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US Dealers Back Legislation to Prevent Surge in Theft of Catalytic Converters
The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in the US is strongly supporting legislation to help prevent the surge in theft of calalytic converters nationwide. It said it strongly supports the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts Act , which was reintroduced in the US House of Representatives yesterday. By requiring each catalytic converter to be marked with a traceable identification number, the PART Act will strengthen the ability of law enforcement officials to combat these thefts.
Source: Motor Trader
New-Vehicle Inventory Tightens as Auto Industry Enters 2026
The U.S. automotive industry began 2026 with tighter new-vehicle inventory following a strong finish to 2025, setting the stage for both opportunity and risk in the months ahead. New-vehicle inventory totaled about 2.77 million units as of Jan. 1, according to Cox Automotive vAuto data. That figure reflects a 76-day supply and marks a sharp decline from 92 days in early December. Inventory levels are also down 4.8% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Source: CBT News
EV Registrations Cut in Half in November After Tax Break Ends; Legacy Brands Hit Harder Than Tesla
New electric vehicle registrations in the U.S. fell 49 percent in November from a year earlier following the repeal of federal tax credits, hitting legacy brands harder than EV leader Tesla. EV registrations fell to 56,072 vehicles, cutting their share of the light-vehicle market to 4.6 percent, down 3.7 percentage points from November 2024, S&P Global Mobility said. The data excludes hybrids. “Once we knew that we were losing the tax credit at the end of September, I said EV share is going to get cut in half,” said Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars.
Source: Automotive News
Underwater Car Trade-Ins Are On The Rise — And Drivers Owe A Record Amount, Edmunds Finds
As consumers contend with higher auto payments, new data from car website Edmunds suggests they may be falling into a cycle of negative equity — where their outstanding auto loan balances are higher than the value of their cars. In the fourth quarter of 2025, 29.3% of trade-ins toward new car purchases were “underwater,” or had negative equity, according to Edmunds. That is the highest share since the first quarter of 2021, when 31.9% of trade-ins had negative equity, according to the data.
Source: CNBC
GM CEO: ICE and EVs can both ‘thrive under the GM tent’
General Motors will continue its major focus on electric vehicles but at a slower pace than originally planned while also maintaining a strong position in ICE power in addition to some upcoming hybrids and plug-in hybrids, the company’s CEO Mary Barra said. In a “fireside chat” before an Automotive Press Association audience ahead of the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, Barra discussed a number of issues, most notably GM’s revised product strategy in reaction to the Trump administration’s rollback of future fuel economy regulations and elimination of the $7,500 EV tax credit.
Source: Wards Auto
Criminal Penalties: January 31 IRS Form 8300 Deadline (Sponsored Content)
Took $10,000+ cash in 2025? You must file customer statements by January 31. Criminal penalties and fines up to $25,000+ per violation await non-compliance. Most dealers miss this critical deadline. Watch the FREE Webinar Now!
Source: KPA
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