The Auto Finance Roadmap

Auto Finance News
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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. 3D AGO

    Auto leaders dive into affordability, funding diversification, credit performance

    The higher cost of living is exacerbating affordability concerns and prompting auto lenders to take a close look at rising delinquencies, asset pricing and innovative programs to get consumers into vehicles.   The inaugural Auto Finance Capital Summit in Nashville, Tenn., highlighted lenders’ reliance on diversified funding sources across asset-backed securitization (ABS), warehouse lending and private credit.   Pagaya Technologies, for example, is increasing issuance in the auto ABS market as the private credit markets face increased volatility amid rising losses and a call for more transparency.  Losses also rose across securitized nonprime auto loans as issuers continue to navigate bifurcation between subprime and prime credit performance.  Market conditions are prompting lenders such as Global Lending Services and Stellantis Financial Services to reprice assets more frequently. At the same time, affordability challenges could prompt a slowdown in vehicles sales, contributing to a decline in retail auto ABS issuance in 2026.  Affordability and credit performance also were key topics of discussion at Auto Finance Summit East 2026, which took place May 11-13 in Nashville.   Lenders including Volkswagen Financial Services are looking at used-car leasing to offset high car prices, while others are considering extending lease offers to certified pre-owned vehicles.  The high costs of ownership are going to be prevalent issues for the foreseeable future as gas prices are expected to remain elevated through at least July.  In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris and Senior Associate Editor Aidan Bush recap top stories and takeaways from the spring events.  Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on  iTunes or Spotify or download the episode.   Find more coverage from Auto Finance Capital Summit here and find more coverage from Auto Finance Summit East 2026 here.

    6 min

  2. MAY 14

    Financing key for 81% of shoppers when making large purchases

    Powersports dealers are introducing financing discussions earlier in the buying process as affordability concerns and economic uncertainty shape consumer behavior during the industry’s peak selling season.  May is one of the most important sales periods for powersports dealers as warmer weather drives demand for motorcycles, ATVs and side-by-sides, Synchrony Outdoors Senior Vice President and General Manager Susan Medrano told Auto Finance News during a special episode of “The Roadmap” podcast.   “It’s important because that buying window for peak season is so narrow,” she said. “If the consumer doesn’t purchase during that window, they may not purchase till next year.”   This year, affordability pressures are changing how consumers approach purchases, with about 81% of shoppers focused on financing options when making large purchases, Medrano said, citing Synchrony’s 2025 Major Purchase Study,  Modern buying trends  Buyers also are researching financing options before visiting dealerships and are increasingly focused on monthly payments and loan terms, Medrano said.  “The financing starts much sooner in the process,” she said. “Consumers are educating themselves before they ever get there.”   That has spurred dealers to discuss financing on the showroom floor instead of waiting until customers reach the finance office, Medrano said.  “If it's the monthly payment, for example, they could talk about the different terms that would be available, whether it's 36 months or it's 84 months, and the difference that makes to the consumer,” she said. “The same with total ticket price.”  Those conversations allow dealers to tailor promotional APRs, repayment terms and add-ons to that customer, Medrano said.  Flexible financing  Flexible financing is increasingly important as dealers work to convert shoppers during the compressed seasonal sales window, Medrano said.  “The worst thing that can happen is you get a customer to a finance desk and then they get sticker shock over the payment,” she said.   Synchrony also encourages digital applications and mobile approval tools that allow customers to apply for financing before or during dealership visits, Medrano said.  “We’re trying to make the buying process as frictionless as possible,” she said.  Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify, or download the episode.

