Weekly Wrap Discussion On Leasing, HOG Earnings The Auto Finance Roadmap podcast

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Tariff uncertainty continues to disrupt the auto industry; companies increasingly rely on AI for innovation and efficiency. The auto industry has prepared for an "adjustment period" as 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico were set to take effect on March 4. President Donald Trump announced a one-month delay the next day. The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book showed signs of worry as uncertainty trade policy sets in, with tariffs likely to raise car prices. Meanwhile, AI-driven lending platform Upstart is enhancing its auto refinance technology to enable consumers to complete the process seamlessly, without document uploads and with minimal human involvement. Agentic AI is also growing in financial services as lenders look to enhance customer experience. Capital One is using agentic AI at dealerships to streamline car buying, allowing customers to access information, schedule test drives and compare vehicles online. The Auto Finance News team will publish a feature today detailing the use of agentic AI in the sector. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss top trends including economic uncertainty and AI in auto finance for the week ended March 7. This episode is sponsored by Earnix.…

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Industry eyes stabilized DQs, mixed pricing dynamics 8:14

8 днів тому8:14

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The first half of 2025 is expected to bring stabilizing delinquencies, increased demand for automotive refinance and mixed vehicle price and sales dynamics. Auto loan delinquencies are projected to cool in the second quarter as the market stabilizes, improving lenders’ appetite for auto credit. Auto originations are also expected to increase between 12% to 20% as tax refunds boost consumer demand. Refinance volume is expected to pick up in 2025 as interest rates decline and lenders revamp their refi products to tap into consumer demand. Rates and vehicle prices also will define sales and pricing trends across the automotive industry as pending tariffs are poised to raise car prices by thousands of dollars. On the EV front, possible changes to federal tax credits could impact sales even as EV prices and battery costs continue to decline. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss top trends impacting vehicle sales, pricing and consumer demand for the week ended Feb. 28.…

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Exponential Markets' Fortin on 'volatile' EV pricing 19:48

15 днів тому19:48

19:48

Used EV values have fluctuated amid uncertainty over tax credits and potential tariffs. “For the used EV market, if you want to describe it in one word right now, it's ‘volatile,’” Paul Fortin , co-founder and head of automotive products at Exponential Markets , told Auto Finance News . “The reason it's volatile is that the overall -car market right now is also volatile. There's uncertainty with macroeconomic variables, there’s uncertainty with industry variables, and there’s a normal volatility that exists,” he said. In the short term, with talk of federal tax incentives being eliminated, consumers are rushing to purchase a used EV or lease a new one before the incentives are removed, Fortin said. In January, used EV sales increased 30.5% year over year, reaching 26,933 units, while the supply of used EVs tightened to 45 days’ supply, down 23.3% YoY, according to a Feb. 20 report by Cox Automotive . Meanwhile, after declining in January, the Exponential Electric Vehicle Index, measuring wholesale prices of used EVs and inventory awaiting sale, landed at 91.88 as of Feb. 20, up 1.6% year to date, and 4.2% YoY. “In the short term, you have these forces that are pushing values up,” Fortin said. “On the longer term, you have these forces that are pushing [values] down.” During this special episode of the “Weekly Wrap,” podcast, Auto Finance News Associate Editor James Van Bramer discusses used EV price volatility with Exponential Markets’ Fortin. Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify , or download the episode.…

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CFPB halted, Q4 earnings continue 8:03

29 днів тому8:03

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The Department of Government Efficiency, run by Elon Musk, effectively shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over the weekend, adding to uncertainty regarding operations after CFPB Director Rohit Chopra was fired last week. Auto retailers Asbury Automotive and Group 1 Automotive in the fourth quarter reported a double-digital year-over-year increase in finance and insurance revenue as sales rose. Ford Credit also reported Q4 earnings last week. The captive’s U.S. and Canada consumer loan and lease outstandings increased 8.4% YoY to $89.2 billion as lease volume picked up and credit losses rose. In powersports, Harley-Davidson Financial Services’ originations declined 16% YoY in Q4 and provisions for credit losses rose 27% YoY. North American retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles also decreased 13% YoY, while sales of LiveWire electric motorcycles fell 54% YoY. The AIM Expo Tradeshow last week in Las Vegas highlighted stable promotional activity across the industry along with trends in technology adoption and motorcycle sales. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss trends in compliance, sales, earnings and powersports for the week ended Feb. 7.…

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Auto industry eyes tariffs, credit performance 7:04

5 weeks тому7:04

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Auto lenders are keeping an eye on loan production, credit performance and vehicle prices as tariffs loom. Subprime lender Credit Acceptance Corp.’s originations ticked up 0.3% year over year in the fourth quarter to 78,911 loan assignments as the financier grew its number of active dealers. Negative equity and rising delinquencies continue to be a concern for auto lenders as consumers navigate changing vehicle values and inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, looming tariffs against Canada and Mexico are expected to drive car prices higher, likely exacerbating dealers’ challenges related to supply, profit margins and sales. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss nationwide trends affecting the automotive industry and key updates for the week ended Jan. 31.…

