DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Why your next new car could very well cost more than $50,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Americans paid a whopping $47,612 on average for a new car in October, according to data from Edmunds. That means new car prices have risen much faster than most goods and services. But much of the reason Americans are paying nearly $50k for a car is that automakers decided to go all-in on expensive cars. The combination of higher interest rates and higher car prices, along with the biggest average loans ever taken out to buy them, lifted the average monthly car payment to $742 in October. And that would make every car built in America more expensive, because no vehicle is made with 100% American parts.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, That’s, Buyers, ”, Ivan Drury, “, didn’t, Charlie Chesbrough, Drury, –, ” Drury, Donald Trump, Jeff Schuster, GlobalData, They’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Cox Automotive, Nissan, Infiniti, General Motors, Ford, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, GM, Federal Reserve Locations: New York, Edmunds, American, United States, Stellantis, Mexico, America

☆ The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point after election. Here's what that means for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Mortgage ratesHousing affordability has been a major issue due in part to a sharp rise in mortgage rates since the pandemic. Trump has said he'll bring down mortgage rates — even though 15- and 30-year mortgage rates are fixed, and tied to Treasury yields and the economy. Mortgage rates are unlikely to fall significantly, given the current climate, explained Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree. Federal student loan rates are fixed, so most borrowers won't be immediately affected. But refinancing a federal loan into a private student loan will forgo the safety nets that come with federal loans, such as deferments, forbearances, income-driven repayment and loan forgiveness and discharge options.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Matt Schulz, Trump, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Trump's, Caldwell, Michele Raneri, Jacob Channel, Mark Kantrowitz Organizations: Federal, Reuters, Auto, Fed, Treasury, TransUnion, Mortgage, Association . Locations: Washington ,, Edmunds, U.S

☆ I just bought a Jeep for my teen driver. Here's what I learned about the used car market
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-26 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But, boy, has the used car market changed. Now, 10% of all vehicles sold cost more than $70,000, up from 3% five years ago, according to Edmunds. Just 0.3% of new vehicles sold now cost less than $20,000, compared with 8% five years ago, Edmunds found. Hunting down a used JeepA Jeep was at the top of my daughter's wish list, and Wranglers, especially, have held their value. That means paying more upfront: A Jeep Wrangler "is not the cheap car from 10-15 years ago," Drury said.

Persons: Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury, Wrangler Organizations: Toyota, Cox Automotive, Wranglers Locations: Edmunds

☆ How things went from bad to worse for Jeep-owner Stellantis
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After months of that mounting pressure — plus an investor lawsuit — Stellantis confirmed that Tavares would retire after his contract expires in early 2026. A Stellantis spokesperson said the investor lawsuit is without merit, and the company plans to "vigorously defend itself." "If a customer has an older Stellantis product, the odds of buying a new one are very, very diminished, especially compared to the rest of the industry," Drury said. Stellantis, in return, has filed a lawsuit accusing the union of violating the contract with its strike authorization votes. AdvertisementAfter a historic strike at all three Detroit car companies last fall, the UAW won the right to strike over product commitments.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Tavares, —, Stellantis, — Stellantis, Kevin Farrish, Dave Kelleher, Kelleher, Jeep, Dodge, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury, Carlos, Shawn Fain Organizations: Investors, Service, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, France's PSA Groupe, United Auto Workers, UAW, Chrysler, Dodge, Stellantis, Renegade, Cherokees, Hyundai, Cox Automotive, Detroit, Cherokee Locations: North America, Portuguese, Pennsylvania, Illinois

☆ Big banks are bracing for losses as Americans struggle to pay off debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

American consumers and businesses are having a hard time paying off credit card, auto, and commercial real estate debt. Bank CEOs said on recent earnings calls that elevated prices and interest rates continue to weigh on Americans. According to Federal Reserve data, the past-due debt share for credit card, auto, and commercial real estate has recently risen to above pre-pandemic levels. That's because some loans are coming due — forcing businesses to refinance at much higher interest rates. The financial roller coaster of pandemic payments, whipsawing inflation, and high interest rates are especially affecting lower-income Americans.

