Kelley Blue Book analysts say incentives fell and average prices set records in January, but affordable options abound in the high-volume compact SUV segment. +

Dealertrack’s Credit Availability Index remained at 100 last month, reflecting offsetting indicators that include a lower approval rate and a growing share of subprime loans. +

Cox Automotive’s Accelerate My Deal platform now offers ID verification, document upload, esignatures and delivery scheduling to help dealers complete more deals online. +

Dealertrack has integrated BorrowerCheck by Point Predictive, an advanced, AI-based identity verification solution designed to counter deepfake and synthetic ID fraud. +

A set of new and updated features was designed to resolve “friction points” and increase the number of auto loan contracts that can be funded without manual intervention. +

Promising “real-time, automated validation” for F&I product sales, F&I Sentinel announced its compliance engine has been embedded in Cox Automotive’s digital contracting platforms. +

Lotlinx has hired Randy Kobat as its chief commercial officer, overseeing a number of divisions dedicated to executing the dealer software provider’s innovation and growth strategies. +

Only 25% of Americans surveyed for Cox Automotive’s 16th annual Car Buyer Journey report used AI tools along their path to purchase, but that group outpaced all others in reporting the highest levels of satisfaction. +

U.S. dealers sold more than 233,000 full-size pickups in December, propelling the average new vehicle price to a record $50,326 as incentives helped offset affordability concerns. +

Dealertrack reports loan approval rates continue to trend upward as of the end of December, capping a year in which the availability of dealer-arranged financing improved by 3.6%. +