As Ford Authority reported last month, The Blue Oval opted to reject an application from Pure Country Ford in Grayson, Kentucky, to restructure ownership of that location several years ago, but the dealer proceeded to do so, regardless. As such, Ford asked a federal judge to undo that reallocation of ownership interests, based on Kentucky state law and a franchise's sales and service agreement - both of which state that a manufacturer must provide written consent before any transfer of ownership can occur.

Now, U.S. Chief District Judge David Bunning has decided to allow Ford to continue pursuing its breach-of-contract claim against Pure Country Ford, according to Automotive News. The automaker claims the dealer violated its sales and service agreement by transferring its ownership interests without consent. In April 2025, it proceeded to execute that redistribution, which changed the ownership stake of the two involved parties from 80/20 percent to 51/49 and added a new minority owner.

Pure Country Ford filed a motion to to resolve this dispute, which was done entirely based on the complaint and answer filed - without any trial or additional evidence, or what's known as a "judgement on the pleadings." Bunning denied this request and rejected the argument that the dispute can be resolved not in court, but by the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission.

Bunning stated that the commission would only have exclusive jurisdiction if Ford was attempting to terminate the dealer's franchise - which it has the right to do, but has no plans to do so, apparently. The judge also rejected the dealer's argument that the case doesn't belong in federal court since The Blue Oval allegedly failed to allege damages exceeding $75,000, which is the minimum required for such cases.

According to The Blue Oval, the parties involved executed this move "without Ford’s knowledge or consent," and that it wasn't informed of the change until months after it took place. Ford stated that it rejected the move "based upon the capacity metric of the proposed new owners," adding that the new owner is "an individual who was not vetted, disclosed to, approved or authorized." "Reversal of the membership interest purchase agreement is required," Ford said in the complaint.

Source: Ford Authority

The U.S. auto industry's retreat from China is accelerating, while Chinese carmakers are inching closer to the American market despite attempts to keep them out. Why it matters: China once represented a lucrative growth opportunity and manufacturing base for American automakers, but those ties are unraveling as Chinese rivals like BYD and Geely expand their reach around the world. The latest: Ford announced late Wednesday that it will end production of its Lincoln luxury brand in China for export to the U.S., while General Motors is reportedly ceasing sales of its Chevrolet brand in China.

Source: Axios

Dealers are still failing to fully capitalize on the growing popularity of AI as a go-to resource for buyers shopping for their next vehicle, according to Cox Automotive. The details: The new Cox Automotive AI in Auto Retail Tracker—a survey of dealership decision-makers and in-market vehicle shoppers on AI adoption, impact and attitudes—reveals a growing gap between retailers and AI-powered car shoppers.

Source: Car Dealership Guy

Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever before, with the average U.S. vehicle age rising to 12.8 years, according to Mobility Global. But some industry analysts and forecasters worry that highly complex software-defined vehicles will age more like smartphones. As they age, some features could become unavailable because of obsolete hardware or discontinued product support. Ever-changing and often proprietary technologies raise questions about the long-term repairability of a vehicle.

Source: CNBC

The recent news out of Volkswagen is troubling. The company, in a historic battle for its future, is weighing closing four plants in Germany, cutting half of its lineup, reducing production by 1 million vehicles and slashing 100,000 jobs. The CEO, at a July 9 board meeting, admitted profit margins were down by half from 2021 to 2025 and that “the global situation has continued to deteriorate over the last 12 months.” Against this backdrop, reasonable minds could certainly question the company’s decision to build an entirely new dedicated plant to launch a new brand in the U.S., particularly given that this new plant comes at an estimated cost reportedly approaching $3 billion.

Source: Automotive News

The Most Expensive American Car Ever Sold

A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that was once owned by Carroll Shelby now holds the record as the most expensive American car ever sold. Six were built, and this one crossed the block at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach auction for $42.905 million, leaving a pre-auction estimate of more than $25 million far behind. The car, known as chassis CSX2300, was the first Daytona Coupe built and made its racing debut at the final round of the 1964 FIA GT Championship. The previous auction record holder was a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ that sold for $22 million.

