ICYMI:A House committee advanced an amended REPAIR Act, codifying federal right-to-repair standards. President Trump said he won’t renew USMCA. The UAW and Dauch Corp. reached a tentative deal, ending a 10-day strike at a GM axle supplier. New-vehicle ATP fell slightly in May. Inventory held steady as sales ticked up in May.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
House committee advances amended REPAIR Act as part of vehicle modernization package.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved an amended version of the REPAIR Act as part of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 7389), which establishes federal law based on existing right-to-repair agreements between automakers and independent repair organizations. Read More
Trump says U.S. won’t renew USMCA, dealers left in limbo.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he does not plan to renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), pushing North American trade into a prolonged renegotiation with direct consequences for auto dealers. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he is “not looking to renew” the agreement ahead of its mandatory July 1 review deadline. Read More
UAW reaches tentative agreement with Dauch, ending strike at key GM supplier.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) reached a tentative agreement with Dauch Corp. on Wednesday, effectively ending a 10-day strike at the company’s axle plant in Three Rivers, Michigan. While the agreement still needs to be ratified by union members, it aims to resolve a labor dispute that threatened to disrupt the production of several General Motors truck models. Read More
New-vehicle prices slip in May, posting smallest gain of 2026.
New-vehicle prices eased in May after a stronger April. The average transaction price (ATP) fell to $49,220, down 0.5% from April but still up 1.2% from a year ago, according to the latest data from Kelley Blue Book. That annual gain is the smallest of 2026 and well below the long-term May average of 3.5%. Read More
May inventory holds at 2.89M as robust retail sales tighten market conditions.
The U.S. new-vehicle market tightened in May as retail sales accelerated while inventory levels remained steady, according to Cox Automotive’s vAuto Live Market View data. Dealers held 2.89 million units in inventory in May, up modestly from April and 13% higher year over year. Even so, stronger demand pulled days’ supply down to 76. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
David Long on the foundation that drives dealership performance
Pressure, burnout, and negativity can spread through a dealership faster than ever. Joining us on today’s CBT Now episode to discuss how mindset, attitude, and energy can directly impact leadership and performance is David Long, President of David J Long Consulting, Vice President of Schumacher Chevrolet, and Founder of All Things Used Cars, to discuss his upcoming book Step Zero: Own Your Attitude, Elevate Your Approach, Master Your Energy.
Erin Keating breaks down dealer sentiment as Q2 confidence rises but uncertainty builds
Dealer sentiment is improving, but dealers aren’t feeling great about what’s ahead. The Q2 2026 Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index shows confidence rising for the second straight quarter. But expectations for the months ahead dropped sharply. Rising costs, tight inventory, and political uncertainty are all weighing on the market. On this episode of Inside Automotive, Erin Keating, Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive, breaks down what the data really means for dealers and what they should be watching in the months ahead.
