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Midweek Automotive News


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Welcome to From the Newsroom, a roundup of news from Cox Automotive and perspectives from its analysts and experts on topics dominating the automotive industry.

Cox Automotive will unveil new retail and wholesale solutions at the NADA Show 2025 in New Orleans later this week. Visit the Cox Automotive Village to learn more. Sign up for a demo or hear from our thought leaders. We hope to see you there and the current forecast of snow (!!) doesn’t disrupt your plans. 
 
In the
Auto Market Report video published today, Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke noted, “We are further into January, and we have a new president and administration stirring things up in D.C. But it’s too early to decipher much from the January trends in the retail vehicle market other than a continuation of what we saw at the end of last year.”
 
At the beginning of January, inventory of new vehicles fell below 3 million units for the first time since October. Meanwhile, the supply of used vehicles increased month over month, according to Cox Automotive’s analysis of vAuto Live Market View data.
 
Our team at Kelley Blue Book posted their
Q4 electric vehicle (EV) sales analysis last week, showing that strong EV sales in December pushed U.S. sales to a record 1.3 million. Sales of EVs in the U.S. benefited from strong incentives from the automakers, excellent lease deals, and federal and state incentive programs.
 
Fleet Services by Cox Automotive acquired the remainder of its industry-leading Fleet Services business from minority owners Mike Dickinson and Ted Coltrain. With this move, Cox further reinforces its commitment to be a leader in the Fleet Services business and the fleet industry.


Visit the Cox Automotive Newsroom for updates on the industry’s most important topics. Bookmark the Auto Market Snapshot, a one-stop dashboard for the data we are tracking.

Cox Automotive To Showcase New Retail and Inventory Solutions at NADA Show 2025

Cox Automotive will showcase new retail and wholesale solutions designed to fuel the future of car buying and selling during NADA Show 2025, the National Automotive Dealers Association’s annual convention, opening later this week in New Orleans. Cox Automotive will feature solutions in the “Cox Automotive Village,” which covers over 23,000 square feet and includes more than 180 demo stations. If you are attending the show, check out the schedule to see where you can hear from Cox Automotive’s thought leaders.
 
“We are heading into NADA with tremendous optimism,” said Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. “The automotive market is poised to continue its strong momentum in 2025, even as it is being transformed by EVs, GenAI, computer vision and other technologies. The Cox Automotive booth in New Orleans will be buzzing, as usual, with conversations about these topics and all the tools and solutions we’re providing to ensure that our clients can thrive in 2025 and beyond.” 

 
Read the press release. Request a meeting through the Cox Automotive NADA Hub.

Rising Auto Loan Rates Could Challenge Strong Spring Market

In the Auto Market Report published this morning, Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke updated key metrics as we head further into January and noted that it’s too early to turn pessimistic even though auto loan rates are on the rise.
 
“So far in 2025, we have seen continued seasonally strong used-vehicle demand, tight supply of new and used vehicles and a concerning rebound in auto loan rates,” Smoke said. “If rates keep going up, that could be a challenge to the strong spring we are expecting.”

 
Read the Auto Market Weekly Summary and watch the Auto Market Report video for more data and insights from Smoke on new and used retail sales and inventory, auto financing, and Cox Automotive’s leading indicators.

Robust December Sales Draw Down New-Vehicle Inventory To Start the Year

At the start of 2025, available unsold new vehicles in the U.S. totaled 2.88 million units, marking the first time since October that supply dipped below 3 million. According to an analysis of vAuto Live Market View data, new-vehicle inventory fell by 8.5% month over month due to strong December sales.
 
The end of the year usually sees an increase in luxury vehicle sales, and December showed strong sales for higher-priced vehicles. This is reflected in the concentration of vehicles priced over $80,000, which ended the month with 62 days
supply, well below the industry average. (Additional perspective: New-vehicle prices were near record highs in December.) 
 
Read the full article by Executive Analyst Erin Keating. To look at used-vehicle inventory to start January, read the Data Point from Senior Analyst Scott Vanner.

Electric Vehicle Sales Jump Higher in Q4, Pushing U.S. Sales to a Record 1.3 Million

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S., according to the latest counts from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book, jumped 15.2% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 365,824, setting a volume record for any quarter. In 2024, full-year EV sales reached 1.3 million, an increase of 7.3% from the upwardly revised total in 2023. Sales of EVs in the U.S. benefited from strong incentives from the automakers, excellent lease deals, and federal and state incentive programs.
 
Cox Automotive expects further EV sales growth in 2025. With more than 15 new products scheduled to enter the market, improving charging infrastructure, and continued support (i.e., generous incentives) from the automakers, sales of EVs will likely account for close to 10% of total sales this year, up from just over 8% in 2024, according to the
 Cox Automotive Forecast.
 
Read the highlights and download the Q4 Electric Vehicle Sales Report.

Cox Automotive EV Market Monitor Shows Growth in December

The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market achieved another record-breaking year, with December showing growth in both new and used EV sales, according to the EV Market Monitor. December saw record-breaking EV market share for both new and used EVs, with inventory levels tightening and closing the gap between EVs and ICE+ models. While the average transaction price for new EVs edged up slightly, the average listing price for used EVs dipped, reflecting the current market dynamics.
 
See the EV Market Monitor for December.

Cox Automotive Reinforces Long-Term Commitment to the Fleet Industry

Fleet Services by Cox Automotive acquired the remainder of its industry-leading Fleet Services business from minority owners Mike Dickinson and Ted Coltrain. With this move, Cox further reinforces its commitment to the Fleet Services business and the fleet industry.
 
Fleet Services by Cox Automotive aims to enhance its offerings with expanded mobile maintenance and emergency mobile services. The vision is to ensure the safe and efficient movement of fleets across America by deploying the right technician, in the right place, at the right time, and with the right part.
 
Read the press release.

Looking ahead:

The Manheim Market Insights video from Jeremy Robb will be published this week. During NADA Show 2025, Cox Automotive will present the Barbara Cox Woman of the Year and the Leader in Sustainability awards.
 
Cox Automotive is set to release its U.S. auto sales forecast for January on Monday, Jan. 27. Check Smoke on Cars for commentary after the Fed’s meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 29. 

Contact us if you have questions or want to connect with the Cox Automotive Corporate Communications team.
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“Looking ahead, we’re raising the bar by delivering the most advanced automotive retail solutions available, equipping dealers with the tools they need to thrive in 2025 and beyond.” – Lori Wittman, president, Retail Solutions at Cox Automotive

“We have been investing and innovating across our leading marketplaces for years to deliver clients more AI, more confidence and more solutions that can move their businesses forward.” – Grace Huang, president, Inventory Solutions at Cox Automotive


Read more about the new retail and wholesale solutions designed to fuel the future of car buying and selling during NADA Show 2025.