Most U.S. franchised dealers are taking too long to identify at-risk inventory, with only 9% able to flag a struggling vehicle within 15 days of its arrival, according to Lotlinx’s 2026 Inventory Health Survey.

The survey, presented to more than 2,000 dealers in June, found that 67% of respondents identified aging inventory as their top day-to-day operational challenge, followed closely by margin erosion and markdown pressure at 66%, according to a release.

Nearly 87% of dealers report at least some degree of technology platform fatigue from managing inventory across multiple disconnected systems, and only 12% say their inventory, marketing and sales teams are highly aligned when prioritizing vehicles that need immediate attention.

Remarkably, only 14% of respondents primarily view vehicle inventory as a depreciating financial asset, a mindset analysts say is a key contributor to delayed action on at-risk units.

“Inventory performance isn’t simply about selling more vehicles,” writes Lotlinx CCO Randy Kobat. “It’s about identifying risks sooner, improving visibility across teams and giving dealers the information they need to act before profitability is lost.”

Download the infographic at Lotlinx