The Auto Finance Roadmap

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Auto Finance News is pleased to present The Roadmap, the podcast on best practices and trending topics in automotive lending and leasing. If you are in auto finance, this is your podcast. Auto Finance News, published by Royal Media, is the flagship publication for the auto finance industry. Published since 1996, Auto Finance News is the nation’s leading source for news, insights and analysis on automotive lending and leasing. Auto Finance News offers a Premium subscription service, which includes a monthly newsletter, a weekly email Update, exclusive event discounts, and much more. The Auto Finance News Premium subscription provides its subscribers with valuable data and exclusive market knowledge. Subscribe now to the News That Drives The Industry at https://www.autofinancenews.net/subscribe/. Auto Finance News produces the following leading industry events: the Auto Finance Innovation Summit, the Auto Finance Risk Summit, and the Auto Finance Summit, the industry’s premier event.

  1. 6D AGO

    Iran war spurs economic uncertainty for auto finance industry

    The auto finance industry continues to navigate heightened economic uncertainty as the Iran war drives oil prices higher, adding pressure to consumers already facing elevated vehicle prices and borrowing costs.   Crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel to end last week amid fears of supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, according to market researcher Energy Aspects’ data. The spike, which continued into today, pushed U.S. gasoline prices higher and increased volatility across financial markets.  Higher fuel prices are adding to affordability challenges that have defined the auto market for much of the past year. The average new-vehicle transaction was $49,353 in February, while the average monthly payment for a new vehicle climbed to around $767, according to Kelley Blue Book data.  Despite those pressures, credit activity remains steady. Subprime borrowers accounted for 15.3% of all vehicle loans in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 14.5% a year earlier, as lenders seek to balance growth with risk management.  At the same time, tax refunds are providing a temporary boost in demand, with the average refund expected to reach $3,742. Some lenders have reported 10% to 15% more loan applications than expected in the early weeks of tax filing.  Meanwhile, capital markets remained active even as political tensions due to the Iran war widened credit spreads. Issuers continued to tap the asset-backed securities market, including Carvana, which issued a $1.1 billion prime auto ABS transaction and several securitizations by lenders seeking diversified funding.  In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez II, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss top trends across macroeconomic dynamics, affordability, funding and powersports lending for the week ended March 13.

    16 min

  2. MAR 9

    Rising gas prices, high rates add to affordability woes 

    Despite a rise in subprime financing share in the fourth quarter of 2025, affordability remains a key focus for auto lenders and dealers as lower-income consumers continue to be disproportionately affected by higher everyday costs.  Subprime share of total vehicle financing in Q4 2025 stood at 15.3%, up from 14.5% a year earlier, according to Experian data. Prime borrowers continued to lead market share for new-vehicle financing as subprime customers remain challenged by high vehicle costs, but Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and tax refunds will potentially bring some relief in 2026.  Affordability challenges contributed to a slowdown in retail vehicle sales across much of the country in the first part of the year, evidenced by trends in the March 3 edition of the Fed’s Beige Book. Dealers across many Fed regions reported flat to decreased new- and used-car sales as higher interest rates and rising gas prices further tightened consumers’ wallets.  The war in the Middle East has contributed to higher oil and gas prices since the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, which could raise funding costs and prompt a shift in investors’ strategies.   Meanwhile, powersports lender Octane has shored up additional funding as it aims to grow originations and its captive-as-a-service offering. New York-based Octane’s originations rose 29% year over year to $2.1 billion in 2025.  In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez II and associate editor Aidan Bush discuss top trends across macroeconomic dynamics, affordability, funding and powersports lending for the week ended March 6.

