Average U.S. New-Vehicle Asking Prices Sets High, and Keeps Edging Up
The average marketed price of new vehicles for sale at dealerships across the United States crept across a nearly 3-year-old record last week — then sprinted into new territory like it was being chased. The Automotive News/Catalyst IQ Vehicle Price and Inventory Tracker hit $51,820 on June 26, eclipsing the previous record set July 7, 2023, by a dollar, according to Rick Wainschel, vice president of analytics at Automotive News data partner Catalyst IQ.In just four successive days, the tracker packed on another $154 to end June and the first half of the year at $51,974 — up $2,421, or 4.9 percent, from the same day a year earlier, and $314 higher than it was a month ago.The average is calculated by Catalyst IQ by gleaning VIN-level inventory and pricing data daily from franchised dealers’ websites nationwide. The average marketed price is the price at which a dealer is advertising a specific vehicle, including discounts. Prices have risen in most but not all vehicle segments from a year ago, Wainschel said, but no segment more than compact sedans, where average marketed prices have risen $2,869, or 12 percent, from the end of the first half of 2025. Click here for the full story.
US Will Not Renew USMCA in Current Form, Sets Stage for New Trade Talks
The United States, Mexico and Canada held a virtual meeting Wednesday for the first mandatory review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. According to CBT News, the U.S. did not agree to extend the pact for another 16 years. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed the outcome in a statement. “The United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form,” Greer said. “As a result, the USMCA is not renewed.” The agreement stays in force while the countries work through unresolved issues. It remains active until 2036 unless a country withdraws or the parties agree to end it sooner. Greer said the U.S. will keep pressing Mexico and Canada on trade deficits and what he called shortcomings in the deal. He confirmed a third round of bilateral talks with Mexico for the week of July 20. The move follows months of warnings from the auto industry. Seven trade groups representing automakers, dealers and parts suppliers wrote Greer in May, urging him to extend USMCA as written. They said splitting the deal into separate agreements would add complexity and weaken supply chains built around the current rules. Click here for the full story.
CR-V Dethrones Ford F-150, Toyota RAV4 as Supply Shortages Hand Honda Top Spot
Honda’s CR-V has capitalized on inventory shortfalls at Toyota and Ford to become America’s best-selling light vehicle in the first half of 2026. U.S. sales of the CR-V surged 19 percent in May and 30 percent in June, to a midyear tally of 226,114. According to Automotive News, the F-150 has been the industry’s best seller in 15 of the past 16 years, but aluminum supply issues have constrained output since the fall. At the same time, a disruptive model changeover for the RAV4 has put Honda in the driver’s seat of the vast compact crossover segment.Beyond its rivals’ inventory troubles, Honda has executed a well-calibrated market strategy to boost the CR-V’s popularity. “During May 2026, nearly one out of five shoppers included the CR-V on their top 10 list,” said Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds. Strong customer retention has been central to the CR-V’s growth, said Jessika Laudermilk, the Honda brand’s head of sales. “Honda typically outperforms our mainstream competitors when it comes to overall brand retention,” she said. Click here for the full story.
Dealership Group Creates Its AI Solutions In-House
Dealers are bombarded with information on the latest artificial intelligence tools and how they will improve their dealership’s operations. But finding AI that actually makes that operation more efficient can be tough. When the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family faced the same issue, it turned inward for a solution. Several of its employees went to school to learn how to use AI. Now, when the group identifies an area where AI could improve its efficiency, it creates its own AI tool to provide assistance. “The biggest thing to do is, you can leverage agentic AI to build solutions to daily tasks,” Kevin Frye, head coach of marketing at the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, told WardsAuto on a phone call. While Jeff Wyler Automotive Family is large – this do-it-yourself approach isn’t just for big groups, Frye emphasized. “I don’t want to discourage dealers,” he said. “You can be a single point and follow this same strategy.” Finding employees who are up to the challenge shouldn’t be difficult, Frye said. “The young talent that is coming into this industry is spectacular,” he said. Click here for the full story.
US Car Payments Hit a Record $777 a Month as Down Payments Drop
The automotive affordability crisis is deepening as average monthly car payments reached a record $777 in the second quarter, with nearly a quarter of U.S. car buyers taking out loans of seven years or more. The average amount financed on a new car also reached an all-time high of $44,156 in the period, according to data released Wednesday by automotive shopping site Edmunds.com. At the same time, stretched buyers have less money to put down on a new car, as the average down payment fell 10 percent from a year ago to $5,815, Edmunds said.According to Bloomberg, it’s the latest sign that there’s no letup in accelerating automotive inflation as the average price of a new car in America has stubbornly remained around $50,000. To afford what was once luxury prices, more than a fifth of new car buyers signed up for monthly car payments of $1,000 or more in the second quarter, according to Edmunds. And that’s led many to owe more on their car than it’s worth and others to default on their loans. Click here for the full story.
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