Auto Bytes Blog

America’s pandemic car bubble is now trapping buyers in debt

April 27, 2026

The average amount a borrower with negative equity carries on a vehicle has jumped more than 40 percent since 2021 Doug Horner has seen plenty of customers walk into his northeast Ohio Mercedes-Benz dealership who owe […]

FTC Chair and Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Address Dealer Advertising Warning Letters

April 20, 2026

What’s new: On Friday, NADA hosted a webinar with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to discuss dealership advertising practices. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson provided opening remarks and Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) Director Chris Mufarrige […]

Chinese cars can’t cross from Canada to US, Trump envoy says

March 31, 2026

By Thomas Seal The US won’t allow Chinese electric cars from Canada to enter its market, President Donald Trump’s ambassador in Ottawa said, after a January deal in which Prime Minister Mark Carney lowered tariffs on those vehicles. “Those […]

A new microchip shortage is looming. Automakers are racing to prepare.

March 10, 2026

Automotive industry analysts are forecasting that another microchip shortage could hit in the coming months, which could increase risks for production halts as costs skyrocket. The shortage would not be of general-purpose semiconductors, or microcontrollers, […]

Dealer census – Single-brand stores up as networks shrink

February 23, 2026

By John Huetter Automaker initiatives to shrink dealer networks contributed to the auto retail industry starting 2026 with fewer franchises, but with more dealerships dedicated to just a single brand. The 2026 Automotive News dealer […]

Carvana’s red-hot growth runs on a cycle of borrowed money

February 10, 2026

Attacks from short sellers and the collapse of auto lender Tricolor haven’t slowed down America’s most valuable used-car retailer A white 2024 Tesla Model Y slowly rolls down the lane through a crowd of mostly […]

Jeep maker Stellantis books $26 billion charges in EV reset

February 9, 2026

Automaker says it overestimated demand for electric vehicles Jeep maker Stellantis said it would book charges of about $26 billion, the latest automaker to flush out massive investments in electric vehicles that many Americans are […]

Why are cars so expensive in the U.S. now?

February 9, 2026

With affordability top of mind for US voters as November’s midterm elections approach, Republicans have been focusing attention on one of the most visible pain points for consumers: the price of a new car. The average figure broke $50,000 for the first time […]

Consumer Reports reveals 2026 annual 10 top picks in new cars, trucks and SUVs

February 5, 2026

Every model listed is either a hybrid, available as one, or an electric vehicle for the first time Given the persistently high average price of a new car, it’s crucial for shoppers to choose a […]