New vehicle sales to decline moderately in 2026 as affordability issues weigh, forecast says

A new outlook from Cox Automotive projects that new vehicle sales are expected to slow slightly in 2026 from last year, which surpassed expectations for the industry.

Cox Automotive forecasted that the U.S. will see 15.8 million new vehicles sold in 2026, which represents a 2.4% decline from sales levels a year ago. It also projects a 1.5% year-over-year decline in retail sales, while fleet sales are expected to fall 6.1% from 2025.

Additionally, Cox anticipates a slight year-over-year...