    9 min

  3. MAR 2

    Auto lenders eye AI, blockchain liquidity, social media trends

    Auto lenders are eyeing AI and other digital technologies amid continued industrywide concerns over affordability pressures. Chase Auto will deploy AI that can fully automate the contract booking and funding process in 2026. AI-powered Fintech Agora Data closed a deal on Feb. 26 with blockchain-based platform provider Figure Technologies to tokenize auto loans into real-world assets for investors. The deal will reportedly improve liquidity by increasing access to investors and providing less expensive financing compared to other forms of investment, according to S&P Global. Lenders are also embracing AI and digital tools to empower Gen Z employees, executives at American Honda Finance, Ford Credit, Huntington Bank and Santander Consumer USA said during a panel session at the recent 2026 AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference. On the other hand, social media platforms have provided consumers with a hotbed of misinformation around debt validation practices, prompting concern from compliance experts and auto lenders. Meanwhile, auto finance leaders are focusing on consumers’ price concerns in 2026, as customers shift to buying used vehicles and lower financing costs. Additionally, some auto players cut their workforces last week. Automotive marketplace TrueCar cut 30% of its workforce on Feb. 24, and subprime auto lender Prestige Financial Services reportedly laid off between 14 to 16 employees on Feb. 27. Earnings Several auto and RV companies reported earnings, and key takeaways include: Online vehicle sales platform ACV Auctions in the fourth quarter reported $18 million in losses related to subprime auto lender Tricolor Holdings’ bankruptcy;RV dealer Camping World’s finance and insurance revenue fell 6.4% year over year to $111.4 million in Q4, but market share improved;EV maker Lucid Motors’ deliveries soared 72% YoY to 5,345 vehicles in Q4;Automaker Stellantis’ North American shipments rose 38.9% YoY in the second half of 2025 to 825,000 units in Q4; andTD Bank’s indirect auto outstandings totaled $31.7 billion, up 2.9% YoY in its fiscal Q1 2026.In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez, Senior Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends affecting the automotive industry and key updates for the week ended Feb. 27.

    10 min

  4. FEB 24

    Drivers underestimate annual car ownership costs with Synchrony’s Keith Mait

    Drivers underestimate the cost of owning a vehicle by nearly $4,500 a year, underscoring mounting affordability pressures across the auto market.  There is a growing disconnect between consumer expectations and the rising expenses tied to maintenance, repairs, insurance and everyday vehicle use, Keith Mait, senior vice president and general manager of Synchrony Financial’s auto business, told Auto Finance News during a special episode of the “Weekly Wrap” podcast. That was among results of the lender’s survey, released Feb. 17, that polled 1,030 U.S. adults responsible for a vehicle’s upkeep via the Ask Suzy online platform.  “We see it every day in the average order values, or the transaction sizes, that find their way onto our cards. They haven’t gotten smaller,” he said. “Over the last four or five years, we’ve seen continuous incline in the average transaction values, both the first time somebody engages with us and on the repeat side.” Evaluating affordabilityAs consumers grapple with elevated new-vehicle prices, many buyers opt for used vehicles, extend lease terms or hold on to their cars longer, Mait said. While today’s vehicles last longer, they also feature more advanced technology, sensors and specialized components that can drive up repair costs, he said.  “When we try to evaluate consumer affordability vis-a-vis how they want their mobility to occur, it leads you to believe that they expect better quality,” Mait said. “They expect more for their dollars and they expect to have these vehicles for a long time, so making sure that they’re operating properly comes with [a] cost.” In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez II discusses trends affecting today’s car buyers with Mait.

    25 min

  5. FEB 9

    Auto industry adapts to evolving technology, affordability

    Auto dealers and lenders are looking to new technologies and ventures to grow operations as the retail auto market faces uncertainty, especially around used vehicles and EVs, in 2026.  Dealer captive financier AutoNation Finance’s originations rose 66% year over year in 2025. Meanwhile, the retailer’s full-year finance and insurance revenue increased 7.7% YoY to $1.5 billion, which represented 5.3% of total revenue and 29.6% of total gross profit, according to the company’s earnings release.  Additionally, AutoNation Finance is looking to improve call center operations with the deployment of Balto AI, while Capital One also aims to boost call centers with AI.   Bank of America is navigating affordability needs of consumer finance customers by expanding its 84-month-term eligibility for auto loans and advancing lending technology, especially in the RV space.  Other lenders are taking different paths to growth:  Huntington Bank expects its $7.4 billion merger with Cadence Bank to drive auto originations  growth; and  Fellow bank financier Santander acquired U.S.-based Webster Bank for $12.2 billion on Feb. 6. Dealers and lenders continue various strategies for growth in a complicated auto market, as J.D. Power predicts flat retail sales of 13.6 million units in 2026 and declining retailer profit, while projecting that used-vehicle prices could drop as much as 4% this year.  All of this comes as auto dealers and lenders descended on Las Vegas last week for several key events, including the American Financial Services Association’s Vehicle Finance Conference and Expo, the J.D. Power Auto Summit 2026 and the National Automobile Dealers Association Show. Auto Finance News was on site throughout the events, speaking to lenders, dealers and analysts. Keep an eye out for more news from those event.  In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez, Senior Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends affecting the automotive industry and key updates for the week ended Feb 6.

