Auto demand softens
GM and Toyota reported weaker U.S. Q1 sales as affordability pressures curbed buyer activity — a sign lenders may see slower originations and credit mix shifts this quarter. (reuters.com)
Cox Automotive projected U.S. new-vehicle sales to fall about 6.5% in Q1 2026 as elevated interest rates and the loss of EV tax credits weighed on demand. (fixedincome.fidelity.com) General Motors’ U.S. deliveries totaled 626,429 units in Q1, a 9.7% year‑over‑year decline from 693,363 units. (rttnews.com) Toyota Motor North America reported first‑quarter U.S. sales of 569,420 vehicles, essentially flat (‑0.1%) versus Q1 2025. (pressroom.toyota.com) Equifax’s Auto Insights shows credit stress rising, with the industry 60+ days past‑due auto rate up from 1.6% to 2.0%, indicating higher near‑term loss risk for retail portfolios. (equifax.com) TransUnion’s 2026 originations outlook describes mixed momentum across credit products, leaving auto origination growth uncertain. (newsroom.transunion.com) Bank and captive performance is diverging: Ally reported auto originations up 4.1% year‑over‑year with lease originations rising 28.6%, evidence of a credit‑mix shift toward leasing as affordability tightens. (autofinancenews.net) GM Financial has scheduled its Q1 2026 operating‑results release for April 28, underscoring that captive originations and leasing data will be reported later in the month. (businesswire.com) Wholesale and floorplan dynamics remain active as Manheim/Cox data showed wholesale used‑vehicle values up roughly 4% year‑over‑year in February, supporting liquidation values for inventory loans. (coxautoinc.com) Floorplan lenders told Auto Finance News they expect steady or growing floorplan volume into 2026, keeping demand for dealer inventory lines intact despite softer retail sales. (autofinancenews.net) Equipment and commercial vehicle finance are holding up: the ELFA CapEx Finance Index recorded $11.0 billion in new business volume in February and a 14.2% year‑over‑year NBV increase through January–February, signalling elevated equipment finance demand. (financialcontent.com) ACT Research noted uneven vocational Class‑8 truck orders but cited infrastructure and construction demand as supportive for commercial‑vehicle financing in 2026. (actresearch.net) Solifi has moved to address these lender pain points: its March 2026 Solifi Document Intelligence product claims up to a 70% reduction in document‑verification time for secured‑finance originations. (prnewswire.com) Solifi’s 2025 acquisition of DataScan expanded its wholesale/floorplan and inventory‑risk tooling to give lenders integrated audit and inventory visibility. (businesswire.com) Kawasaki Motors Finance cited faster onboarding, ERP integration and dealer self‑service after deploying Solifi’s wholesale platform. (nefassociation.org)
