Falling Prices Steer US Buyers Toward Used Electric Vehicles
Steep depreciation and improving reliability are drawing more Americans to used electric vehicles, turning the pre-owned market into a key entry point for buyers priced out of new EVs as federal incentives fade. Falling resale prices that are also driven by rapid advances in battery technology, range and software have pushed many second-hand EVs closer in cost to comparable gasoline vehicles, while over-the-air updates and a growing charging network are easing earlier concerns about ownership, reports Reuters. Used EV sales in the U.S. reached 31,503 units in January, up about 21 percent from a year earlier, according to Cox Automotive. In 2025, used EV sales totaled 378,140 vehicles, roughly 35 percent higher than the prior year, according to CarEdge. Like luxury gasoline vehicles, electric cars depreciate quickly as rapid advances in the features offered mean newer models can outpace vehicles just a few years old. “We’re seeing used EV prices normalize in ways that are opening the category to a much broader set of buyers,” a Carvana spokesperson said. That has helped narrow the price gap between electric and gasoline vehicles in the used market. Click here for the full story.
Audi of America Has a New President. Here’s What to Know About Vito Paladino
Audi of America’s new president may not be a known entity to the brand’s American retail network, but the executive’s most recent post in Canada, where he has deep ties, should translate well to the U.S., one Canadian dealer says. As part of a global management shuffle at German luxury brand Audi, Vito Paladino last month was named Audi of America president and head of Audi North America Region.Paladino, a Canadian national, succeeds Daniel Weissland, who was appointed president of FAW Audi Sales Co. China. Both roles are effective April 1, reports Automotive News. Paladino’s appointment comes as Audi’s U.S. sales slide and U.S. tariffs batter the company’s bottom line. Paladino, joined Audi in 2013, was named Audi Canada president in 2020 and added Volkswagen Group Canada CEO to his duties in 2024. Weissland had also held those roles. Before Audi, Paladino spent around 14 years in various sales, marketing and product roles at Mazda Canada, according to his LinkedIn profile. Weissland has led Audi of America since September 2019, giving the brand’s U.S. dealers consistent leadership after a rough period following the departure of Scott Keogh in 2018. Click here for the full story.
Auto Credit Access Improves in February Despite Rising Lending Risks
The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index rose to 101.3 in February 2026, its highest level since June 2022, as lenders continued to expand access to auto financing despite signs of rising market risk. The All-Loans Index increased 1.5 percent from January’s 99.8 and is up nearly 6 percent from February 2025. The improvement was driven largely by a surge in lending to higher-risk borrowers, even as approval rates declined and financing costs increased, reports CBT News. However, auto loan approval rates fell to 70.9 percent in February, down 60 basis points from January and 40 basis points from February 2025, marking the second consecutive monthly decline. At the same time, the share of loans to subprime borrowers increased 180 basis points month over month, rising from 15.7 percent to 17.5 percent, and is up 320 basis points year over year. February’s reading represents the highest subprime share since March 2025. Financing costs increased as the yield spread widened by 39 basis points, rising from 7.14 to 7.53, while the average contract rate lifted by 29 basis points, from 10.9 percent to 11.2 percent. At the same time, the 5-year Treasury yield decreased by 10 basis points, falling from 3.78 percent to 3.68 percent. Click here for the full story.
How Higher Gas Prices From Iran War Could Impact Hybrid, EV Sales
High gasoline prices caused by the Iran war are starting to push consumers to electrified vehicles and could change the sales mix if they remain elevated for a long period. Vehicle shopping website Edmunds said consumer research into traditional and plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles has picked up since March 2, days after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran. EVs drove most of that increase.“Because gasoline prices only began rising sharply late in the week, the shift in shopper behavior is likely still in its early stages,” Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insights, wrote in the March 11 analysis.To be sure, analysts told Automotive News it takes a far longer period of extended fuel prices to have a dramatic effect on consumer purchase behavior. At this point, no one knows how long the war might go on or its lasting effect on oil supplies and gasoline prices. About a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have said they will not allow ships through the passage, and some Persian Gulf oil production has been curtailed. Click here for the full story.
You Auto Know
In 2024, 4.9 million vehicles were produced at international automakers manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Click here to learn more in the 2025 Economic Impact Report.
CARFAX: Number of ‘Park Outside’ Recalls Plummets
There’s good news in the world of recalls: The number of vehicles that have an urgent “Park Outside” recall has dropped by roughly 600,000 since February of 2025, now sitting at just over 2.3 million, down from nearly 3 million. These recalls are for vehicles at a high risk of having or causing a fire. Automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advise the owners of those vehicles to park them away from any structure, including garages. NHTSA warns that fires can occur even when the car’s engine has been shut off. The bad news? New recalls are being issued with “Park Outside” warnings. In February, NHTSA and Subaru launched a new recall for more than 69,000 of 2025 Forester and 2026 Crosstrek SUVs with a hybrid powertrain. According to Subaru, there’s the potential for a fuel leak. Any leak near an ignition source increases the risk of fire, NHTSA says. Get details here.
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