Auto Shipments Threatened If Rail Strike Occurs

U.S. railroads are poised to stop shipments of autos, farm products and other key goods starting Thursday as the industry braces for a possible labor strike that could cost the world’s biggest economy more than $2 billion a day.

Hyundai, Kia End Slump With Double-Digit Gains

U.S. auto sales slid again at Toyota Motor and American Honda, while Hyundai and Kia deliveries rose by doubledigits last month vs. August 2021, ending a stretch of five straight monthly declines at the Korean brands as the industry’s chronic inventory shortages slowly ease.

Auto Prices Squeeze Subprime Borrowers

Consumers with good credit are buying more used vehicles, likely because used vehicles are relatively more available and relatively more affordable than new ones, says a new report from Experian Automotive, on Q2 auto finance.

62% Of Q2 Borrowers Opt For Used Cars

Sixty-two percent of auto borrowers financed used vehicles
during Q2, up 2 points from Q1 and a 4-point increase from
a year earlier, Experian said yesterday.

Average Monthly Car Payment Hits $702

For new vehicles, the average auto loan is for 70.4 months (nearly six years) and monthly payments have climbed past $700 for the first time ever, according to new data from Edmunds.

Average New Auto Price Hits Record in July

The average new car in America sold for $48,182 in July,
beating the record set last month, according to Kelley Blue
Book data. July prices rose 0.3% ($139) from June and
11.9% ($5,126) from July 2021.

Auto On The Rebound For Fox Stations

CEO Lachlan Murdoch said today: “We’re currently seeing a return to growth in the auto category for the first time in a couple of years. This stability of the base market provides a strong foundation for the upcoming political cycle, where the outlook is remarkably strong.”

EVs Getting Attention, but Hybrids Gain Traction

Plug-in hybrid sales are climbing in the U.S., in part because of the recent surge in gasoline prices. Automakers sold a record 176,000 such cars last year, according to Wards Intelligence, up from 69,000 in 2020.

Autos Remain Scarce, Buyers Getting That Way

The dog days of summer drag on for the auto industry, unable to find respite from a withering supply chain crisis that has left assembly lines limping and dealership lots bare, Automotive News reports.