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Weekly Wrap discussion on the 2025 auto finance landscape 16:11

6 weeks тому16:11

16:11

Captive lenders will remain aggressive in the auto space this year after tapping back into auto loans at the close of 2024, when delinquencies cooled. “Delinquency rates for captives have come down and they are improving,” Michael Brisson , director of economic research at Moody’s Analytics, tells Auto Finance News in today’s “Weekly Wrap” podcast. Captives will likely maintain increased appetite in the auto market given that they can “increase incentives not just through cash on the hood but through inverted rates, which helps out OEMs in terms of moving product,” he adds. Banks and credit unions, however, are going to “remain in a wait-and-see mode” as delinquencies in the fourth quarter continued to inch up but at a slower pace than before, Brisson says. Lenders’ “wait-and-see mode” reflects industrywide uncertainty following executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. One signed order focused on eliminating federal EV subsidies could hamper automakers’ and consumers’ willingness to invest in eco-friendly vehicles this year. Another, which is focused on trade policy , highlights Trump’s plan to impose 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico by Feb. 1. Trump’s hopes for added tariffs could fuel pricing instability by driving up vehicle values, adding to affordability woes and increasing automakers’ production costs. “The Trump administration's executive orders don't do anything right away, and there is nothing that was concrete put in place.” Brisson says. “However, in the minds of consumers, things have changed.” That said, there are bright spots in the market as Cox Automotive projects a year-over-year sales increase in nearly every market segment. Cox Auto projects: New-vehicle sales will increase 2.8% YoY to 16.3 million units at yearend 2025, the best year for new-vehicle sales since 2019; EV total market share will hit 10%, up from about 7.5% in 2024, making approximately one in every four vehicles sold or leased an EV in 2025; Full-year used-car sales will reach 20.1 million units, up 1.2% YoY; and CPO sales will decline 1.6% YoY to 2.5 million units in 2025. Listen to today’s episode of the “Weekly Wrap,” as Auto Finance News Associate Editor Ashley Savage discusses the auto finance landscape for 2025 with Brisson.…

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Wildfires spark deferral offers; funding off to strong 2025 9:37

8 weeks тому9:37

9:37

Wildfires impacting large areas of California are contributing to higher auto insurance costs in the state and more deferral offerings from lenders for affected borrowers. The annual cost of full-coverage car insurance in California rose 47.8% year over year in December to $2,575, compare with the average cost across the U.S. of $2,313. The current fires started Jan. 7. Meanwhile, lenders’ funding activity is off to a strong start in 2025 with several issuing asset-backed securitization (ABS) deals. Lendbuzz issued its first auto ABS deal of the year, joining a wave of transactions during the first two weeks. Southern Auto Finance Co. also secured a $100 million warehouse facility with Deutsche Bank and extended its facility with Capital One. Auto sales were strong in the fourth quarter of 2024 across the major manufacturers, and EV sales are poised to pick up in the first quarter of 2025 ahead of the presidential administration change. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss the top stories and trends impacting the automotive industry for the week ended Jan. 10.…

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A look back at top automotive trends in 2024 9:18

9 weeks тому9:18

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The past year has largely been defined by persistent affordability concerns even as vehicle prices stabilize and interest rates come down, as costs for everyday expenses make it challenging for consumers to keep current on debt. The most-read stories of 2024 highlight readers’ interest in how financial institutions navigated affordability challenges and managed risk while looking to maintain or grow their auto books. Technology was core to lenders’ efforts in tapping into new consumers, improving customer experience and making operations more efficient to save time. In powersports, the market largely slowed in 2024 as high costs deterred some buyers but manufacturers and lenders looked for ways to drive sales through promotions and new financing products. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss the top stories and trends of 2024.…

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Affordability key challenge moving into 2025 7:46

12 weeks тому7:46

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Bank pullback in asset-backed lending has spurred growth for lenders that provide floorplan financing for independent dealers, while banks are expected to further tighten credit access in 2025 as demand weakens. Floorplan providers First Business Bank and NextGear Capital have seen a boost in their portfolios as dealers use more of their floorplan lines of credit for inventory and banks scale back in asset-backed lending, including auto. A higher percentage of banks are projected to tighten credit in early 2025 as consumer demand for auto financing is expected to weaken, according to a new Auto Finance News forecast. Higher prices add to affordability challenges, with the average transaction price up 1.5% year over year in November. Incentives helped boost sales and contributed to captives’ lead in new-vehicle financing in the third quarter. As 2024 ends, affordability remains the prevailing challenge for consumers, dealers and lenders across the auto finance and powersports finance markets. In powersports, sales fell 5.4% YoY in November as dealers faced elevated inventory levels, higher floorplan costs and mixed demand. Meanwhile, Hyundai Capital America President and Chief Executive Marcelo Brutti was named the 2024 Auto Finance Executive of the Year. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer look back at trends in 2024 and discuss top-of-mind challenges headed into 2025.…

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Used-vehicle prices rise, EV financing share up 6:47

