0:00 / 0:00
Car Sales Crash in October | Episode 952

Car Sales Crash in October | Episode 952

CarEdge Live Oct 28, 2025 33 min
0:00
0:00

About this episode

October saw a significant decline in new vehicle sales, with projections suggesting a seasonally adjusted rate of just 15.7 million units, down from 18-19 million earlier this year. The hosts discuss how this slowdown could lead to increased inventory and better deals for buyers, particularly as EV sales plummet by 43% year-over-year. They emphasize the importance of leveraging this buyer's market, highlighting the potential for greater discounts and incentives as dealerships face mounting pressure to sell. The episode also touches on the implications for used car values and the overall market dynamics.

Filter:
|
Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

inventory levels

"...the reason it will matter is because their inventory levels will build up. We know, I think, we started the month of October at 2.87 million new vehicles..."

Inventory levels are how many cars a dealership has to sell. If they have a lot of cars, it might mean they're not selling as many, which could lead to lower prices for buyers.

Term

new vehicles

"...at 2.87 million new vehicles, either on dealer lots or incoming this month."

New vehicles are brand new cars that have never been owned before. They usually come with a warranty and the newest technology.

Concept

incentives

"...we should see or would hope to see manufacturers increase their incentives along with their destination charges. But, Dad, I would say it's partly incentives..."

Incentives are discounts or special offers from car manufacturers to help sell more cars. They can make buying a car cheaper or easier for customers.

Term

destination charges

"...increase their incentives along with their destination charges. But, Dad, I would say it's partly incentives..."

Destination charges are extra fees that car buyers pay to cover the cost of getting the car from the factory to the dealership. It’s like a shipping fee for your car.

Concept

dealer discounts

"...it's also dealer discounts. I really don't want to lose sight of that. You've got a slowing sales rate..."

Dealer discounts are price cuts that car dealerships offer to help sell cars. They can lower the price you pay for a car, making it more affordable.

Concept

supply and demand dynamic

"...a slowing sales rate with an increase in inventory. So those are the two components of our supply and demand dynamic."

The supply and demand dynamic is how the number of cars available for sale compares to how many people want to buy them. If there are more cars than buyers, prices can go down.

Term

sales rate

"...a slowing sales rate with an increase in inventory. So those are the two components of our supply and demand dynamic."

Sales rate is how quickly cars are sold in a certain time. If the sales rate slows down, it means fewer cars are being bought.

Concept

buyer's market

"So I think there's a huge story here with regards to just general buyer's market. We continue to get signs day in and day out."

A buyer's market is when there are more cars available than people wanting to buy them. This usually means prices go down, making it a good time to buy a car.

Term

EV sales

"The big story, though, in that decline of sales is that EV sales are expected to decline 43% year over year for October."

EV sales are the number of electric cars sold. If fewer people are buying electric cars, it can mean changes in what people want or how much they cost.

Term

EV

"...to even consider an EV at this point. So that's contributing to the slow down as well. Yeah, but I want to restate here, Dad. EVs make up a very small percentage of overall sales..."

An EV, or electric vehicle, is a car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline. This means it produces no tailpipe emissions, making it better for the environment.

Term

electric vehicles

"...EVs make up a very small percentage of overall sales every single month, less than 10% of vehicles sold are electric vehicles."

Electric vehicles are cars that run on electricity instead of gasoline. They are better for the environment because they don't produce harmful emissions like traditional cars do.

Term

internal combustion engine

"...or an internal combustion engine vehicle,"

An internal combustion engine is a common type of engine found in most cars. It works by burning fuel to create power that moves the car.

Car

Ram 2500

"There are probably also 2024 Ram 15 and 2500s for sale nationwide right now. So if you're a real deal hunter, you could look for a new 2024 as we're about to head into 2026."

The Ram 2500 is a bigger truck than the Ram 1500, made for heavy jobs like towing trailers or carrying heavy loads. It's a popular choice for people who need a tough truck.

Car

Ram 1500

"like we think. This is a Ram 2020, 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, a big horn loan star, $58,985 MSRP. Man,..."

The Ram 1500 is a big truck that you can use for carrying heavy loads or towing things like trailers. It's also designed to be comfortable and nice inside, which makes it good for everyday driving too.

Term

MSRP

"This is a Ram 2020, 2025 Ram 1500 pickup, a big horn loan star, $58,985 MSRP."

MSRP is the price that the car maker suggests you should pay for a new car. It's like a guide for how much the car is worth.

Term

dealer invoice cost

"Dealer invoice cost on this is almost $56,000."