Source: CarScoops

The $18.7 Million Dollar Corvette That Stole the Show!

For Corvette enthusiasts, one sale stole the show. The legendary 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Chassis #003 sold at RM Sotheby’s for an astounding $18,705,000, setting a new all-time auction record for a Corvette. One of only five Grand Sports ever constructed, and the first of just three coupes, #003 was raced by legends including A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Augie Pabst, and Dick Thompson.

When people buy new cars, auto dealerships make money. When they don’t, dealerships still find a way to make money. A dealership typically has four profit streams: new vehicle sales, used vehicle sales, parts and service departments, and finance and insurance offices. This gives dealers some kind of product or service to offer in good times and bad. Now, parts and service departments and finance and insurance packages are becoming more important sources of profit for car dealers, as profits from new vehicle sales show signs of softening.

Source: CNBC

Thousands of car buyers are paying a premium to purchase a new vehicle from Carvana Co. instead of traditional dealerships, choosing convenience over a lower price. Carvana priced eight models well above local competitors from May 7 to Aug. 5, according to a Catalyst IQ analysis of Carvana’s seven new-vehicle stores versus local competitors, requested by Automotive News. Carvana advertised certain models more than $4,000, or 6 percent, above area dealers. Consumers are willing to pay extra for the no-haggle, digital-first Carvana experience. Carvana’s Casa Grande, Ariz., store was the No. 1 Stellantis dealership nationally in May, selling 706 new vehicles that month, according to data made available to dealers and seen by Automotive News.

Source: Automotive News

While owner satisfaction overall is rising, it’s biggest among EV owners.

People love their electric cars—more so than people who drive gas-powered cars love thiers.

Statistically speaking, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) posted the biggest gains in what JD Power calls owner affinity: “While overall APEAL index scores improve(d) across every powertrain type this year, BEVs saw the largest year-over-year increase (+22 points),” JDP said of the study released today. “BEVs outperform internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in nearly every category in APEAL, with the biggest advantage in powertrain satisfaction (+109 points).”

Unlike JD Power’s other satisfaction studies that measure customer satisfaction by counting the number of problems owners have, the APEAL study measures, basically, how happy your new car makes you.

The Initial Quality Study (IQS) tracks defects, malfunctions, and design flaws reported by owners in the first 90 days of ownership; Customer Service Index (CSI) evaluates owner satisfaction with maintenance and repair work at car dealerships; while the APEAL Study measures how much an owner likes driving and living with their new vehicle based on emotional and design features, JDP says.

And APEAL says they love their electric cars.

Now in its 31st year, the APEAL Study measures owners’ “emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle” after 90 days of ownership, JDP says. “The APEAL Study asks owners to consider 37 attributes, ranging from the sense of comfort they feel when climbing into the driver’s seat to their exhilaration when they step on the accelerator. The APEAL dataset allows automakers to immediately identify the specific features, driving characteristics and styling cues that are resonating most and helping to drive brand loyalty among new-vehicle buyers.”

And for all that, it is the electric vehicle that wins, by far.

The 2026 US APEAL Study is based on responses from 78,514 owners of new 2026 model-year vehicles who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The study was fielded from June 2025 through May 2026 based on vehicles registered from March 2025 through February 2026. So next time you spot an electric car on the road, see if the driver’s smiling.

Source: Autoweek

The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) fell to 207.4 in the first half of August, down 1.2% from July, according to Cox Automotive. The index is now essentially flat compared to August 2025, reflecting a slower pace of growth than the market saw in the first half of this year and continuing the normalizing trend Manheim reported in July. Non-adjusted wholesale prices dropped 0.8% from July and sit 0.2% below last August. The typical August move is a 0.1% increase, so this year’s dip is a bit steeper than normal. Cox Automotive said the pullback is a normal part of the late-summer slowdown that follows a strong spring, not a sign of anything unusual in the market.

Source: CBT News