Weekly roundup: Canada stands firm on trade, Ford F-Series and SUV sales rise, Toyota raises earnings forecast

ICYMI: Canada says the U.S. midterms won’t change its trade stance as auto tariffs stay unresolved. Ford’s October sales fell 0.8%, while F-Series and large SUVs posted gains. Toyota raised its annual earnings forecast and named Mark Templin its next North America CEO. Stellantis named Pablo Di Si chief operating officer for North America. Cox Automotive found that 46% of shoppers are high-potential CPO buyers.

Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to keep you up to date on this week’s automotive news.

Canada says U.S. midterms won’t change its trade stance
Canada says the U.S. midterm results won’t change its approach to trade talks with Washington. According to a Reuters report, Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian Minister in charge of U.S. trade ties, said the outcome won’t significantly affect his government’s focus and work. Read more.

Ford F-Series and SUV sales rise in October but overall sales dip
Ford’s U.S. sales fell 0.8% in October to 174,123 vehicles, from 175,584 a year earlier, because the Escape and Corsair are no longer in production. Deliveries for the rest of the lineup rose 6.9%, Ford said Wednesday. Read more.

Toyota raises annual earnings forecast as operating profit climbs 34%
According to Toyota’s earnings report released Thursday, the automaker raised its net profit forecast for the fiscal year ending in March 2027 to 3.57 trillion yen (about $22.6 billion), up from its previous estimate of 3.25 trillion yen. Read more.

Stellantis names new chief operating officer for North America
Effective immediately, Stellantis named Pablo Di Si Chief Operating Officer, North America and American Brands. He will join the leadership team and report to CEO Antonio Filosa. Read more.

Cox Automotive study finds 46% of shoppers are high-potential CPO buyers
According to the 2026 Cox Automotive Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicle Study, 46% of in-market shoppers qualify as high-potential CPO buyers, yet certified vehicles account for only about 12% of retail used-vehicle sales. The survey of 825 consumers planning to buy within the next six months also found that many shoppers don’t fully understand what certification means, which Cox identifies as a barrier to sales growth. Read more.

Next Week Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss

Toyota and Lexus dealership values hit records, Kerrigan Advisors says
Dealer results still depend heavily on brand, but hybrid demand, affordability pressures, and higher interest rates are benefiting some franchises and straining others. These effects are reflected in days’ supply, earnings, and buy-sell activity. Ryan Kerrigan, Managing Director at Kerrigan Advisors joins us on the next episode of Inside Automotive, for a closer look at whats driving up Toyota and Lexus dealership values.

AutoVision President on the missed opportunities dealers face with CPO
Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles could be a bigger opportunity for dealerships, but many aren’t promoting them enough. With consumers watching their budgets and holding onto vehicles longer, Babak Mofrad, President of AutoVision, believes dealers have an opportunity to make CPO a more important part of their used-vehicle strategy. Mofrad joins us on Inside Automotive, ahead of Used Car Week.

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 Jeff Cowan, President of Jeff Cowan’s Pro Talk, the nation’s number one service advisor sales training consultants and service department training opportunity, plus former Xerox CEO and corporate turnaround expert,  Steve Bandrowczak.