Stellantis shows lopsided demand
What happened
Stellantis’ Q1 sales mix exposed sharp divergence: the Wagoneer S lost 93% of its buyers while the gas Charger outsold its electric twin seven to one. That split highlights how quickly demand for specific powertrains can collapse, complicating inventory valuation and remarketing plans for lenders. (carscoops.com)
Why it matters
Stellantis reported U.S. first‑quarter sales rose 4% to 305,902 vehicles. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) Two battery‑electric models posted low volumes in that quarter: the Jeep Wagoneer S sold 175 units and the Dodge Charger battery‑electric model sold 240 units. (carscoops.com) When a small number of models stop selling, those specific cars tend to sit longer on dealer lots and increase dealer costs because dealers pay daily interest on floor‑plan financing (the short‑term credit dealers use to buy and hold inventory); industry data has shown average days‑of‑inventory for EVs at about 129 days versus 89 days for gas cars, and reporters note floor‑plan expense rises as EVs age on lots. (nada.org) (kdvr.com) Analysts say a separate supply pressure is arriving from lease returns: Deloitte projects battery‑electric vehicles will represent nearly 10% of lease maturities in 2026 and roughly 25% in 2028, and it reports that EV residual values — the expected worth of a vehicle at the end of a lease — are already tracking below original assumptions, which increases financial exposure for captive finance companies tied to lease portfolios. (deloitte.com) Valuation specialists point to new inputs lenders and remarketers must track for EVs — battery health, over‑the‑air software versions, and VIN‑level battery chemistry rather than just make/model history — while remarketing firms and market trackers forecast an off‑lease wave of hundreds of thousands of EVs hitting auctions through 2026–27 that will compress used EV prices. (blackbook.com) (recharged.com)
Key numbers
- Stellantis’ Q1 sales mix exposed sharp divergence: the Wagoneer S lost 93% of its buyers while the gas Charger outsold its electric twin seven to one.
- first‑quarter sales rose 4% to 305,902 vehicles.
- (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) Two battery‑electric models posted low volumes in that quarter: the Jeep Wagoneer S sold 175 units and the Dodge Charger battery‑electric model sold 240 units.
What happens next
- That split highlights how quickly demand for specific powertrains can collapse, complicating inventory valuation and remarketing plans for lenders.
Quick answers
What happened in Stellantis shows lopsided demand?
Stellantis’ Q1 sales mix exposed sharp divergence: the Wagoneer S lost 93% of its buyers while the gas Charger outsold its electric twin seven to one. That split highlights how quickly demand for specific powertrains can collapse, complicating inventory valuation and remarketing plans for lenders. (carscoops.com)
Why does Stellantis shows lopsided demand matter?
Stellantis reported U.S. first‑quarter sales rose 4% to 305,902 vehicles. (media.stellantisnorthamerica.com) Two battery‑electric models posted low volumes in that quarter: the Jeep Wagoneer S sold 175 units and the Dodge Charger battery‑electric model sold 240 units. (carscoops.com) When a small number of models stop selling, those specific cars tend to sit longer on dealer lots and increase dealer costs because dealers pay daily interest on floor‑plan financing (the short‑term credit dealers use to buy and hold inventory); industry data has shown average days‑of‑inventory for EVs at about 129 days versus 89 days for gas cars, and reporters note floor‑plan expense rises as EVs age on lots. (nada.org) (kdvr.com) Analysts say a separate supply pressure is arriving from lease returns: Deloitte projects battery‑electric vehicles will represent nearly 10% of lease maturities in 2026 and roughly 25% in 2028, and it reports that EV residual values — the expected worth of a vehicle at the end of a lease — are already tracking below original assumptions, which increases financial exposure for captive finance companies tied to lease portfolios. (deloitte.com) Valuation specialists point to new inputs lenders and remarketers must track for EVs — battery health, over‑the‑air software versions, and VIN‑level battery chemistry rather than just make/model history — while remarketing firms and market trackers forecast an off‑lease wave of hundreds of thousands of EVs hitting auctions through 2026–27 that will compress used EV prices. (blackbook.com) (recharged.com)
