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U.S. Sales Observations for the First Quarter
So much for the slump: U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 2 percent in the quarter following the first full-year decline in seven years in 2017. By the way, first-quarter sales of 4,117,766 not only topped 2017, it beat the first three months of 2016, which turned out to be the best sales year on record. Yep, the market is speeding along nicely, but what’s going on under the hood?
Source: Automotive News

Cars, Cows and a Half-Sunset:
Here's How NAFTA 2.0 Could Look A stopgap NAFTA deal could be around the corner. What might it look like? Though the U.S., Canada and Mexico have made progress recently, including on the critical issue of autos, the majority of North American Free Trade Agreement chapters are unfinished and key disputes remain unresolved. That means a preliminary accord may still need to be changed to satisfy the next U.S. Congress or Mexican Senate and president.
Source: Bloomberg

Car Dealerships Face Conundrum:
Get Big or Get Out Americans who have been buying cars from the same mom-and-pop dealership for generations could be greeted by a different kind of for-sale sign the next time they visit. Small to mid-size dealer groups are selling their businesses to auto-retail giants or investment firms at a robust clip even as auto sales remain strong. The trend—highlighted by Warren Buffett’s entry into the dealership business in 2014—has gathered momentum as electric, shared and autonomous vehicles threaten to reshape the car business.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Market Mix Speeds Toward 70% Light Trucks
Can the U.S. light-truck market get any hotter after eight years of spectacular growth from the depths of the 2008-09 crash? Apparently, yes. Light trucks' sprint toward capturing 70 percent of the U.S. new-vehicle market took a giant leap in the first quarter, capped by a spectacular March. U.S. sales of crossovers, SUVs, pickups and vans set a monthly record of 1,116,280 in March, easily topping 1 million units for only the fifth month on record.
Source: Automotive News

Can Auto Subscriptions Be the Next Big Thing?
The way consumers choose their next car might have more in common with Netflix than the traditional retail system that's defined the automotive industry for more than a century. A plethora of vehicle subscription services being rolled out offer customers the ability to make all-in, month-to-month payments and the option to frequently switch vehicles as their needs change.
Source: Automotive News