ICYMI: Ford ratifies Canadian labor deal and expands Windsor investment to $499 million. Used-vehicle prices ease as supply climbs to 47 days. U.S. and Mexico resume USMCA talks as Trump escalates trade pressure on Canada. Senate panel advances bill to ban Chinese vehicle tech. CBT News opens nominations for its 2026 40 Under 40 Award.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
Ford ratifies Canadian labor deal, expands Windsor investment to $499 million
Ford and Unifor have ratified a new three-year labor agreement for approximately 5,000 Canadian employees, which includes a 9% wage increase over the three years. Eligible full-time workers will receive about $7,130 (C$10,000) as a ratification bonus, while eligible temporary employees will receive about $1,430 (C$2,000). Read More
Used-vehicle prices ease as supply climbs to 47 days
Used-vehicle supply is loosening on both the retail and wholesale sides, and prices are pulling back from earlier gains. Cox Automotive’s June retail data shows inventory rising as sales slow, while Manheim’s mid-July wholesale index shows values easing for the first time in months. Dealers held 2.14 million used vehicles in June, up 1% from May, according to Cox Automotive’s analysis of vAuto Live Market View data. Read More
GM’s core earnings jump 30%, pushing 2026 guidance higher again
General Motors (GM) raised its full-year 2026 guidance for the second time this year, even as a major EV-related charge pulled net income down in the second quarter. The results point to a stronger core business than the headline profit number suggests, and dealers should pay attention to both sides of the story. While GM reported Q2 revenue of $48 billion, up 1.9% from a year ago, net income attributable to stockholders fell to $1.3 billion, down 31.1% year over year. Read More
U.S., Mexico resume USMCA talks as Trump escalates trade pressure on Canada
U.S. and Mexican officials have launched the third round of bilateral negotiations to revise the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These three days of talks mark the first formal negotiations since the Trump administration chose not to renew the trade pact on July 1, which initiated annual reviews extending to 2036. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the administration’s priorities include reducing trade deficits and expanding U.S. manufacturing. Read More
Senate panel advances bill to ban Chinese vehicle tech
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced legislation Wednesday to permanently ban Chinese-linked vehicles and technology from the U.S. market. The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, S.4429, bars companies with more than 15% Chinese ownership from selling vehicles in the United States. Read More
CBT News opens nominations for its 2026 40 Under 40 Award
CBT News, the leading news platform for retail automotive professionals, officially opened nominations for its 2026 40 Under 40 awards, presented by Force Marketing, one of the nation’s leading providers of technology-enabled, data-driven, multi-channel marketing services for automotive clients. Now in its fourth year, the 40 Under 40 Awards honor dealership employees and managers who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and a commitment to their teams and communities. Submissions are open until September 18. Read More.
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Connected Vehicle Security Act advances as dealers rally behind legislation
Federal lawmakers are advancing legislation to shield the domestic automotive market from foreign adversaries, and industry advocates are rallying behind the push. On the next episode of Inside Automotive, Don Hall, President of the Virginia Automobile Dealership Association (VADA), joins us to discuss the advancement of the Connected Vehicle Security Act (S. 4429) in the US Senate and why he says dealer engagement is imperative now more than ever.
How training and transparency drove service to a 90% sent rate
A great service department doesn’t happen by accident. It takes deliberate investment in people, training, and the tools that help teams do their jobs well. On the next episode of Service Drive, Xavier Rivera, Service Director at I-95 Nissan and Greenacres Nissan in South Florida, joins us to discuss how he’s keeping service business strong at his stores.
