The Auto Finance Roadmap

Auto Finance News
  • 3.2 (6)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 12H AGO

    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

  2. 6D AGO

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. JAN 5

    Auto lenders, dealers look to tax season for boost

    Auto dealers are expecting a strong tax season to spur a sales jolt early this year, but lenders and dealers are split on their full-year outlook amid rising vehicle prices and macroeconomic challenges facing consumers.   Other factors that market participants are monitoring include how fluctuating interest rates and unemployment will affect consumer affordability and car sales.  In fact, December 2025 sales were projected to fall 3.5% year over year to 1.4 million, according to Cox Automotive. Those figures will be released later this month.  However, 2025 new-vehicle sales reached the best level in six years, according to a Cox Auto Dec. 17 report. Full-year sales were projected to increase 1.8% in 2025 compared with 2024, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates.   At the same time, credit access improved in 2025 as fewer banks reported tightening their lending standards. The auto loan rejection rate, however, climbed 1 percentage point YoY in October 2025 to 15.2%.  Still, retailers such as Tempe, Ariz.-based DriveTime are eyeing growth in 2026 as they navigate the changing auto landscape. Chief Executive Mary Leigh Phillips told Auto Finance News that DriveTime is eyeing double-digit growth across its subsidiaries.  Tricolor effects  Among the changes the auto industry will navigate in 2026 are the effects of Tricolor Auto’s collapse, which is still playing out in court. At today’s court hearing, backup servicer Vervent’s responsibilities were outlined and permission was granted for Vervent to use Tricolor funds to pay collateral insurance protection and Texas seller-finance sales taxes.    Read AFN’s top 5 Tricolor stories in 2025.   Listen as Auto Finance News Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush unpack recent auto finance news and provide a look at the year ahead.   Subscribe to “The Roadmap Podcast” on iTunes or Spotify or download the episode.

    7 min

  8. 12/22/2025

    Affordability, repos, credit performance top concerns into 2026

    An uptick in repossessions, continued affordability challenges and weakened credit performance are top of mind for lenders headed into 2026.   The shutdown of several lenders this year combined with inflationary pressures is likely to contribute to more repossessions at the end of 2025 and in early 2026. By Dec. 31, repossession assignments nationally are projected to surpass 10.5 million units for the year, according to American Recovery Association data.   At the same time, credit performance continued to worsen across securitized nonprime auto loans in November while prime loans had some deterioration. This bifurcation in credit tier performance is expected to continue next year.   Car sales have also been challenged as consumers face high sticker prices and shift to used vehicles, creating more competition in the market. CarMax’s used-vehicle sales fell 8% year over year in its fiscal third quarter to 169,557 units, while CarMax Auto Finance’s originations declined 9.3% YoY to $1.8 billion.   Meanwhile, Auto Finance News is pleased to name Sanjiv Yajnik, president of financial services at Capital One, the 2025 Auto Finance Executive of the Year.   In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends across sales, affordability and credit performance for the week ended Dec. 19.

    8 min
See All (312)

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
    312
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Royal Media - 2020
  • Show Website
    The Auto Finance Roadmap

You Might Also Like