Persons: —, Wells Fargo's, haven't, Bruce McClary, David Schiff, Schiff, Edmunds, Stephen Biggar, Biggar, Jane Fraser, Brian Moynihan, Charles Scharf, Wells, Jeremy Barnum, There's, I'm Organizations: Bank, Service, Federal Reserve, Business, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Citigroup, Bank of, New, Fed, National Foundation, Credit, Argus Research, Bank of America's Locations: Wells Fargo, delinquencies

As recently as 2005, more than half of all automobiles on the road were painted a color other than black, white, silver, or gray. Today, less than 20% of vehicles listed in our database of 1.7 million cars are a color other than black, white, silver, or gray. "Simplifying the production process — with fewer trim options and fewer paint options — is always going to be a winner." Today, car colors are going the way of checked airline bags — you pay extra for something you used to get free. Offering fewer options to average car buyers — and more to the wealthy — enables automakers to bask in the color they care about most: green.

Persons: carmakers, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Drury, Mark Healy, Andrew Thompson, Dan DeLorenzo, Kim Nguyen, Randy Yeip Organizations: GM, Chrysler, Flipturn Creative Studios

But consciously or unconsciously, no consumer choice says "us vs. them" more than what car we choose to drive. The most Republican vehicle in America? The Jeep Wrangler. It began with the Jeep Wrangler, the brand's most iconic model. How purple is your car brand?

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, MAGA, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, Jeep, Dave Kelleher, Kelleher, they've, Lincoln, Mark Healy, Nora Naughton, BI's, Andrew Thompson Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Toyota, VW, Republicans, Army, Stellantis, Jeep, Wrangler, Toledo Jeep Fest, Flipturn Creative Studios Locations: America, Hoofddorp , Netherlands, Pennsylvania, Moab, Appalachia

☆ Chevrolet aims to defend highly profitable SUV market position with updated Tahoe, Suburban
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

2025 Chevrolet Tahoe GMDETROIT – General Motors has updated its highly profitable large SUVs for Chevrolet for the 2025 model year to defend the brand's long-standing segment leadership. The Detroit automaker's Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban have led the mainstream full-size SUV segment for over 45 years, according to GM. For Chevrolet, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban check many of those boxes and include the addition of GM's hands-free Super Cruise advanced driver-assistance system. Starting pricing for the 2025 Tahoe will range from about $60,000 for a Tahoe LS to more than $83,000 for the top-end High Country. 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe GM

Persons: Scott Bell, Bell Organizations: Chevrolet Tahoe GM DETROIT –, Motors, Chevrolet, Detroit, GM, Ford Motor, Nissan, GMC, Yukon XL, Ford, Cruise, CNBC, LS, CarMax, Chevrolet Tahoe Locations: Tahoe, Detroit, Yukon, U.S

☆ American consumers are increasingly underwater on their car loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT — A growing number of Americans with auto loans owe more than their vehicles are worth, according to a report Tuesday from Edmunds.com. Upside-down car loans aren't necessarily dire on their own, but a growing number of consumers being underwater is another indication of pressure on American consumers. Edmunds reports more than one in five consumers with negative equity owe more than $10,000 on their auto loans. That includes 22% of vehicle owners with negative equity who owed $10,000 or more, while 7.5% have negative equity of more than $15,000. Consumers can counter upside-down car loans by holding onto the vehicles for longer periods.

Persons: Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Ivan Drury Organizations: CDK, DETROIT, Federal Reserve Locations: Chicago , Illinois, United States, Canada, Edmunds.com, Edmunds

☆ Tesla's robotaxi dreams are going to be an insurance nightmare
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

High insurance costs could wipe out earnings for Cybercab owners. AdvertisementThere are plenty of hurdles for Tesla's promised robotaxi fleet to clear before launching, but one overlooked barrier may be the complexity of insuring a fleet of self-driving Teslas. Advertisement"It's great that you have a vehicle that is cheaper," said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds, referring to Tesla's $30,000 Cybercab. "But that can easily get outweighed by high insurance costs." The automotive insurance industry has yet to fully embrace autonomous technology, and without coverage, driverless Teslas can't operate.

