Weekly roundup: Court denies VW and Scout’s attempt to end CA lawsuit, Fed holds rates steady for now, Cox investigates VinSolutions cybersecurity incident
ICYMI: A federal court denied Volkswagen and Scout’s bids to dismiss the California dealer lawsuit. The Fed held rates steady, but futures point to a December hike. Cox is investigating suspicious activity at VinSolutions after a hacking group claimed data theft. Dealer inventory has built to an 82-day supply. Used EV prices rose 9.8% as the vehicles sold faster than gas cars.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to keep you up to date on this week’s automotive news.
Court rejects Volkswagen and Scout bids to dismiss dealer lawsuit
On October 22, Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California denied motions for judgment on the pleadings that Volkswagen Group of America and Scout Motors filed in June, allowing the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) to continue its claims against both companies through discovery. Read more.
Fed holds interest rates steady as auto loan costs stay high
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to hold its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4.00%, leaving borrowing costs unchanged for dealers and car buyers after September’s hike. According to CNBC, futures markets suggest another increase in December, which keeps financing costs in focus as dealers enter the year-end sales push. Read more.
Hacking group claims data theft at VinSolutions, Cox investigating ‘suspicious activity’
Cox Automotive said it detected suspicious activity on VinSolutions, its CRM platform for car dealerships, and quickly contained it. The company believes the incident affected a limited subset of VinSolutions dealers and is working with outside cyber experts to determine what data was involved. Read more.
Cox Automotive reports dealer inventory builds to 82-day supply
Dealer inventory is building heading into the colder months, with the average brand now holding an 82-day supply of new vehicles, according to Cox Automotive. That sits above the 75-day level the industry has long treated as a target, adding pressure on new-vehicle prices to remain close to record territory. Read more.
Used EV prices rise 9.8% as demand outpaces gas-powered cars
An analysis by iSeeCars, which examined over 1.5 million used vehicles, found that EVs experienced the largest year-over-year price increase among the three powertrain categories. In September 2026, the average price of used EVs rose by 9.8% to $32,533, up $2,896 from $29,637 the previous year. Read more.
Next week on CBT Live!
Join CBT News Co-Founders Bridget and Jim Fitzpatrick live at noon Eastern each weekday for the latest automotive news headlines and exclusive interviews with dealers and industry insiders. Monday’s guests include Ryan Crenshaw, Vice President and General Manager of Toyota of Riverside. He will join us live to discuss the impacts of California’s CARS act.
Next week exclusive interviews you can’t miss
Dave Cantin Group has hired longtime dealership executive Sid Barron as senior vice president of strategic partnerships. Barron joins the M&A advisory firm after four decades in retail automotive, including a stretch leading corporate development at Asbury. Dealers weighing growth, succession or a sale can expect advisers who have bought, sold and operated stores themselves. Barron and Dave Cantin, founder and CEO of Dave Cantin Group, discuss the move on the next episode of Inside M&A with Dave Cantin.