Wholesale Auto Supply Co

05/29/2026

Dealer sentiment positive in Q2 despite economy, political concerns. Dealers felt positive about their business and the road ahead in the second quarter even as the economy and political climate weighed on more retailers, according to the latest quarterly Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index survey.

“The conditions for selling are average,” a Jeep dealer in the South told Cox in the poll of 502 franchised dealership professionals and owners conducted from April 21 to May 4. “Rates are OK, but not amazing. Lots of people can’t trade due to negative equity or debt-to-income [ratio] too high.”

Dealers rated their overall markets a slightly favorable 53, up five points from the first quarter but down slightly from a 56 score during the second quarter of 2025. They also reported customer traffic had jumped from a poor 34 score during the first quarter to a 43 score, though this was still down seven points from the second quarter of 2025.

Index results greater than 50 indicate dealers view conditions as positive or improving. A score of 50 is neutral. Scores below 50 indicate conditions are negative or weakening.

Dealers felt good about the upcoming three months for business, forecasting a more bullish 57 score. They had a similar outlook a quarter earlier and when polled during the second quarter of 2025.

“Still a high demand, but economic uncertainty is making people wary,” a Toyota dealer in the West told Cox. “We are focusing on cheap cars though and those sell regardless of what the economy looks like.”

Used-vehicle conditions strong in 2nd quarter
Dealers were even happier with the used-vehicle market during the quarter. They rated it a 62, the highest score since the third quarter of 2022 when a shortage of new-vehicle inventory pushed up prices and encouraged used-vehicle sales. It was up from a 57 during the first quarter and a 61 in the second quarter of 2025.

“Used-car prices are high,” the Southern Jeep dealer told Cox. “More people are wanting used because new-car prices are even higher lately and higher insurance premiums, too. People who usually trade every couple of years are holding off.”

A Ram dealer in the West reported a “thriving” used-vehicle department.

“We’ve recorded the highest gross profit in years, indicating that used-vehicles sales have been our key profit center for the last few months,” the dealer said.

A Volkswagen dealer said they “can’t keep low-cost, pre-owned vehicles or expensive luxury pre-owned vehicles on the lot.”

Read More:

Cox's spring survey found dealers optimistic about the future and feeling the best about used vehicles since Q3 2022. But the economy grew to be a problem for 54% of dealers.

05/28/2026

Why the North American auto industry is banking on a new Detroit-to-Canada bridge to expedite trade.

A new international bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is nearly complete, and it could finally ease a trade bottleneck.

At the moment, though, its opening is entangled in U.S.-Canada trade tensions. The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named for the cross-border hockey great, is intended to alleviate traffic snarls at one of the busiest international crossings between the two nations.

The stakes are high. More than US$300 million worth of goods cross the Ambassador Bridge — the sole span between Detroit and Windsor — each day, according to the company that owns and operates the bridge. Yet it also exposes a vulnerability for the North American auto industry that relies on just-in-time shipping: Any disruption can shut down crossings and halt the movement of finished vehicles and parts, as in the case of a roughly weeklong trucking blockade in 2022.

The future of the new bridge is taking shape at a time of tension between the U.S. and Canada as the two nations, along with Mexico, prepare to negotiate the future of the trilateral free-trade pact enacted during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first term.

Read More:

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, expected to open in 2026, is designed to eliminate traffic bottlenecks and increase shipping capacity between Detroit and Windsor.

05/27/2026

Refrigerated Rail Car – Cold Chain, Hot Idea

In 1867, Gustavus Swift revolutionized food logistics with the refrigerated rail car. Before this, meat had to be butchered locally. Now, it could travel cross-country, fresh and preserved.

This changed American diets, expanded markets for Midwestern farmers, and helped grow the meatpacking industry. The cold chain was born — and America’s dinner table has never looked the same.

05/27/2026

Volatility is here to stay.
Resilience wins.
WASCO helps you build it.

05/26/2026

Ferrari unveils the Luce, its first EV and a design unicorn.

Ferrari has unveiled its first battery-electric vehicle, the Luce, revealing a potentially polarizing four-door fastback that departs sharply from the supercar maker’s tradition and heritage.

The Luce, styled by former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s LoveFrom collective, abandons Ferrari’s signature looks for a simple, futuristic shape with floating aerodynamic elements and hidden taillights.

