TOGETHER WITH

ICYMI

Saturday, on The Automotive State of the Union, Paul and Chris talked about NADA’s recent Socktober event where NADA Academy students collected over 13,000 pairs of new socks for people in multiple cities.

Just another way NADA represents what dealers care about, and dealers invest in what their communities need.

Excellent work, Friends.

Check out the full episode here.

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

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THE NEWS

Ford’s Big Moves: From Amazon to a New Era in Dearborn

Ford + Amazon + Dealers

Ford is expanding its digital footprint by selling certified pre-owned vehicles directly on Amazon—marking a major moment in modern retail. The launch starts in LA, Seattle, and Dallas, where shoppers can complete purchases online and pick up from participating dealers.

• 160–180 dealers have raised hands; ~20 are already launching.

• Inventory stays with franchise partners, but buying happens where customers already shop.

• CEO Jim Farley has called Tesla’s direct model a “cost advantage.” This move shows Ford’s ready to test that thinking in the real world.

New HQ. Who Dis?

Ford’s 2.1M-sq-ft World Headquarters is an ultramodern campus with a “James Bond villain’s lair” showroom built for product decisions and cross-team work. With 14,000 employees inside a seven-minute walk, the goal is momentum—design, software, AI—under one roof.

As Kyle Mountsier said: “There’s something magic that happens when community and collaboration live in the same space.”

Strategy: Captive Lenders and Used EVs

Credit is easing up in spots while approvals tighten slightly, and used-car shoppers are slowing their pace—except for EV buyers, who continue to move quickly through the $20–30k lane. Here’s what matters this morning:

Credit & Risk

• Captive lenders and banks loosened credit standards in October, especially across franchised used and non-captive new channels.

• Subprime share rose modestly as terms lengthened and down payments dropped.

• Approval rates fell by 1.4 points month over month, while yield spreads widened 12 bps—showing lenders are balancing risk carefully.

• Delinquencies held steady at 2.05%, and defaults rose 1.3% from September but remain 13% lower year over year.

Lead with payment-first merchandising, prep for longer terms, and keep pathways open for tiered approvals.

Read more on this moment in Auto Economics from Cox Automotive here.

Used EVs

• Used EVs sold faster than gas models, averaging 34 days to turn compared to 43 for ICE.

• The average used EV price landed around $29,900, with nearly two-thirds priced between $20–30k and most showing under 40k miles.

• EVs made up only 1.6% of total used inventory, yet they dominated sales velocity—led by the Model 3, Ioniq 5, ID.4, and Mach-E.

Stock affordable EVs where demand is active, highlight warranty and charging value, and be ready to answer questions quickly.

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

How Fast is Your Funding, Really? New 2025 Benchmarks Inside

This year’s survey reveals where time disappears during financing, and how top stores get it back.

The biggest drags? Stip collection, documentation errors, and rehashing. Download the full report to get the data, plus dealers' wishlist for tools to speed things up in 2026.

See how you stack up →

EVERYTHING ELSE

Automaker Quick Hits

Audi’s U.S. SUV on Scout

Audi will produce a range-extended EV SUV on VW’s Scout body-on-frame platform in Blythewood, SC starting late 2027, sidestepping a new plant and tariffs to revive U.S. sales.

Jeep’s comeback plan

Jeep targets a comeback after six years of U.S. declines by resetting prices and unveiling four models in four months, capped by the Wrangler-inspired, all-electric Recon debut. Quality issues and a fresh PHEV recall still weigh.

Chevy tops dealership uniformity

Pied Piper’s AI review of 18,662 stores ranked Chevrolet most consistent in facility look (score 60), ahead of Honda and Toyota; Tesla, Lucid, and Polestar scored lowest.

Tesla decouples U.S. supply chain

Tesla told suppliers to remove China-made parts from components for U.S. factories within 1–2 years, accelerating decoupling while it cultivates non-China sources (including Mexico) and nascent U.S. LFP capacity.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

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Today in History

1883 - The Day of Two Noons

On this day, American and Canadian railroads agreed to create four standard continental time zones, ending the chaos of thousands of local times and helping trains run on schedule across the continent. Getting people where they want to go has always set the terms for innovation and collaboration—and, at least once, it even time-traveled.