13 weeks тому6:47

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The Manheim Used-Vehicle Value Index ticked up 0.2% YoY and 1.3% month over month in November to 205.4. High car prices have contributed to affordability pressures for consumers, but incentives are helping drive sales. The latest edition of the Beige Book, citing data collected on or before Nov. 22 by the Federal Reserve, highlights areas of the country where sales activity has rebounded with incentives, while inventory continues to build. EV sales also grew in November, with nearly every major OEM reporting YoY increases. EV financing share rose 30.7% YoY in the third quarter, making up 10.1% of total new-vehicle financing. In powersports, Bombardier Recreational Products’ North American retail sales decreased 11% YoY while product revenue also declined. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss trends in vehicle pricing, EV sales and powersports finance for the week ending Dec. 6.…

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Incentives pick up, dealers eye LTV requirements 6:15

14 weeks тому6:15

6:15

Affordability, credit performance, leasing and digital innovation have been top of mind for auto lenders in 2024. Car shoppers saw some relief over the holiday weekend as Black Friday deals offered low interest rates and cash-back incentives. Lenders are also focused on sustainable growth. U.S. Bank is investing in digital capabilities across auto, recreational vehicle and marine product financing. It aims to support growth as rates decline. Meanwhile, a rise in negative equity is adding to challenges for dealers looking to sell add-on products such as maintenance plans, even while loan-to-value ratios are pushed to their limit. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and associate editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss top trends facing the automotive industry for the week ended Nov. 29.…

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Weekly Wrap discussion on nonprime consumers, improvements on affordability 18:14

15 weeks тому18:14

18:14

Near prime and nonprime consumers are seeing some relief from affordability challenges in the automotive industry following rate cuts by the Federal Reserve but remain cautious about elevated monthly payments. New-vehicle registrations among near prime and nonprime consumers increased 1% year over year and 7% month over month to 161,435 in the second quarter, highlighting an increase in supply and incentives for consumers, according to a report from automation fintech Open Lending published Nov. 15. The increase in new-vehicle purchases reflects a slight boost in consumer confidence following the rate cuts but also highlights ongoing supply and pricing issues in the used-vehicle market, Kevin Filan , senior vice president of marketing with Open Lending, tells Auto Finance News . In this episode of the “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Associate Editor Ashley Savage discusses nonprime and near prime registrations, interest rates and refinance opportunities with Filan . Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify , or download the episode.…

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Podcast: Synthetic fraud rises in powersports, auto 10:25

16 weeks тому10:25

10:25

Auto originations have picked up industrywide even as average payments remain elevated, while manufacturers are increasing incentives to move inventory. Originations totaled 6.4 million contracts in the second quarter, up 0.7% year over year, according to the latest data from TransUnion. The return of leasing and an uptick in incentives are helping address affordability concerns and drive sales. As of October, the average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle landed at $48,623, up 1.7% YoY, according to Kelley Blue Book. New-vehicle incentives climbed to 7.7% of ATP compared with 5% of ATP in October 2023. Meanwhile, auto loan demand weakened in the third quarter while banks’ credit standards remained steady. In powersports, inventory levels continued to build as sales declined 6.3% YoY in October, according to BMO Capital Markets data. Synthetic identity fraud also is a rising concern in the powersports industry, with an uptick in fraud contributing to stolen RVs and mirroring concerns in the automotive finance industry. In this episode of the “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and Associate Editors James Van Bramer and Ashley Savage discuss trends in originations activity, pricing and the powersports market.…

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Podcast: Discussion on automakers' October sales 5:03

17 weeks тому5:03

5:03

Sales at most major automakers increased in October, driven in part by an increase in EV sales. Overall sales increased for American Honda , Ford Motor Co ., Hyundai Motor America , Mazda North America and Subaru of America in October. Volvo, however, saw U.S. sales fall 17% year over year to 9,360 vehicles. American Honda’s EV sales rose 31.1% YoY in October . Honda joined Hyundai Motor America and Volvo in reporting EV sales increases . Ford Motor Co., however, saw EV sales dip 8.3% YoY while hybrid sales increased 38.5% YoY in October. BMW Group saw U.S EV sales fall 5.9% YoY to 12,311 units. Meanwhile, AI-driven lending platform Upstart reported a 46% sequential increase in auto loan originations after it began to redesigning its platform . Upstart’s auto originations totaled $26 million, down 9% YoY. Also last week, Lucid Motors posted an increase in third-quarter deliveries while production disruptions led to delivery and revenue declines for Rivian Automotive . In Powersports, Octane Lending closed a $326 million issuance in the asset-backed securitization (ABS) market on Nov. 7 as the company preps for further growth. Last week’s transaction follows Octane’s $365 million ABS issuance on July 11 and aligns with the New York-based lender’s goal of one ABS transaction every quarter, depending on market conditions. In this episode of the “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Associate Editors Ashley Savage and James Van Bramer discuss key takeaways from third-quarter lender and retailer earnings and the latest news on auto lease ABS issuance volume. Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify or download the episode.…

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Podcast: Discussion on Q3 earnings, auto lease ABS issuance 3:57

18 weeks тому3:57