    12 min

  6. FEB 2

    Auto, powersports originations mixed

    Auto and powersports financiers mostly reported lower originations and sales for the last quarter as shifting spending patterns by cash-strapped consumers fuel uncertainty.  Lenders that reported fewer sales and loan originations, according to their respective earnings releases, include:  Credit Acceptance Corp.’s consumer loan assignment volume, down 9.1% year over year in its fourth quarter; GM Financial’s Q4 loan lease originations, down 18.7% YoY; OneWater Marine’s F&I revenue, declined 5.4% YoY in its fiscal first quarter; Tesla’s lease portfolio in Q4, dropped 12% YoY; and Volvo’s North American Q4 sales, down 19.6% YoY in Q4. However, some financiers reported positive results last quarter:  Group 1 Automotive’s F&I revenue climbed 1.9% YoY; Polaris’ Q4 sales climbed 9.5% YoY in Q4; and  MarineMax’s F&I revenue for its fiscal Q1 climbed 0.9% YoY and total revenue climbed 7.8% YoY.  Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions in the RV and marine industries are on the rise after a yearslong slowdown following the pandemic.   Auto Finance News will present multiple invaluable events for industry professionals in 2026, starting with Auto Finance Summit East and Auto Finance Capital Summit in May. To see event agendas and register, visit autofinance.live.

    11 min

  7. JAN 26

    Banks’ auto originations rise in Q4

    Banks reported growth in auto originations in the fourth quarter as credit performance was mixed.   Auto originations at Ally Financial, Capital One, Chase Auto, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo increased year over year, according to the banks’ earnings reports.  The increases were:   Ally’s originations rose 4.9% YoY to $10.8 billion;  Capital One’s originations increased 8.5% YoY to $10.2 billion;  Chase Auto’s originations ticked up 1.9% YoY to $10.8 billion;  U.S. Bank’s indirect loan and lease production, mostly comprised of auto loans, grew 2.7% YoY to $1.4 billion; and  Wells Fargo Auto’s originations soared 104% YoY to $10.2 billion  Huntington Bank’s auto originations, however, declined 4.6% YoY to $2.1 billion in Q4.   While Bank of America did not break out auto originations, auto outstandings came in at $55.3 billion, up 0.7% YoY, according to the bank’s earnings supplement.  Meanwhile, auto credit performance was mixed across major banks in Q4. Ally Financial, Capital One, Chase Auto and Wells Fargo reported YoY dips in auto loans delinquent by 30 days or more. Huntington's auto delinquencies rose, while Fifth Third Bank and Truist reported declines in 30- to 89-day auto delinquencies YoY.   PNC Financial’s rate of auto loans 30 to 59 days past due was 0.45%, down 9 basis points (bps) YoY, according to the bank’s earnings supplement.  Bank of America’s net charge-offs across its indirect and direct consumer book, which is largely made up of auto loans, rose 5 bps YoY to 0.22%.   Listen as Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush dive into fourth-quarter earnings and highlight trends across credit performance, auto loan growth and technology updates.

    12 min

  8. JAN 12

    Tricolor collapse, servicing transition sparks industry changes

    Gaps in data verification likely contributed to missed double-pledging of assets at Tricolor Auto, prompting changes at rating agencies, Larry Chiavaro, president at his consulting company LC Advisors Group, told Auto Finance News during a special recording of the Weekly Wrap podcast.   Chiavaro also served as executive vice president and co-founder of First Associates Loan Servicing from 2010 to 2021. That company was rebranded as Vervent in 2020. The backup servicer took over Tricolor’s portfolio following the company’s Sept. 10 bankruptcy filing.   Tricolor is under investigation for allegations of fraudulently double-pledging assets to warehouse lines, with former Tricolor Chief Executive Daniel Chu and other former Tricolor executives facing a federal indictment alleging they committed fraud at the company.   The Tricolor bankruptcy served as a “wake-up call for the industry” and has spurred changes, Chiavaro tells AFN. In this special episode of the Weekly Wrap, Auto Finance News Founder and CEO JJ Hornblass joins Chiavaro to discuss the collapse of Tricolor Auto, backup servicing operations and risk management.

    27 min
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About

Auto Finance News is pleased to present The Roadmap, the podcast on best practices and trending topics in automotive lending and leasing. If you are in auto finance, this is your podcast. Auto Finance News, published by Royal Media, is the flagship publication for the auto finance industry. Published since 1996, Auto Finance News is the nation’s leading source for news, insights and analysis on automotive lending and leasing. Auto Finance News offers a Premium subscription service, which includes a monthly newsletter, a weekly email Update, exclusive event discounts, and much more. The Auto Finance News Premium subscription provides its subscribers with valuable data and exclusive market knowledge. Subscribe now to the News That Drives The Industry at https://www.autofinancenews.net/subscribe/. Auto Finance News produces the following leading industry events: the Auto Finance Innovation Summit, the Auto Finance Risk Summit, and the Auto Finance Summit, the industry’s premier event.

Information

  • Creator
    Auto Finance News
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    314
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Royal Media - 2020
  • Show Website
    The Auto Finance Roadmap

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