Dealer invoice cost is how much the car dealer pays to get the car from the manufacturer. It's usually less than what they sell it for.

Term

window sticker

"go past the buyer's guide, go past the window sticker, 75 days supply."

The window sticker is a label on a new car that shows how much it costs and what features it has. It's like a price tag with extra information.

Term

trim

"This is 2026 Ram 1500 pickup, a Laramie."

Trim is like a version of a car that has different features. Some trims have more luxury items, while others focus on performance or utility.

Company

Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

"...let's look at this same dealership. So this is Glen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram."

This is a car dealership that sells vehicles from several brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. They offer a variety of cars and trucks.

Car

2025 Laramie

"Okay, so this is the same one, but let's find if they've got a Laramie. These are all trades with a tungsten. Dad, oh my God, a $92,000 one."

The Laramie is a version of the Ram truck that comes with nicer features and comforts. It's designed to make driving more enjoyable with better materials and technology.

Car

Dodge Ram

"So you can see space here. Sometimes with Ram, you can actually get better pricing on the brand..."

The Dodge Ram is a tough truck that people use for work and play. It's known for being reliable and having a lot of options, so you can find one that fits your needs.

Car

Mazda Cx90

"So I encourage everyone to come here and spend some time. Holy crap, crap, that on a CX-90. On a Mazda CX-90 between dealer discount and manufacturing,"

The Mazda CX-90 is a family-friendly SUV that drives more like a car, making it fun to handle. It has a nice look and comes with modern features to keep you and your passengers comfortable.

Concept

pull ahead

"...there was a huge pull ahead in March, April, and May for regular vehicles..."

A pull ahead is when car companies try to get people to buy cars sooner than they would normally. They might offer special deals to encourage this.

Term

wholesale values

"because we are seeing wholesale values decline. So be smart, be pragmatic, take advantage of this moment in time..."

Wholesale values are the prices that dealerships pay for cars when they buy them from auctions or other dealers. These prices can change quickly based on how many cars are available.

Term

depreciation

"the amount of change we're seeing week over week compared to the same time historically, is significantly higher depreciation the past couple weeks than what we had seen in the past."

Depreciation means that as time goes on, your car loses value. This is why a car is worth less when you sell it a few years after buying it.

Car

Honda Passport

"We're talking about Ram earlier down in Florida. Joe helping a customer get $10,500 off one of the heavy duty ones."

The Honda Passport is a type of SUV made by Honda. It's larger than some other SUVs, making it good for families and outdoor activities.

Car

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

"...e broad strokes comments. Vehicles like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, who the manufacturer model year over model year ..."

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a fancy SUV that can handle rough roads and off-road adventures while also being very comfortable and packed with cool features. It's designed for families or anyone who wants a stylish vehicle that can do a bit of everything.

Car

Jeep Grand

"... these broad strokes comments. Vehicles like the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, who the manufacturer model year over mo..."
Term

used car market

"...especially on the used car market or lingering new vehicles that are not of the future model year..."

The used car market is where people buy and sell cars that have been owned before. Prices can change a lot depending on how popular the cars are and their condition.

Company

Stellantis

"...but that's only because Stellantis."

Stellantis is a big car company that makes several brands of vehicles, like Jeep and Dodge. It was created when two companies combined to form a larger company.

Term

finance and insurance

"New cars in white, used cars in blue, dark blue, finance and insurance. So folks, that's when you get your financing through a dealership."

Finance and insurance is the part of a car dealership that helps you get a loan to buy a car and offers insurance options to protect your vehicle. They help you figure out how to pay for your new car.

Concept

market reset

"And so again, as we look at all of the data, we are in the midst of a market reset."

A market reset is when the car market changes a lot, like prices going down or fewer people wanting to buy cars. It can happen because of the economy or other big changes in how people shop for cars.

Term

dealer add-ons

"Your leverage can be if the dealership's saying, hey, the price is MSRP plus $10,000 in dealer add-ons. Yes, you absolutely have leverage."

Dealer add-ons are extra things that the dealership might try to sell you when you buy a car. They can be things like special coatings or warranties that cost more money.

Term

dealer markup

"You say no when it's MSRP plus 10 grand."

Dealer markup is the extra money that a car dealership adds to the price of a car. This can happen when a car is popular or hard to find, making it more expensive than the original price suggested by the manufacturer.

7 cars featured

Request an Explanation

Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.

Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.

Want to learn more?

Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.

Explore Terms

Help improve this episode

See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.

Report incorrect info
Suggest better explanations
Flag missing cars