Persons: Tesla, —, Tesla's, Elon Musk's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, there's, Caldwell, Musk, Elon, Morgan Stanley, Adam Jonas Organizations: Insurance, Service, Tesla, Investors Locations: Texas, California

☆ Stellantis U.S. auto sales extend free fall in third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

DETROIT — Stellantis’ U.S. new vehicle sales continued a yearslong free fall during the third quarter, despite CEO Carlos Tavares’ attempts to correct what he has called “arrogant” mistakes. Stellantis was expected to be the worst sales performer of major automakers during the third quarter. Auto industry forecaster Cox Automotive had projected a sales decline of roughly 21% for the carmaker. All of Stellantis’ brands except for its niche Fiat unit experienced sales declines in the third quarter, led by more than 40% reductions for Chrysler and Dodge. Stellantis’ performance compares with the overall U.S. new light-duty vehicle sales market, which increased 13% last year, according to federal data.

Persons: Carlos Tavares ’, Stellantis, Cox, Edmunds, Matt Thompson, Tavares Organizations: DETROIT, carmaker, Auto, Cox Automotive, U.S, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, New York Stock Exchange, Stellantis, Fiat Chrysler, France’s PSA Groupe, United Auto Workers Locations: ’, U.S

☆ Stellantis U.S. auto sales extend freefall in third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jeep vehicles are delivered to a dealership on June 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. DETROIT — Stellantis ' U.S. new vehicle sales during the third quarter continued a yearslong freefall despite CEO Carlos Tavares' actions to fix what he has called "arrogant" mistakes by the company. Stellantis was expected to be the worst sales performer of major automakers during the third quarter, and auto industry forecaster Cox Automotive had projected a sales decline of roughly 21%. Cox and fellow forecaster Edmunds expect third-quarter sales industrywide will be down roughly 2% compared with a year earlier. Stellantis' disappointing sales are the latest problem this week for the carmaker, which cut its 2024 profit margin forecast and has been hit with a recall involving popular plug-in hybrid electric Jeep models due to fire risks.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Stellantis, Cox, Edmunds Organizations: DETROIT, Cox Automotive Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S

☆ GM reports 2.2% decrease in third-quarter sales, but EVs make gains
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT — Increases in sales of electric vehicles and small crossovers helped General Motors report slightly better-than-expected sales during the third quarter. The Detroit automaker reported a 2.2% drop in third-quarter sales compared with a year earlier, slipping to 659,601 vehicles sold. GM's third-quarter sales are expected to be in line with the overall industry. Cox Automotive and Edmunds project third-quarter sales industrywide will be down roughly 2% compared to a year earlier. Still, EVs made up only 4.9% of the company's total third-quarter sales.

Persons: Edmunds, EVs, Rory Harvey Organizations: Motors, Detroit, Auto, Cox Automotive, GM, CNBC, Chevrolet Trax, Buick Locations: Detroit, DETROIT, North America, U.S

☆ U.S. new vehicle sales expected to have struggled during third quarter
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT — U.S. sales of new vehicles are expected to have struggled during the third quarter amid economic and political uncertainties, as well as elevated interest rates and prices, according to industry forecasters. Sales are expected to fall roughly 2% during the third quarter compared with the same time in 2023, to about 3.9 million vehicles sold, according to Cox Automotive and Edmunds.com. That would be a roughly 5% decrease compared with the second quarter of this year. "2024 has been a volatile year for the new vehicle market, and more of the same is expected in Q4," said Charlie Chesbrough, Cox Automotive senior economist. Both Cox and Edmunds expect light-duty U.S. vehicle sales to total about 15.7 million vehicles in 2024.

Persons: Charlie Chesbrough, Cox, Edmunds, Jessica Caldwell Organizations: DETROIT, Cox Automotive, Federal, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ From mortgages to auto loans, experts weigh in on when — or if — to refinance as interest rates fall
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

So, home loan rates may continue to fluctuate. Don't wait to reassess credit card debtWhen it comes to credit card debt, the math is a little more cut-and-dried. In the wake of the rate hike cycle, the average credit card rate rose from 16.34% in March 2022 to more than 20% today — nearing an all-time high. watch nowAlternatively, borrowers can call their card issuer and ask for a lower interest rate on their current card. Auto loan refinancing options depend on equityAlthough auto loans are fixed, the rates on new-car loans will come down with the Fed's moves.

