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The Car Market Has Reached a Tipping Point | Episode 974

The Car Market Has Reached a Tipping Point | Episode 974

CarEdge Live Dec 03, 2025 25 min
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About this episode

The automotive market is experiencing a significant shift, with new car sales declining and used car prices depreciating rapidly. The latest Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index reveals a drop in dealer confidence, signaling economic uncertainty and lower consumer traffic. Discussions highlight the challenges faced by dealers, particularly independents, as profitability declines and customer engagement wanes. Despite these challenges, buyers have more leverage than ever, making it a favorable time for shopping for vehicles. The episode also touches on potential future market improvements contingent on interest rate changes and manufacturer incentives.

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Car

Saturn Outlook

"... market index fell to 38 from 43 in Q3 and future outlook declined to 42 from 46, both well below the posit..."

The Saturn Outlook is a big family SUV that was made a while ago, from 2007 to 2010. It's talked about because it's no longer made, and people often look at older models to see how they hold up.

Car

Volkswagen Id4S

"...I'm a Volkswagen dealership and I've got ID4s that have a 471 days supply. I have no leverage. I'm the dealer."

The Volkswagen ID.4 is a fully electric SUV made by Volkswagen. It has a roomy interior and uses electricity instead of gasoline, making it more environmentally friendly.

Car

Dodge Charger

"...or the Dodge Charger below it or the Subaru Soltera below that..."

The Dodge Charger is a large car that is popular for its powerful engines and sporty design. It's often seen as a classic American muscle car.

Car

Subaru Solterra

"...or the Subaru Soltera below that or the Grand Wagoneer below that."

The Subaru Solterra is Subaru's first electric SUV. It has all-wheel drive, making it good for outdoor adventures and rough weather.

Car

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

"or the Subaru Soltera below that or the Grand Wagoneer below that. The market dynamics have shifted sign..."
Car

Jeep Wagoneer

"...or the Grand Wagoneer below that. The market dynamics have shifted significantly..."

The Grand Wagoneer is a large, luxurious SUV from Jeep. It's designed for comfort and can handle off-road driving, making it versatile for different terrains.

Company

Cox Automotive

"...and I love this report from Cox Automotive because it's the industry telling you..."

Cox Automotive is a company that provides services and information to car businesses. They help companies understand the car market better with their reports and data.

Car

Toyota Camry

"Make your holiday wishes come true with a new Camry, RAV4, Tacoma and more. Alright, let's sing it to..."
Car

Toyota Rav4

"...e your holiday wishes come true with a new Camry, RAV4, Tacoma and more. Alright, let's sing it together..."
Car

Toyota Tacoma

"Make your holiday wishes come true with a new Camry, RAV4, Tacoma and more."

The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck that is known for being tough and good for off-road driving.

Concept

manufacturer incentives

"So let's spend a second on how do cars become more affordable tomorrow. It's manufacturer incentives and dealer discounts."

Manufacturer incentives are ways that car companies help lower the price of their cars. They might offer cash back or lower interest rates to make it easier for people to buy a car.

Concept

dealer discounts

"It's manufacturer incentives and dealer discounts. That's what we anticipate and quite frankly with the initial data we have."

Dealer discounts are price cuts that car dealerships give to help sell cars. They can lower the price you pay when buying a car.

Term

440% financing offers

"quite frankly with the initial data we have, 440% financing offers."

A 440% financing offer sounds like a very high interest rate for a car loan. It's important to understand what interest rates mean when borrowing money to buy a car.

Concept

manufacturer to dealer incentives

"...there's probably some pretty big stair step or manufacturer to dealer incentives this month for them to hit volume thresholds..."

These are bonuses or discounts that car makers give to dealerships to help them sell more cars. It makes it easier for dealers to sell cars and clear out their stock.

Term

payment calculation

"can we go to the CarEdge machine and do a payment calculation?"

Payment calculation is figuring out how much money you will pay each month for a car loan.

Company

CarEdge

"We're here at CarEdge.com. What do you want to do? Just pick a car."

CarEdge is a website that helps people figure out car payments and how much cars are worth.

Car

Genesis

"Do you want to do an $84,000 Genesis?"

Genesis is a brand of luxury cars that comes from Hyundai, similar to how Lexus is to Toyota.

Term

average car price

"Let's pick something that's closer to the average of $50,000."

The average car price is how much most cars cost, which is usually around $50,000 right now.

Car

Genesis GV70

"All right. So we've got a Genesis GV70 Select MSRP 54760 dealer invoice, $52,022."

The Genesis GV70 is a fancy SUV that looks nice and has a lot of cool features. It's important because it competes with other high-end SUVs and is talked about for its price and what you get for that money.

Concept

higher profit margin

"And the third thing could be where the manufacturer says, OK, we're going to start building less expensive cars instead of the higher profit margin, more expensive cars."

Higher profit margin means that a car costs a lot less to make than what it sells for. Car companies like to sell cars that make them more money.

Term

$3 million new cars

"But that doesn't change what's going on for the current $3 million new cars sitting there."

$3 million new cars are extremely expensive cars that are usually very luxurious or special. They are not the kind of cars most people buy.

Car

Toyota Sienna XLE

"...2024 Sienna XLE with the inverter..."

The Toyota Sienna XLE is a version of the Sienna minivan that has extra features for comfort and convenience. The 2024 model is designed for families and includes modern technology to keep everyone safe and entertained.

Term

retired service loaners

"And many of the manufacturers will also offer their new car lease special rates on retired service loaners. Yeah."

Retired service loaners are cars that dealerships let customers use when their own cars are being fixed. They usually have low mileage and are in good shape.

Car

Acura TL

"I've owned two of them. We owned a TL at one time and we had an MDX at one time that were both retired service loaners."

The Acura TL is a luxury car that is comfortable and has a nice interior. It's a popular choice for people who want a good-looking and reliable sedan.

Car

Acura MDX

"We owned a TL at one time and we had an MDX at one time that were both retired service loaners."

The Acura MDX is a luxury SUV that has a lot of space and is great for families. It comes with many features to keep you safe and comfortable while driving.

Term

certified service loaners

"...the dealer to utilize the new car lease programs on their certified service loaners and pre-owned vehicles..."

Certified service loaners are cars that dealerships let customers use while their own cars are being fixed. These cars are usually in good shape and can be sold later as used cars.

Company

AutoTrader

"Look at their brands up here, AutoTrader, that's a dealer website, Central Dispatch..."

AutoTrader is a website where you can buy and sell cars, making it easier to find what you're looking for.

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