Cox Automotive said strong tax‑return stimulus from President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act helped fuel decent U.S. first‑quarter auto sales and the company left its 2026 forecast unchanged at 15.8 million vehicles.
Cox Automotive's Industry Insights and Forecast projects 15.8 million new‑vehicle sales for 2026, a 2.6 percent decline from about 16.2 million in 2025.
Cox Auto chief economist Jeremy Robb said ongoing uncertainty — including the U.S.-Israel war and Iran's blockade of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz — could depress global economic activity and harm auto sales if it escalates. Jeremy Robb noted that since early 2025 Cox Automotive has seen higher consumer spending and stronger demand in Manheim used‑auto auction lanes, with retail new and used sales strengthening through mid‑March before recent Middle East developments; he referenced Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" to illustrate market uncertainty.
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