FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

The Detroit News: Govt. Shutdown Could Slow Auto Sales

The Detroit News reports the prolonged government shutdown will likely negatively impact auto sales. Manufacturers report sales have not been hit hard yet, but industry experts say consumers can only take so much uncertainty.

by Staff
October 10, 2013
1 min to read


DETROIT — Ten days into the government shutdown, automotive industry experts are cautiously monitoring the status of vehicle sales. Most but not all automakers claim sales have not dropped as a result of the shutdown, but some experts expect the automobile industry will experience a drop in sales with each passing week, reports The Detroit News.

“The longer it drags on, the more serious it becomes,” Jeff Schuster, vice president of vehicle forecasting at LMC Automotive, told The Detroit News. “It potentially has the ability to derail the momentum the industry has built over the past couple of years. It goes well beyond the furloughed federal employees. It’s all about consumer confidence.”

Ad Loading...

Earlier this month, Hyundai was the only manufacturer to attribute a slowdown in September sales to troubles in Washington, D.C. David Zuchowski, executive vice president of national sales for the Korean automaker, said the fear of a possible government shutdown and the launch of the Affordable Care Act is what led to an 8.2 decrease in September sales.

To read The Detroit News’ full story, click here.

More F&I

Woman in casual clothing sitting at a desk
F&Iby Rick McCormickMarch 31, 2026

Curb The Confusion

Talk to F&I customers like you’d talk to a friend, without industry lingo or sales-like questions, and use hard proof to show, not tell, them about a need.

Read More →
Photo of man's hand on laptop computer keyboard with blank screen
F&IMarch 16, 2026

There Is Always one More Product

Helping F&I customers understand complementary offerings is likely to lead to more sales, based on the success of a high-performing practitioner of the philosophy.

Read More →
REGISTER FOR EFI 2026
F&Iby Kate SpataforaMarch 16, 2026

EFI Conference Extends Early Bird Discount as Room Block Nears Capacity

Ethical F&I Manager's Conference will take place at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on April 13–15, 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby StaffMarch 6, 2026

Explore the 12 Rules for an F&I Life at EFI

EFI 2026 will take place April 13–15 at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

Read More →
F&IMarch 4, 2026

Creating Your Own Economy

In this video, Reese Dailey explains how effective follow-up drives better results across the dealership, including increased sales, higher F&I penetration, and stronger customer retention.

Read More →
Industryby StaffMarch 2, 2026

Prove You Can Do F&I at EFI

‘So You Think You Can Do F&I’ is a live role-play contest taking place at the 2026 Ethical F&I Managers Conference.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 25, 2026

Report Finds Year-End F&I Strength

Deal volume ebbed and flowed throughout 2025, but product performance remained steady, according to automotive technology and data intelligence solutions provider StoneEagle.

Read More →
Industryby Hannah MitchellFebruary 23, 2026

Some Auto Brands Cheaper to Insure

A new top 10 list ranks the least expensive for average full insurance coverage on a clean driving record and high driver credit scores.

Read More →
F&IFebruary 13, 2026

Business Office Blueprint

Try following these 20 steps to greater success in the dealer F&I office this year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Industryby Lauren LawrenceFebruary 11, 2026

Insurance Shopping on the Rise

A TransUnion study found that relationship-driven sales models proved to be important, as consumers who used an agent had a lower shopping intensity than those going it alone.

Read More →