How did negative equity become one of the automotive industry's biggest affordability challenges, and what does it mean for consumers and dealers?In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, host Erin Keating is joined by Micah Tindor, AVP of Consumer Vehicle Disposal at Cox Automotive, to explore how negative equity became one of the industry's most significant affordability challenges and why its impact is likely to extend far beyond trade-in transactions.How the industry arrived at today's negative equity problem: Pandemic-era vehicle shortages, elevated transaction prices, higher interest rates, and longer loan terms lead to a growing number of consumers who are "upside down" on their vehicles. While negative equity itself is not new, the average amount consumers carry today has grown substantially, making it more difficult to absorb into the next purchase. Why affordability pressures are compounding: Higher vehicle prices, increased financing costs, and rising insurance premiums are putting additional strain on household budgets. For many consumers, negative equity can mean higher monthly payments, longer loan terms, and greater challenges when attempting to replace or trade in a vehicle. How dealers can help consumers navigate the challenge: As more buyers enter dealerships with underwater trade-ins, dealers have an opportunity to play a more consultative role. Leasing, lower-priced vehicle options, and financing flexibility can help consumers work through negative equity challenges.The discussion also examines the implications for used-vehicle acquisition, lender relationships, insurance costs, consumer sentiment, and the industry's ability to balance affordability with consumer demand in the years ahead.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what's happening now, and what's coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at Cox Automotive Insights Hub.

Consumers are still spending, unemployment remains low, and auto sales continue to outperform expectations. But a closer look at the data reveals a more complicated story.In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating and Jeremy Robb unpack the latest economic indicators, from consumer spending and labor participation to trade negotiations and EV lease economics, to better understand what's really happening beneath the surface.In This Episode.Why strong consumer spending may not tell the whole story: Consumer spending continues to rise, but much of the growth is being driven by necessities while household expenses are increasing faster than income, creating ongoing affordability pressure.What labor market data is really signaling: Employment remains strong, but declining labor force participation raises important questions about the true strength of the workforce and where future growth will come from.How EV lease residuals are reshaping the market: Negative equity positions are becoming a growing concern for leased EVs, prompting automakers to explore new strategies to retain customers and keep vehicles out of wholesale channels.The discussion also covers USMCA renewal uncertainty, June sales performance, autonomous vehicle regulation, and the competitive pressures confronting global automakers.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

How did the industry's push toward EVs reshape product development, and what are the long-term consequences?In this special episode of The Auto Market Brief, host Erin Keating is joined by John Murphy, founder of Murphy Automotive Partners, to discuss findings from his newly released automotive product pipeline analysis and the concept he calls the "EV head fake".How EV investments disrupted the industry's product pipeline: Murphy explains how regulatory pressure, capital allocation decisions, and shifting market expectations led automakers to redirect resources toward EV programs, resulting in delayed or canceled vehicle programs and the lowest vehicle redesign rates seen in decades. Why product cadence still matters: As vehicle ownership cycles lengthen and affordability remains a challenge, automakers are facing a growing disconnect between aging product portfolios and rising vehicle prices, creating headwinds for sales growth and customer retention.Why hybrids may be a more permanent solution than many expected: The conversation explores the growing role of hybrids in the U.S. market, how they compare with EV adoption trends, and what increasing powertrain fragmentation means for automakers, suppliers, and dealers. The discussion also examines dealer profitability, brand survival, supplier relationships, and the importance of understanding the automotive industry as an interconnected ecosystem.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

Gas prices are finally coming down, but how much does that actually improve the total cost of buying and owning a vehicle?In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating and Jeremy Robb break down the latest economic signals shaping the market, from declining fuel costs and improving sentiment to the ongoing pressures tied to inflation, interest rates, and vehicle pricing.How much lower gas prices really help: Gas prices have fallen below $4 per gallon, providing some relief for consumers, but fuel is only one part of the overall cost equation.Why vehicle affordability remains under pressure: Even as fuel costs ease, elevated interest rates and higher vehicle prices continue to impact monthly payments and purchasing decisions.What the latest data says about market performance: New vehicle sales are holding stronger than expected, while used vehicle prices remain elevated, highlighting the ongoing tension between demand and affordability.The episode also explores key industry developments, including regulatory focus on pricing transparency, continued investment in autonomous technologies, and signals from subprime lending markets.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

How should we really think about mobility, and what does it mean for the future of transportation, ownership, and the automotive industry?In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating sits down with Joe George, President of Cox Automotive Mobility Solutions, for a conversation that explores the impacts of changes to mobility, from how goods move across the economy to how affordability, access, and technology are reshaping transportation overall:Why mobility is bigger than vehicle ownership: Joe shares a perspective shaped by decades in the industry, emphasizing that transportation is not just about vehicles, but about how both people and products move across the economy, and who ultimately pays for those miles.How affordability is changing transportation behavior: As costs rise, both consumers and companies are making decisions based on total cost, shifting how vehicles are used, owned, and integrated into everyday life.What technology enables, but doesn’t define: From autonomy to electrification, the conversation explores how technology is accelerating change, while reinforcing that the real question is how these innovations solve practical use cases and improve outcomes.The discussion also touches on fleet-driven economics, evolving business models, and what leaders should keep in mind as mobility continues to evolve across the industry.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

