ICYMI: South Korea plans to cut U.S. auto tariffs from 25% to 15% starting Nov. 1. Customer satisfaction with car buying fell to a three-year low in November. The Trump administration will roll back Biden-era CAFE regulations. 700Credit reported a cyberattack affecting 18,000 dealerships and 5.6 million customers. New-vehicle sales in November declined year-over-year for the second consecutive month.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
South Korea submits bill to cut US auto tariffs to 15%
South Korea has submitted a special bill to implement its $350 billion investment pledge to the United States, clearing the way for U.S. tariffs on Korean automobiles to drop from 25% to 15%. The bill outlines how South Korea’s pledged investments will be executed and was a prerequisite for reducing levies on vehicles and auto parts. Read More
CDK survey shows ease of purchase plummets in November
For the first time in more than three years, car buyers’ satisfaction with the purchasing process has fallen below 70%. CDK’s November Ease of Purchase survey recorded a 66% score, down greatly from 85% in October and 89% in September, marking an unprecedented decline in customer sentiment. Read More
Trump administration to roll back fuel-efficiency standards, citing vehicle affordability
The Trump administration is set to announce new, less stringent fuel-efficiency standards at the White House, aiming to reverse rules implemented during the Biden administration that it says have contributed to rising vehicle costs. Senior executives from Stellantis, General Motors, and Ford are expected to attend the announcement on Wednesday. Read More
700Credit reports cyberattacks affecting 18,000 dealerships
Cybercriminals have targeted 700Credit, the largest provider of credit, identity, and compliance services for dealerships, breaching sensitive data of approximately 5.6 million customers and nearly 18,000 dealerships in North America. This incident occurred in late October and involved names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and employment information. Read More
November 2025 new-vehicle sales decline as EV tax credit ends
New light-vehicle sales in November fell year-over-year for the second consecutive month in a row, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association’s latest Market Beat report. The November SAAR was 15.6 million units, a 5.5% decrease from a year ago. However, it was a slight increase compared to October’s SAAR of 15.3 million. The retail automotive industry is still grappling with the lingering effects of a massive surge of pull-ahead purchases, as customers rushed to showrooms before the expiration of the federal EV tax incentives and tariff-related price increases. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Cox Automotive execs share recommendations for dealers navigating AI adoption
While AI is quickly changing the automotive retail sector, Cox Automotive executives Tessa Nadik, AVP Product Management, and Rob DeGeorge, Director of Product Consulting, assert it is not a threat to dealership employment. Instead, they view AI as a powerful tool to boost efficiency, enhance the customer experience, and free up staff for high-value personal interactions on this upcoming episode of Inside Automotive.
Evelyn Sames on guiding a 115-year-old auto group through the modern market
Sames Auto Group is celebrating its 115th anniversary, an incredible milestone in any industry. On this upcoming episode of Inside Automotive, CEO Evelyn Sames discusses how she’s steering her family’s long-standing legacy through today’s challenging market.
How service departments can attract and retain top technicians – Jeff Cowan
What can managers actually do differently, not just to attract, but to keep those talented techs of your service drive? On this upcoming episode of Service Drive, we’re getting recommendations from Jeff Cowan, President of Jeff Cowan’s Pro Talk, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, and Author.
