Industry Insights team will deliver a final update on the U.S. automotive market, focusing on the new, used and electric vehicle markets for 2025. This …

Key Metrics Expert Perspective — Jeremy Robb, Interim Chief Economist, Cox Automotive “As we wind down the year, the wholesale market is showing fairly seasonal patterns of price movement: a welcome effect following a volatile year. The seasonal adjustment factor was weaker than usual, causing the overall index to rise more than typically seen this …

The Cox Automotive Industry Insights and 2026 Forecast Call will be hosted on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. EST, shortly before the auto industry closes the book on the fourth quarter. Join us for a 60-minute session in which the Economic and Industry Insights team will deliver a final update on the U.S. automotive market, …

In November, the electric vehicle (EV) market’s downturn deepened, with the expiration of the federal tax credit continuing to weigh on demand. Market share reached multi-year lows as sales declined. Weak demand fueled a surge in inventory, with days’ supply reaching elevated levels. Pricing eased across the market, underscoring an industry struggling to find balance …

New-vehicle affordability improved in November after three consecutive months of decline. Strong wage growth was the difference-maker, more than offsetting higher interest rates and slightly higher transaction prices. The estimated average auto loan rate was down 55 basis points year over year but increased 7 basis points for the month to 9.56%1. The average new-vehicle …

The second full week of December was quiet except for the Federal Reserve’s last meeting of the year – and it delivered some drama. Last week, our team provided updates on credit availability and new- and used-vehicle inventory levels. This week, we will receive new information on jobs and unemployment early in the week, before …

According to an analysis of Cox Automotive’s vAuto Live Market View data estimates, retail used-vehicle sales in November1 increased month over month compared to September.  A total of 1.39 million used vehicles were sold at retail – from both franchised and independent dealers – during November, up 1.9% year over year and 2.3% month over month. Days’ supply …