🚗 2025 Auto Sales Rise 2%

TOGETHER WITH

Howdy Friend!

Today’s lineup: dealer sentiment, Greenfield intel, and full-year U.S. market data, all focused on what matters in the store.

But first, a quick shoutout to our friend Liza and the CMA team. Carter Myers Automotive exists to Move Lives Forward, and they proved it in 2025. They served customers, supported local shops, and invested in their communities through schools, food drives, families battling cancer, holiday giving, and reliable transportation programs.

It’s worth noting that CMA’s high-quality operations are the foundation of all their community support. You can’t give anything away if you’ve got nothing to give. 😉 

Big respect to Liza and the CMA team for pioneering the More Than Cars mindset!

Now, let’s get into the news.

Keep Pushing Back,
-Chris with Paul, Kyle & Kristi

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TOGETHER WITH NADA

What Are You Waiting For?

NADA Show 2026 is right around the corner, and this is the one event dealers cannot afford to miss.

Four days of insight, connection and opportunity come together in Las Vegas to help you sharpen strategies, strengthen relationships, and see what’s next for automotive retail.

From franchise meetings and a high-octane Welcome Reception to top-tier education and a packed Expo floor filled with innovations and solutions, it’s everything you need to move your dealership forward.

The hotel deadline is January 12. If you want to lock in exclusive rates at NADA’s official hotels, time is ticking.

The Auto Industry Event of the Year is calling.

Register Today!

THE NEWS

Dealer Trust And Dealership Valuations Improve Heading Into 2026

Dealers are more optimistic about 2026 profits and dealership value than they were a year ago, per the Kerrigan survey. More stores expect profits to rise, and more dealers think their dealership value will increase.

The most useful signal is trust. Toyota and Lexus remain the dealer confidence leaders, with Honda, Subaru, and a few others holding steady.

Meanwhile, Nissan and CDJR sit at the bottom of dealer trust, with Infiniti and Volkswagen also drawing heavy skepticism.

So, the natural answer to news saying things are up or down should not just be “where” but also “for whom.” 🤷 

Policy, Product Mix, and AI Shift: The Auto Industry Playbook

So why does this matter right now?

As tracked in Steve Greenfield’s weekly Intel Report, the industry is still recovering from ongoing policy whiplash, cost pressures, and shifting incentives, pushing automakers toward greater flexibility and margins.

The trend is clear: more high-margin trucks and SUVs, more emphasis on hybrids as the bridge, and growing attention to AI and autonomy as the next investment narrative. At the same time, ownership costs are rising where dealers feel it first: insurance premiums, repair complexity, and total-loss trends.

So, expect more uneven brand support, more pricing volatility, and more customer sensitivity to payment.

Consider writing your own intel report for your rolodex. Add GIFs. Everyone loves GIFs

U.S. Auto Sales Rise In 2025 As Affordability And 2026 Pricing Risks Grow

Despite regulatory uncertainty, U.S. auto sales rose about 2% in 2025 to roughly 16 million vehicles. That’s a stronger finish than many expected.

The mix explains the resilience: gas trucks and SUVs remained the volume engine, and hybrids gained share as shoppers balanced payment, fuel savings, and range confidence. EVs had the roughest year, especially after the EV tax credit changes, and the broader affordability squeeze remains front and center.

Looking ahead, analysts are split on 2026. Rates and lease maturities could help later in the year, but executives are warning that tariff-related costs may surface more clearly in pricing.

By The Numbers: GM, Stellantis, and Hyundai Show The Mix That’s Working

• GM: U.S. sales up 5.5% in 2025 (about 2.85M vehicles). Gains were driven by SUVs and entry-level models.

• Stellantis: U.S. sales down about 3%, but Jeep posted its first annual increase since 2018, a direction change.

• Hyundai: Another record year. Hybrids surged (+36%), EVs still grew, and leaned into U.S. production as a tariff hedge.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Dealer Conferences and Industry Events (2026)

• January 22: Public Policy Day, D.C. Auto Show, DC

• February 3-6: NADA Show 2026, Las Vegas, NV (Looking for a party?)

• May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD

Other News for Dealers

• Lucid deliveries rose 55% in 2025 to 15,841 units.

• CES is signaling a heavier focus on self-driving tech, autonomy, and AI as automakers reassess EV pacing.

• A Utah police department testing AI-generated reports had to correct one that claimed an officer “turned into a frog” after the tool picked up background audio from The Princess and the Frog. 🐸 

Today in Automotive History: January 6

• 1930: Cummins founder Clessie Cummins drove a diesel-powered Packard 792 miles from Indianapolis to New York, proving diesels could handle real-world road trips.

• 1925: Auto exec John Z. DeLorean was born in Detroit, later shaping Pontiac performance (GTO) before founding DeLorean Motor Company and the iconic DMC-12.

You know, no matter how rough the news seems, it’s still about the past. Data cannot create your future. That’s on you. So, “up” or “down” data are only tools in your capable hands. Let’s make 2026 the year when the naysayers were wrong, and the highest hype was an underestimation!