Inventory Report Warns Buyers May Be Priced Out of New Car Market
Lotlinx’s Q1 2026 Vincensus Report finds new vehicle sales are down and inventories are up — along with prices, which climbed by 2% year-over-year and 3% from the prior quarter.
Sales of new units declined by 7% quarter-over-quarter. Facing an average listing price of $45,926, many new car shoppers may be forced into the pre-owned market, analysts say.
“That price gap matters. It reflects an intensifying affordability ceiling that is pushing buyers toward the exits of the new car market,” a release states, in part. “When average listing prices rise faster than transaction prices, it signals that dealers are increasingly having to discount to close deals. Indeed, 26% of new vehicle sales in Q1 involved a markdown, with an average price reduction of 5%.”
Day supply of new vehicles increased to 69 days, up from 67 in the fourth quarter of 2025 and up from 61 days in Q1 2025. Day supply of used vehicles fell to a “lean” 38, down from 42 in Q4 2025 and unchanged from Q1 2025.