Persons: Jacob Channel, Matt Schulz, Schulz, you've, Ivan Drury, Edmunds Organizations: Treasury, LendingTree, Auto

☆ The Federal Reserve just cut interest rates by a half point. Here's what that means for your wallet
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Interest rates took the elevator going up, but they'll be taking the stairs coming down," he said. That makes paying down high-cost credit card debt a top priority since "interest rates won't fall fast enough to bail you out of a tight situation," McBride said. "Many Americans have been holding off on making vehicle purchases in the hopes that prices and interest rates would come down, or that incentives would make a return," Caldwell said. Student loansFederal student loan rates are also fixed, so most borrowers won't be immediately affected by a rate cut. Eventually, borrowers with existing variable-rate private student loans may be able to refinance into a less expensive fixed-rate loan, he said.

Persons: Spencer Platt, APRs, McBride, they'll, Jacob Channel, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell, Mark Kantrowitz Organizations: Getty, Treasury, Auto, Fed Locations: New York City, Edmunds

☆ How to make the Fed rate cut work for you
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

In its August survey of car shoppers, a majority (64%) said a Fed rate cut likely would affect the timing of their purchase. But here’s the thing: Car loan rates are pretty high — the average is 7.1% for new cars and 11.3% for used cars, according to Edmunds. If you do buy a home this year and are considering buying down points to reduce your mortgage rate, crunch some numbers first, Diodato advised. That’s because you will pay thousands of dollars to buy down your mortgage rate now, and then thousands more in fees to refinance. What to do if you’re not near retirement: Reconsider how much money you’re keeping in cash or cash-equivalent investments.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, “, ”, Greg McBride, McBride, Chris Diodato, Jessica Caldwell, ” McBride, Caldwell, We’re, Diodato, you’ll, won’t, Kathy Jones, Jones Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Bankrate.com, Fed, Treasury, FDIC, Schwab Center, Financial Research, AAA, Bond Locations: Edmunds, Schwab.com

☆ Tesla Cybertruck is in a category of its own for better or worse
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

In this article TSLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA Tesla Cybertruck in front of a graffiti mural on Aug. 28, 2024 in Detroit. Those were all words used to describe the Tesla Cybertruck during a 24-hour rental of the vehicle in metropolitan Detroit. Fronts of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck and GMC Sierra Denali EVs (left to right). The Tesla Cybertruck is unveiled at Tesla's design studio on Nov. 21, 2019, in Hawthorne, Calif. A Tesla Cybertruck in front of a graffiti mural on Aug. 28, 2024 in Detroit.

Persons: Tesla, Michael Wayland, It's, Terry Woychowski, Elon Musk Organizations: CNBC, Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, GMC Sierra Denali, YouTube, General Motors, Ford Motor, Rivian Automotive, Hummer, Renaissance Center, Tech, GMC, Caresoft, GMC Hummer, GM Locations: Detroit, Chevrolet El, Hawthorne , Calif

☆ It's a good time to get a deal on an EV as they sit around on dealer lots
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This has helped cut the average price paid in July for a new EV to $58,619, which is 1% lower year-over-year, according to Edmunds. That's actually $4,366 cheaper than the average price paid in July for a new plug-in hybrid. Demand for hybrids is growing among a more practical group of green car shoppers who aren't ready to make the switch to a fully electric car. The average price paid for an EV still outpaces the average price paid for any new car by about $10,000. Car companies are leaning into this loophole with attractive EV leasing deals.

Persons: —, That's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell Organizations: Service, Business, Cox Automotive, EVs, Hyundai, Dealers Locations: Edmunds, That's

☆ Californians are buying fewer Teslas. That could be a bad sign for Elon Musk.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewTesla has a California problem — its residents aren't buying as many of Elon Musk's electric cars as they used to. And California isn't the only place where Tesla's chokehold on the EV market is beginning to slip. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has attributed lackluster sales to high interest rates and economic uncertainty in the US. But, while Tesla's sales are dropping, the EV market as a whole is expanding, including in California. Similarly, data from CNCDA shows that EV sales in California hit their second-highest quarter on record in July.

Persons: —, Tesla, Elon, Elon Musk, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Noam Galai, Musk, Donald Trump, wouldn't, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, California there's, Brian Moody, Moody Organizations: Service, Golden State, Car Dealers, US, Business, Cox Automotive, California, Forbes, Experian Automotive, SpaceX, Democratic Party, Auto Locations: California

☆ Gen Z isn't impressed by Tesla cars. That should worry Elon Musk.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Jaures Yip | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A recent survey of Morgan Stanley's 2024 interns found that the "Tesla 'cool factor' is cooling" among Gen Zers in the US. Despite competition in the EV market becoming stiffer than ever, Tesla has not majorly refreshed its aging car models in years. AdvertisementInstead, Musk has been pivoting Tesla's future toward robo-taxis, but Gen Z doesn't seem interested. Robo-taxis will likely not be Tesla's saving grace, as 51% of Gen Z interns surveyed said they thought owning or leasing a car would still be necessary by 2030. AdvertisementAnd, for the Gen Z interns surveyed, it probably won't be an EV at all.

Persons: —, Morgan Stanley's, Zers, Morgan Stanley, Mercedes, Ivan Drury, Elon Musk, Drury, Gen Zers, Tesla, Musk, Z Organizations: Service, BMW, Business, EV, McKinsey Locations: Edmunds, Ukraine

The Federal Reserve is gearing up to cut interest rates as soon as next month, which could bring relief to people with mortgages, credit cards and car loans. Certificates of deposit — fixed-rate bank accounts with term limits — are a go-to when interest rates are high. With interest rates coming down, the idea is just pay and save as much as you can right now. There’s no bad time to do that, but when the central bank lowers interest rates, it can be even more valuable. “It’s tempting to say, ‘Well, when interest rates go down, stocks are going to do well, because people are switching from low-return to higher-return assets,’” she said.

Persons: Mark Hamrick, “, ”, Hamrick, Rodney Lake, Laura Veldkamp, Veldkamp, Jude Boudreaux, now’s, ” Jude Boudreaux, you’re, ” Boudreaux, ” DON’T, Jonathan Smoke, Cox, Edmunds, Ivan Drury Organizations: Federal, GW Investment, George Washington University School of Business, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, Chipping, Columbia Business, Philadelphia Fed, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, Fed Locations: U.S, Orleans, New Orleans, Edmunds

☆ Americans just can’t quit their giant, gas-burning trucks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A ‘harsh reality’ for EVsFord likes to brag about its growing EV sales, but its profit is still primarily coming from the sales of gasoline powered trucks and SUVs. Ford isn’t the only automaker pulling back on its EV plans and making new investment in ICE vehicles. This is not to say that the traditional automakers are dropping their EV plans altogether or that EV sales are falling. But EV sales, which initially grew at a double-digit pace, haven’t shot up exponentially as automakers hoped or expected. That uncertainty about the future of US EV incentives prompted automakers to reconsider their earlier EV plans.

Persons: Ford, ” Ford, Jim Farley, hasn’t, EVs Ford, ”, Ivan Drury, Mary Barra, EVs, Stellantis, haven’t, Tesla, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Carlos Tavares Organizations: New, New York CNN, EVs, Canadian, Ford, Super, Kentucky, Super Duty, Ford’s, Ford Expedition, GM, ICE, United Auto Workers, “ Locations: New York, Oakville , Ontario, Toronto, Mexico, Oakville, Kentucky, Ohio, EVs, United States, Edmunds, North America, Europe

☆ The Fed keeps interest rates high for now—here's how much money it could be costing you each month
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

30-year fixed-rate mortgagesIn 2022, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate was 4.3%, while the current rate is 6.9%, per Mortgage News Daily. Total monthly difference: $42New vehicle financingIn 2022, new auto loans had an average interest rate of 5.2% while the current average is 7.3%, per Edmunds data. For a 60-month financing of around $40,000, monthly payments have increased from $759 to $798. Total monthly difference: $39Credit cardsIn 2022, the average credit card interest rate was 16.3%, while the current rate is 20.7%, per Bankrate data. Total monthly difference: $19

Organizations: Federal Reserve, Fed, Mortgage Locations: Edmunds

It’s been a year since interest rates reached a two-decade high, but they may soon begin to reverse course. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday, while signaling that a cut is possible when policy-setting officials meet again in September. If interest rates are elevated for too long, they risk weakening the employment picture. The central bank uses interest rates to influence the broader economy. Home-equity lines of credit and adjustable-rate mortgages — which each carry variable interest rates — generally rise within two billing cycles after a change in the Fed’s rates.

Persons: It’s, ” Jonathan Smoke, that’s, Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, —, “ Banks, Ken Tumin Organizations: Federal, “ Manufacturers, Cox Automotive, Treasury, Savings Vehicles Locations: Edmunds

Search resuls for: "Edmunds"

25 mentions found