Automotive News reports new vehicle sales improved for Ford, Hyundai and Kia and fell by double digits for Mazda in May, dropping the SAAR below 16 million as factories scaled back incentives. +

Volkswagen will extend its price freeze on new U.S.-sold units through the end of June. Sources say VW and fellow German automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz may be close to a tariff exemption. +

Cox Automotive’s Dealer Sentiment Index ticked downward as economic concerns outweighed strong customer traffic and sales, including a 10-point bump in in-person visits to franchised dealerships. +

Subaru will raise prices on nearly every U.S.-sold model starting in June, according to Motor1 and other sources, citing “market conditions” without specifically mentioning new tariffs. +

Kerrigan Advisors’ latest Blue Sky Report finds single point dealerships represented 79% of buy/sells in the first quarter, up from 68% in 2023, but total transactions fell by 14%. +

The Cox Automotive/Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index decreased by 1.6% in April after hitting a 45-month high in March. Analysts blame tariffs for rising prices and payments despite strong economic indicators. +

Lotlinx’s Len Short digs beneath the headlines to review a litany of first quarter auto retail and finance reports and distill them into four key points in his latest contribution to DealerELITE. +

U.S. and Chinese officials announced a 90-day pause on steep tariffs imposed upon each other’s exports, including vehicles and parts, in a sudden de-escalation that could lead to a long-term agreement. +

The United States and the United Kingdom have agreed to a new trade deal that will lower U.S. import taxes on up to 100,000 U.K.-built vehicles per year from 25% to 10%. +

Chairman Jerome Powell says the Federal Reserve will not reduce its target lending rate, holding at 4.25% to 4.5% as evolving economic and trade policies make future conditions difficult to predict. +