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Episode · Monday, October 19, 2026 · 4:18

Prices Climb Again, Wire Stays Busy

Average transaction prices just posted their fourth consecutive monthly rise, landing a few dollars short of December's record, Cox Automotive and Kelley Blue Book data show. Incentive spending is climbing with it, and mix shift toward cheaper segments is doing more work than discounting. Electric vehicle sales had their best quarter since last year's record run, right as Subaru unveils its first in-house EV prototype and steps back from Toyota's platform. Hyundai's seat-motor recall climbs past ninety-four thousand vehicles, Rivian adds a second recall of its own, and Peugeot, Stellantis, and the UK's ZEV mandate all move through the wire. None of it changes what's on the lot Monday morning, but it changes what it costs to move, and what dealers are on the hook to fix first.

In this episode

Questions from this episode

What was the average new-vehicle transaction price last month?

New-vehicle transaction prices hit $50,562 last month, the fourth straight monthly increase, according to Cox Automotive and Kelley Blue Book data. Prices sit within $52 of December's record and are up well under one percent year over year.

Why did overall transaction prices stay down despite rising incentives?

Incentive spending rose to about 6.6% of transaction price, but stronger sales of subcompact SUVs, compact cars, and small pickups held the overall number down even as several high-volume segments moved higher.

What is Subaru doing with its first in-house EV prototype?

Subaru has unveiled its first in-house EV prototype, a step toward building electric vehicles off its own platform rather than Toyota's. Subaru also plans to launch software-defined vehicles in the late 2020s, pairing the EV push with a software overhaul.

How many vehicles does Hyundai's seat-motor recall cover?

Hyundai's recall over an overheating seat motor now covers about 94,622 vehicles, according to Reuters reporting. Federal regulators have not set a repair timeline, and owners are still waiting on a mailed notice once a parts remedy exists.

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