CDK analysts report U.S. dealers earned a 66% “Easy to Purchase” score last month, down from 85% in October and the single lowest score in the survey’s history. +

Team Velocity and VINCUE have partnered to launch Trade Cycle Intelligence, a new, AI-based solution designed to target and engage customers who may be in the market for a new vehicle. +

Kelley Blue Book reports the average transaction price for a U.S.-sold new vehicle exceeded $50,000 for the first time in September despite increased incentive spending. +

Edmunds reports the average amount owed on upside-down car loans reached a new record of $6,905 in the third quarter as more new car buyers traded in vehicles burdened by negative equity. +

AutoSonix has launched an AI-powered platform designed to give dealers, wholesalers and warranty providers “unprecedented” visibility into a vehicle’s condition and value. +

inride has added Trade Agent AI, a new, agentic AI tool designed to proactively and autonomously identify trade-in and purchase opportunities and engage with vehicle owners. +

vAuto will leverage the power of AI to enhance the trade-in appraisal and service lane sourcing processes and generate instant offers for quality units with UVeye’s “MRI for cars.” +

Edmunds reports more than one in four Americans who secured an auto loan in the second quarter were underwater on their current vehicle, with a historically high average balance of $6,754. +

Americans who purchased new vehicles in June describe a significantly less enjoyable dealership experience than those surveyed just one month earlier, according to CDK Global’s latest survey. +

Plug’s new Trade Desk app was designed to help dealers accurately and efficiently determine the trade-in value of EVs produced by other manufacturers and generate market-rate wholesale offers. +