Issue calendar
The Clairmont Automotive Report
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Issue calendar
Highlighted dates have an issue. Grey dates do not. Use the arrows to change months.
In this issue
Each item is a short take. Open a story for the full summary, sources and any chart.
Honda dealers worked through a system outage, Ford raised its outlook, Carvana set another record, and the Fed held rates with two members favoring a hike.
Auto industry
Honda dealer network knocked offline
Honda dealers report the network is back after an outage interrupted finance applications, recall lookups and incentive access. The investigation continues.
Read the full summary →Ford raises low end of outlook
Ford raised the low end of its profit outlook. F-150 inventory remains below its target, and the Fathom is due in late 2027.
Read the full summary →VW swings to deep Q3 loss
Volkswagen swung to a deep Q3 operating loss as special items hit, led by a Porsche goodwill write-down.
Read the full summary →Hyundai trims 2026 targets
Hyundai cut its volume and margin targets after strike-related wholesale declines, even as U.S. retail sales and hybrids grew.
Read the full summary →Carvana posts another record
Carvana set another quarterly record and expects further unit growth. The expansion adds competition in used-vehicle buying and retailing.
Read the full summary →Sonic: record revenue, softer EPS
Sonic set a revenue record, but adjusted EPS fell as new-unit volume slipped and expenses took a larger share of gross profit.
Read the full summary →Honda feeds CPO through fleet
Honda is using dealer service-loaner incentives to build a future pipeline of low-mileage certified used vehicles.
Read the full summary →Honda presses on Chinese imports
Honda wants North American governments aligned on Chinese vehicles. Its request is part of a policy debate, not a new import rule.
Read the full summary →F&I
Sonic F&I per unit edges up
Sonic's same-store franchised F&I income per unit rose 2% while total F&I gross profit stayed flat.
Read the full summary →Ford Credit profit jumps
Ford Credit's pretax profit rose 27%, helped by financing margins, used values and derivative gains. The full-year outlook stayed unchanged.
Read the full summary →Fed holds, two members want a hike
The Fed held its target at 3.75%–4.00%. Two members wanted a hike, and the hold leaves existing funding costs in place.
Read the full summary →Earnings ahead
Credit Acceptance reports after today's close. AutoNation follows Friday morning, with Assurant due Nov. 3.
Read the full summary →