    21 min

  3. MAY 4

    Originations rise in Q1 as affordability challenges, EV demand grow

    In the first quarter, the auto finance industry balanced strong auto loan originations with persistent affordability challenges, shifting EV demand and rising asset-backed securitization activity.  Auto lenders, including PenFed Credit Union, Driveway Finance and Carvana posted strong first-quarter gains, signaling continued demand for auto loans, according to their earnings releases last week. PenFed’s originations jumped 88% year over year, while Driveway Finance’s originations rose 34.8% YoY and Carvana’s originations increased 59.3% YoY as digital sales and product expansion drove growth.  Affordability, however, remained a key constraint with Q1 earnings for dealership groups, including Asbury Automotive Group, Group 1 Automotive and Penske Automotive, showing declines in sales and mixed finance and insurance revenue. To offset pressure, dealers are leaning on longer loan terms and payment-focused financing strategies as higher vehicle prices and interest rates continue to affect consumers.  Meanwhile, OEM captive finance performance varied, as GM Financial’s originations declined 15.8% YoY, while Ford Credit reported higher finance and lease penetration in Q1. In addition, Stellantis returned to profitability, supported by higher vehicle sales and growth in its financial services operations.  Toyota reported a sales decline in March as weakening demand and geopolitical tensions tied to the Iran war weighed on performance.  Lenders are also expanding credit access to sustain growth, with Western Funding launching full-spectrum lending.  Wider market conditions shift  EV demand remains an industry focus, as Rivian’s deliveries increased 20% YoY in the first quarter, supported by growth in software and services revenue, according to its April 30 earnings presentation.   Auto ABS issuance rose 5.1% as of April 24. Lease ABS outperformed the broader market as investor demand remained steady, according to JPMorgan Securities data. However, potential changes to SEC disclosure requirements could increase regulatory risk for ABS issuers, adding uncertainty to the funding environment.  Lastly, Federal Reserve officials held interest rates steady although the split vote signaled growing internal division over the policy outlook amid heightened economic uncertainty.   In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez II and Senior Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss top trends across macroeconomic dynamics, affordability, funding and powersports lending for the week ended May 1.  Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify or download the episode.   Auto Finance News will present multiple invaluable events for industry professionals in 2026, starting with the Auto Finance Summit East and the Auto Finance Capital Summit in May. To see event agendas and register, visit autofinance.live.

    9 min

  4. APR 27

    ‘Affordability is No. 1’ driver of PNC’s auto refinance demand

    Consumer budget concerns are driving year-over-year surges in auto refinance applications, Strati Papageorge, senior vice president of product at PNC Financial, tells Auto Finance News in the latest episode of “The Auto Finance Roadmap” podcast. “Affordability is No. 1, the biggest reason that consumers are coming to us,” to refinance, he said. “It helps with monthly payment.” PNC reported a 60% YoY jump in auto refinance activity in 2025 and saw similar YoY growth in the first quarter of 2026, Papageorge says. OpenRoad Lending’s refinance application volume surged 30% YoY in Q1 amid sustained new-vehicle price hikes and heightened consumer focus on affordability pressures. The average transaction price for a new vehicle rose 3.5% YoY to $49,275 in March, according to Kelley Blue Book data published April 9. “Even with incentives helping, I don’t see transaction prices starting to come down anytime soon,” Papageorge says. Customers in better financial situations are also refinancing as “they want to pay less interest over the life of the loan and pay out their loan sooner,” he says. To address affordability, PNC expanded its financing to include older vehicle models and allows 84-month loan terms, he says. “We always try to balance longer terms with maintaining credit that’s measured and balanced, so … we can help with monthly payments … while at the same time not getting too far out over our skis from a credit standpoint,” Papageorge says. PNC reported YoY declines across auto delinquencies in Q1, according to an AFN analysis of the lender’s earnings supplement released April 15. Its auto outstandings rose 6.5% YoY to $16.3 billion. PNC was the 24th-largest auto lender by outstandings at yearend 2024, according to the latest Big Wheels rankings data. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Senior Associate Editor Aidan Bush and PNC’s Strati Papageorge discuss increased refinance demand in auto finance and the major affordability pressures driving consumer behaviors.

    14 min

  5. APR 20

    Lenders report mixed auto originations, delinquencies dip in Q1

    Lenders’ auto originations were mixed in the first quarter, though most reported declining delinquencies. Originations reported by major banks include: Ally Financial, up 12.8% YoY to $11.5 billion;CarMax Auto Finance, down 1.5% YoY to $1.9 billion;Chase Auto, down 2.8% YoY to $10.4 billion;U.S. Bank indirect loan and lease production, mostly made up of auto loans, up 47.3% YoY to $1.7 billion; andWells Fargo Auto, up 110.9% YoY to $9.7 billion.Bank of America did not break out auto originations. However, its indirect and direct consumer outstandings, primarily consisting of auto and specialty lending loans, fell 0.4% YoY to $53.9 billion. Ally, Chase, U.S. Bank, Wells and PNC Financial reported YoY declines in auto loan delinquencies. Fifth Third Bank’s rate of 30- to 89-day delinquencies dropped 7 basis points YoY to 0.61%. Listen as Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Senior Associate Editor Aidan Bush dive into first-quarter earnings and highlight trends across credit performance, auto loan growth and technology updates. Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify or download the episode. 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.

