New-Car Inventory Is Back. Affordability Still Isn’t Fixed.

More Cars on the Lot Doesn’t Mean the Affordability Problem Is Solved

🚗 Wholesale prices are rising again

🚙 Plus: tax refunds are helping demand, Scout slips to 2028, and Toyota shows what a $15K EV can do

Retail Auto Market Update

March 10, 2026

🚗 Your customers may be counting themselves out too early

🚙 Plus: EV incentives, Zoox expansion, shopper hesitation

Why Car Dealerships Are Changing Hands Right Now

🚗 Used Prices Rise, Incentives Return, EVs Cut

🚙 Plus: global shipping pressure, event dates, and one smart AI prompt

🚗 The Signals Dealers Should Notice

🚙 Reliability lists, hybrid momentum, and why service keeps carrying the dealership.

🚗 Service is back (and dealers are feeling it)

🚙 Two markets are forming at once—OEMs widen powertrain choice, EV makers chase scale, and dealers keep winning with dependable used and serviceable cars

Service Lane Optimism Is Back: The Q1 Fixed Ops Data Dealers Should Use Right Now

Cox’s Q1 sentiment rebound shows where profit is headed, and three simple social scripts help you turn it into booked appointments.

🚗 Carvana’s franchised push: dealership #6 and what it hints at

🚙 Plus: Upcoming Events, Quick Hits, and Today in History

What Dealers Should Know About Negative Equity and the Real Cost of Car Ownership

Why buyers hesitate even when the payment works, and how to replace uncertainty with simple monthly ranges.

Q1 2026 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index: Spring Optimism Returns as Dealers Look Ahead Despite Ongoing Market Challenges