NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla.—What were some of the auto industry trends in 2025 that had direct and indirect effects on credit unions, and what might 2026 hold?
According to EpicVIN, a vehicle history report service that says it uses blockchain for data integrity, 2025 was a “mixed” year for cars in the U.S.
“The market didn’t crash. It also didn’t become cheap again overnight. Instead, things slowly moved toward normal — with a few big twists that changed how people shop,” the company said in its analysis. “Interest in premium brands such as Mercedes-Benz also grew, and many shoppers started checking detailed vehicle data through tools” such as the one it offers.
The Big Picture
“The big picture: 2025 was calmer than the headlines,” the analysis continued. “A lot of people expected 2025 to fall apart. It didn’t. What actually happened looked more like this:
- “Demand stayed steady enough to keep the industry moving.
- “Prices crept up, not skyrocketing
- “Inventory (cars on dealer lots) improved compared to the shortage years
- “Incentives and policy changes pushed people to buy at specific times.
“Simple way to say it: The market became less ‘panic’ and more ‘shopping,’ it stated.
EpicVIN further noted the price increases in the vehicle market, as the CU Daily has been reporting, only exacerbating a situation in which most buyers buy according to monthly payment. That, as the CU Daily has also reported, has led to longer and longer loan terms.
But the report also offered a caveat: “A low monthly payment can hide a bad deal if the loan is long or the fees are high.”
Varying levels of inventory by brand has led to varying levels of deals for consumers, the report added.
‘Deadline Buying’
“One of the biggest 2025 shopping behaviors was deadline buying,” EpicVIN stated. “When tax-credit rules (on EVs) and incentives change, people rush. Then the market cools after the deadline.”
In 2025, the company said many shoppers saw this pattern:
- Buyers hurried before incentive cutoffs
- After rule changes, automakers used more their own discounts to keep EVs moving
- Leases became an even bigger “deal tool” than normal
“Simple outlook for 2026: EV pricing will likely depend more on manufacturer incentives, lease specials and local inventory than on one big federal perk,” the report forecast.
The Expert View
EpicVIN’s said its expert view is this: the 2026 market will reward “calm buyers” — and punish rushed ones. To that end, when it comes to used vehicles it urged buyers to not fall in love with a low price before checking the VIN, and to not trust “clean photos” but to again, check the VIN.
“Why this matters in 2026: If used prices soften even a little, vehicles with messy history usually lose value first — and they’re harder to resell later,” the company said.