    10 min

  6. APR 13

    Rising costs, EV demand, regulation reshape auto finance landscape

    Auto lenders and dealers are navigating mounting pressure in 2026 as inflation, geopolitical conflict and regulatory shifts weigh on profitability and consumer behavior.  Auto lenders are responding to tighter margins by strengthening dealer relationships and expanding into full-spectrum financial services. Technology also continues to improve efficiency and credit decisioning, resulting in increased applications and more ways for dealers and lenders to collaborate to improve profitability amid affordability concerns.  U.S. inflation surged in March, with the consumer price index rising 0.9%, the largest monthly increase since 2022, driven by higher gasoline prices amid the Iran war. The added challenges come as subprime bankruptcies and rising delinquencies begin to plague buy here, pay here dealers.  Despite affordability pressures, vehicle demand remains resilient but is shifting, with higher gas prices boosting EV interest and driving a 34% year-over-year increase in public fast-charging stations. As a result, several OEMs saw growth in EV sales during March, although first-quarter numbers remained mostly low.  Compliance concerns  Fraud is also rising globally, with losses from auto lending first-party fraud hitting $7.2 billion in 2025, part of an estimated $10.4 billion in first-party fraud losses.   Additionally, FirstRand plans to exit the U.K. motor finance market after setting aside £750 million ($994 million) for mis-sold loan claims. The move follows findings that 14.2 million of 32.5 million agreements were unfair, potentially costing the industry about $12.3 billion in repayments across 12.1 million loans. In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez II, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Senior Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss top trends across macroeconomic dynamics, affordability, funding and powersports lending for the week ended April 10.  Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotifyor download the episode.  Auto Finance News will present multiple invaluable events for industry professionals in 2026, starting with the Auto Finance Summit East and the Auto Finance Capital Summit in May. To see event agendas and register, visit autofinance.live.

    15 min

  7. APR 7

    Auto lenders balance growth with rising credit, affordability pressures

    Auto lenders are working to balance growth against rising credit and affordability pressures as the market adjusts to shifting consumer behavior in 2026.  Luxury vehicle financier Rizz Lending this month secured a $300 million warehouse facility to scale originations to about $200 million this year. Meanwhile, fintech lender Lendbuzz is targeting 20% growth in originations by adding near-prime borrowers and using cash-flow-based underwriting.   Meanwhile, other players, including Credit Acceptance Corp., remain focused on underserved consumers, a segment of more than 90 million Americans.   Consumers are also adjusting to affordability constraints by changing their approach to car buying. Down payments declined in the first quarter while loan balances rose, and longer-term financing – including 84-month loans – reached record levels. Meanwhile, fewer consumers are applying for auto loans even as rejection rates decline, signaling softer demand.  At the same time, credit conditions continue to tighten. Canada’s goeasy, a subprime lender, reduced its auto exposure and tightened standards after charge-offs surged.   Lenders also pointed to weak dealer data and rising subprime delinquencies as ongoing risks. Concerns arose around data quality because AI-driven “credit washing” distorts borrower profiles.  Meanwhile, auto sales slowed in the first quarter, partly due to comparisons to the unusual tariff-driven surge in 2025. Higher-income buyers continue to support demand, while consumers shift to used vehicles or exit the market. Funding markets remain stable, with only modest widening in auto ABS spreads and steady investor demand, though banks are becoming more cautious as private credit exposure grows. Still, leasing may provide an offset, with Credit Union Leasing of America projecting growth as lenders seek alternatives to long-term loans.  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 April 3.  Auto Finance News will present multiple invaluable events for industry professionals in 2026, starting with the Auto Finance Summit East and the Auto Finance Capital Summit in May. To see event agendas and register, visit autofinance.live.

    12 min

  8. APR 6

    Iran war, rising fraud further pressure auto industry

    Continued concerns around the Iran war and an increase in fraud schemes are placing more stress on auto lenders, dealers and consumers while driving shifts in risk management and strategy.  The war has pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel, fueling inflation and widening auto asset-backed securities (ABS) spreads. Prime spreads have widened by up to 17 basis points, increasing funding costs and tightening credit conditions. Higher fuel costs are also squeezing consumers, especially subprime borrowers, reducing disposable income and raising delinquency risks.   Those increased risks for subprime borrowers contributed to a 130% year-over-year jump in refinance activity in February as borrowers seek lower payments amid the market strain. Lenders also continue to tighten underwriting amid rising defaults, with early payment defaults reaching decade highs.  To compound the pressure on the auto sector, fraud risks continue to rise, with AI-driven “dealership cloning” scams, in which fake websites impersonate dealers, leading to millions in losses, damaging consumer trust and dealer reputations. Meanwhile, TD Bank is educating its customers and employees how to combat rising fraud on the lending side.  In response to the macroeconomic uncertainty and increased fraud, lenders and dealers continue to adjust operations as higher gas prices shift demand toward more fuel-efficient vehicles. Meanwhile, firms are adopting AI tools to improve operations but are emphasizing responsible use, including regulatory alignment and bias mitigation.  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 27.

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3.2
out of 5
6 Ratings

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
    323
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Royal Media - 2020
  • Show Website
    The Auto Finance Roadmap

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