Black Book: Car Segment Values Strongest in Two Years
Last week, car segment values were up 0.26% compared to the 0.01% depreciation the segment experienced the week prior. This added up to the strongest week for car segment values in two years.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Car segment values continued to thrive last week, as nearly all vehicles within the segment benefited from growing consumer demand, according to Black Book’s March 26 Market Insights report.
Last week, overall car segment values were up 0.26%, compared to the 0.01% depreciation the segment experienced the week prior.
Car segment values were already strong two weeks ago. The fact they remained essentially flat on a week-to-week basis was a testament to the strength of smaller cars during tax season. This past week’s performance resulted in the strongest week for car segment values in two years.
There were two main drivers of the car segment’s performance this week, the first of which was the continued strength of subcompact, compact, midsize, full-size, and sporty cars. Respectively, these vehicle segments saw their average wholesale values increase 0.32%, 0.89%, 0.36%, 0.06%, and 0.06% week over week.
The second driver was the improved performance of luxury car segments. Similar to last week, luxury vehicles were the only vehicles within the car segment to experience a decline in wholesale value, but it was at a lower rate than what was recorded the week prior.
Overall truck segment values were down 0.19%, compared to 0.27% the week prior. Subcompact crossovers/SUVs, compact crossovers/SUVs, and full-size vans were the top performers in the segment. Subcompact luxury and compact luxury crossovers/SUVs experienced the highest weekly depreciation.
More Auto Finance

July Was Hot for Auto Borrowers
Credit proved readily available for many, but most loans left buyers in negative territory, Cox Automotive said.
Read More →
Dealer Lender Preferences Revealed
When lenders provide consistent, fast service, their overall satisfaction scores with dealers greatly improve, according to JD Power research.
Read More →
Auto Refi Savings Surge
Consumers with 84-month auto loan terms who refinanced saved the most on monthly payments, according to a new report by auto refinancing provider Caribou.
Read More →
Subaru Enters Lending Business
The automaker follows other brands in adding captive financing in the U.S., and says the move will strengthen its position here.
Read More →
Positive Equity Reaches Record High
Mainstream vehicle owners who bought a car seven years ago are likely to have positive equity when trading in for a new vehicle, according to second-quarter Edmunds data.
Read More →
Dealerships Are Paying the Price for Extended Car Loans
Growing negative-equity scenarios mean such lengthy terms should be addressed in a forward-looking way to make them work for the dealer and the consumer down the road.
Read More →
Trade-Ins in Negative Equity Reach New Heights
As such trade-ins rise in frequency, so do monthly loan payment amounts and interest rates, according to second-quarter data compiled by Edmunds.
Read More →
Auto Credit Plentiful
June numbers show lenders are readily granting access, including to risky borrowers, as consumers leverage themselves to take on high prices.
Read More →
Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt
Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.
Read More →
Porsche Financial Services Shifts Structure
After 36 years with Porsche, the Financial Services Chief Financial Officer Konrad Riedl is retiring, and the department is realigning its management structure.
Read More →