The Luce’s exterior is distinguished by a dark glass greenhouse that extends toward the very front and the very rear of the car. The aluminum body overlays the greenhouse in front and rear, with spoilers as integrated, floating elements. In the front, airflow passes between the the extension of the windshield and the floating spoiler. In the rear, airflow moves from the end of the backlight to below the rear integrated spoiler.

The only design element typical of a Ferrari are the double rear circular lights, which are visible only when the car is operating. When the car is stopped, they disappear, because they are OLED elements behind a minimalist black rear glass panel.

Read more:

The supercar's minimalist looks — which break with decades of Ferrari tradition — come from a firm founded by former Apple designers Jony Ive and Marc Newson.

05/26/2026

This Memorial Day Weekend 2026, we honor the courage and sacrifice of the heroes who served our nation.

From everyone at WASCO, we wish you a safe, relaxing, and meaningful holiday weekend.

05/25/2026

The automaker plans to double down on high-powered V-8 engines, enter five new segments and counter soaring transaction prices with nine new nameplates that start under $40,000, including two Chrysler models that are less than $30,000.

Of the $42 billion CEO Antonio Filosa committed for products and brands over the next five years, 60 percent will flow into North America. Meanwhile, Filosa is scaling back ambitions and factory capacity in Europe, where predecessor Carlos Tavares largely had been focused.

The rest of the $70 billion is slated for global platforms, technologies and common assets.

The $25 billion infusion for Jeep, Ram, Chrysler and Dodge will give dealers 11 new vehicles by 2030, including compact and midsize pickups, three crossovers, two performance cars and a full-size SUV. Executives aim to grow North American volume by 35 percent, projecting 60 percent gains for Ram and Chrysler as the portfolios of both brands more than double.

Read more:

A $25 billion infusion in North American products and brands will give dealers 11 new vehicles by 2030.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today.

This week’s Monday Motivational Newsletter from Cactus Sky shares a heartfelt story about remembrance, purpose, and living a life worthy of the opportunities we’ve been given.

Inside this week’s newsletter:

A meaningful Memorial Day story
An inspiring quote from Harry S. Truman
A reminder to live with gratitude, courage, and purpose
As we honor those who served, may we also reflect on how we show up for others each day.

Read the full newsletter here:
https://cactusskyonline.com/2p8rheta

05/24/2026

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, face of Toyota racing, dies at 41

Kyle Busch, a generational talent whose aggressive driving style earned him the nickname “Rowdy” and won him two NASCAR Cup Series championships, died May 21 at the age of 41, his family announced.

News of his death came just hours after Busch’s family released a statement saying he had been hospitalized with a severe illness.

“We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” his family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement May 21.

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation.

“He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

Busch got his start with Hendrick Motorsports as a heralded rookie, then joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, establishing a long-running partnership that made him the lead driver of Toyota’s NASCAR endeavors. He spent the final stages of his career with Childress, arriving in 2023 and taking the reins of the No. 8 Chevrolet.

He was also the face of Toyota advertising, notably for the 2012 Camry, helping to sway Americans to buy the Japanese automaker’s cars.

Full story:

Busch started his racing career with Hendrick Motorsports. He joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, establishing a long-running partnership that made him the face of Toyota’s NASCAR endeavors.

05/24/2026

Too much admin work kills productivity.
WASCO simplifies purchasing.
Less complexity = more focus.

05/23/2026

Mitsubishi Motors North America is aggressively reshaping its U.S. dealer network, cutting low-volume stores while recruiting stronger, “new-car-focused” operators.

The Japanese automaker’s U.S. dealership count has fallen 16 percent since before the pandemic as its sales slid roughly 20 percent.

Mitsubishi began 2026 with 56 fewer dealerships than it had in early 2019 — a bigger decline than any other mainstream brand except much larger Ford and Chevrolet, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center. Its network shrank every year during that time except in 2024.

In the past 18 months, the company terminated about 35 franchises, CEO Mark Chaffin told Automotive News. He acknowledged the network could shrink further before it grows. More:

Some retailers are frustrated by a heavy reliance on fleet and insufficient incentive support for an aging product lineup, so they are dropping from the franchise.