What do newly-released May sales numbers, rising hybrid demand, and shifting consumer behavior reveal about today’s auto market?In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Host and Executive Analyst Erin Keating is joined by Jeremy Robb, Cox Automotive’s Chief Economist, to break down May sales performance, evolving demand, and the latest data shaping how the market is responding to ongoing economic pressure:What May sales reveal about market resilience: New vehicle sales improved in May, with stronger performance emerging later in the month and signaling continued stability across the market.Why hybrid momentum continues to build: Automakers offering strong hybrid portfolios are seeing gains as consumers increasingly prioritize fuel efficiency and overall value.How affordability pressure is reshaping demand: Rising fuel costs and elevated inflation are shifting consumer spending patterns, with increased interest in lower-priced and older vehicles pointing to continued trade-down behavior.The episode also explores evolving industry dynamics, including tariff uncertainty, supply chain risk tied to supplier disruption, and how automakers are adjusting EV strategies in response to changing demand.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

What are today’s economic signals really telling us about where the auto market is headed next?In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating is joined by Chief Economist, Jeremy Robb, to break down the latest data shaping the market, from interest rate volatility and inflation trends to consumer spending behavior and recent shifts in vehicle sales performance:What rising rates and inflation mean for affordability: Treasury yields have reached levels not seen in years, driving continued pressure on borrowing costs and influencing how lenders price auto loans across the market.How consumer spending is holding up, and where it’s shifting: Overall spending remains positive, but rising fuel costs are taking up a larger share of consumer budgets, raising questions about how long that resilience can continue.Where sales momentum is coming from today: New vehicle sales are showing strength, supported by growing demand for hybrids, while used vehicle values and EV pricing trends reflect tight supply and sustained interest in more efficient options.The episode also explores key industry developments, from OEM strategy shifts and production challenges to evolving tariff discussions and regulatory activity, offering a clearer view of what these signals could mean for the road ahead.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

How are rising gas prices influencing what consumers want, and what they’re willing to buy next?In this bonus episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating is joined by Alex Bland, Cox Automotive's Sr. Director of Market and Customer Research and Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox Automotive's Director of Industry Insights, to uncover findings from a recent Cox Automotive consumer survey exploring how fuel price increases are shaping shopping behavior, vehicle consideration, and overall sentiment.What consumers are telling us right now: The survey reveals that fuel costs are top of mind for many shoppers, with a majority indicating that rising gas prices are influencing their next vehicle decision, whether that means shifting toward fuel efficiency, delaying a purchase, or accelerating plans to reduce ongoing costs. Why hybrids are gaining traction: Findings show strong interest in hybrids as a more familiar and lower‑risk alternative, offering improved efficiency without the need for a full transition to electric vehicles.What the data says about EVs and the used market: The conversation also explores how ongoing affordability pressures, the growing availability of used EVs from off‑lease vehicles, and increasing consumer familiarity with EV technology are contributing to momentum in the used EV market, even as new EV adoption continues to evolve.The episode also touches on how generational and regional differences shape these trends, and what the latest consumer signals suggest for the path ahead.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

Pricing pressures are building across the auto market while inflation remains elevated, labor signals are mixed, and demand continues to adjust rather than retreat.In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Cox Automotive Executive Analyst Erin Keating and Chief Economist Jeremy Robb walk through the latest economic signals and explain how broader market pressure is showing up most clearly in vehicle pricing, inventory, and affordability, particularly in the used and used‑EV markets.Market pressure in context: Jeremy breaks down the latest CPI and labor market data to set the backdrop for consumer conditions, emphasizing how persistent cost pressures and mixed economic signals continue to influence buying behavior without triggering a sharp market pullback.Pricing and supply dynamics across the market: The conversation focuses on tightening used inventory, rising used‑vehicle prices, and why affordability risks are most acute where price‑sensitive buyers are concentrated. New‑vehicle market conditions, incentives, and day‑supply trends add important context to the broader pricing environment.Tariffs, regulation, and industry strategy: Erin covers ongoing tariff uncertainty, USMCA enforcement focus, Chinese market barriers, and how compliance costs, supply chain complexity, and Ford’s EV manufacturing strategy are influencing vehicle pricing and long‑term affordability.The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.

Service departments are no longer just another revenue stream for dealers, they’re a critical inventory funnel, customer relationship engine, and profit driver. In this special episode of The Auto Market Brief, Erin Keating is joined by Alex Bland, Cox Automotive's Sr. Director of Market and Customer Research, to break down new consumer and dealer research exposing what's changed in fixed operations, and how this area is becoming the most critical profit engine for dealers in today’s market.As vehicle affordability tightens and ownership periods stretch, dealers are losing service share to independents, even as service revenue hits record highs. This conversation explores what’s driving that paradox, where dealers are leaking opportunity, and how trust, transparency, and convenience can turn fixed ops into a powerful retention and sales driver.In This Episode:Why dealers are making more service money, but losing market shareHow convenience, trust, and pricing perception reshape service decisionsWhere service visits unlock sales, trade‑ins, and lifetime valueThe Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next. The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights.