Auto dealers and lenders are looking to new technologies and ventures to grow operations as the retail auto market faces uncertainty, especially around used vehicles and EVs, in 2026.

Dealer captive financier AutoNation Finance’s originations rose 66% year over year in 2025. Meanwhile, the retailer’s full-year finance and insurance revenue increased 7.7% YoY to $1.5 billion, which represented 5.3% of total revenue and 29.6% of total gross profit, according to the company’s earnings release.

Additionally, AutoNation Finance is looking to improve call center operations with the deployment of Balto AI, while Capital One also aims to boost call centers with AI.

Bank of America is navigating affordability needs of consumer finance customers by expanding its 84-month-term eligibility for auto loans and advancing lending technology, especially in the RV space.

Other lenders are taking different paths to growth:

• Huntington Bank expects its $7.4 billion merger with Cadence Bank to drive auto originations growth; and
• Fellow bank financier Santander acquired U.S.-based Webster Bank for $12.2 billion on Feb. 6.

Dealers and lenders continue various strategies for growth in a complicated auto market, as J.D. Power predicts flat retail sales of 13.6 million units in 2026 and declining retailer profit, while projecting that used-vehicle prices could drop as much as 4% this year.

All of this comes as auto dealers and lenders descended on Las Vegas last week for several key events, including the American Financial Services Association’s Vehicle Finance Conference and Expo, the J.D. Power Auto Summit 2026 and the National Automobile Dealers Association Show. Auto Finance News was on site throughout the events, speaking to lenders, dealers and analysts. Keep an eye out for more news from those event.

In this episode of “Weekly Wrap,” Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Deputy Editor Johnnie Martinez, Senior Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush discuss trends affecting the automotive industry and key updates for the week ended Feb 6.

Auto and powersports financiers mostly reported lower originations and sales for the last quarter as shifting spending patterns by cash-strapped consumers fuel uncertainty.

Lenders that reported fewer sales and loan originations, according to their respective earnings releases, include:

• Credit Acceptance Corp.’s consumer loan assignment volume, down 9.1% year over year in its fourth quarter;
• GM Financial’s Q4 loan lease originations, down 18.7% YoY;
• OneWater Marine’s F&I revenue, declined 5.4% YoY in its fiscal first quarter;
• Tesla’s lease portfolio in Q4, dropped 12% YoY; and
• Volvo’s North American Q4 sales, down 19.6% YoY in Q4.

However, some financiers reported positive results last quarter:

• Group 1 Automotive’s F&I revenue climbed 1.9% YoY;
• Polaris’ Q4 sales climbed 9.5% YoY in Q4; and
• MarineMax’s F&I revenue for its fiscal Q1 climbed 0.9% YoY and total revenue climbed 7.8% YoY.

Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions in the RV and marine industries are on the rise after a yearslong slowdown following the pandemic.

Auto Finance News will present multiple invaluable events for industry professionals in 2026, starting with Auto Finance Summit East and Auto Finance Capital Summit in May. To see event agendas and register, visit autofinance.live.

Banks reported growth in auto originations in the fourth quarter as credit performance was mixed.

Auto originations at Ally Financial, Capital One, Chase Auto, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo increased year over year, according to the banks’ earnings reports.

The increases were:

Ally’s originations rose 4.9% YoY to $10.8 billion;

Capital One’s originations increased 8.5% YoY to $10.2 billion;

Chase Auto’s originations ticked up 1.9% YoY to $10.8 billion;

U.S. Bank’s indirect loan and lease production, mostly comprised of auto loans, grew 2.7% YoY to $1.4 billion; and

Wells Fargo Auto’s originations soared 104% YoY to $10.2 billion

Huntington Bank’s auto originations, however, declined 4.6% YoY to $2.1 billion in Q4.

While Bank of America did not break out auto originations, auto outstandings came in at $55.3 billion, up 0.7% YoY, according to the bank’s earnings supplement.

Meanwhile, auto credit performance was mixed across major banks in Q4. Ally Financial, Capital One, Chase Auto and Wells Fargo reported YoY dips in auto loans delinquent by 30 days or more. Huntington's auto delinquencies rose, while Fifth Third Bank and Truist reported declines in 30- to 89-day auto delinquencies YoY.

PNC Financial’s rate of auto loans 30 to 59 days past due was 0.45%, down 9 basis points (bps) YoY, according to the bank’s earnings supplement.

Bank of America’s net charge-offs across its indirect and direct consumer book, which is largely made up of auto loans, rose 5 bps YoY to 0.22%.

Listen as Auto Finance News Editor Amanda Harris, Senior Associate Editor Truth Headlam and Associate Editor Aidan Bush dive into fourth-quarter earnings and highlight trends across credit performance, auto loan growth and technology updates.