ICYMI: Ford seeks tariff relief as F-150 costs surge. Force Marketing and Bernie Moreno discuss key industry challenges. Automakers crack down on broker sales as Kia, Toyota tighten dealer rules. New-vehicle financing hits new highs as affordability pressures persist. CBT News announces inaugural Remarkable Leaders in F&I honorees.

Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.

Ford seeks tariff relief as F-150 costs surgeFord is pressing the Trump administration for relief from aluminum tariffs after supply chain disruptions drove up costs for its top-selling Ford F-150, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The automaker’s request follows two fires at a key aluminum supplier facility in New York that halted production, forcing the company to source material from overseas at significantly higher costs due to import duties. The disruption has had a direct impact on Ford’s financial performance. The company has already absorbed billions in additional costs tied to tariffs and supply shortages and expects further losses as the situation continues into 2026. Read More

Force Marketing, Bernie Moreno discuss key industry challengesAt this year’s J.D. Power Automotive Forum, Force Marketing went beyond a typical networking event, creating a forum for open dialogue among automotive leaders. The gathering featured a discussion between Force Marketing CEO John Fitzpatrick and U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, focusing on policy, strategy, and dealer-relevant insights instead of formal presentations. Attendees engaged in candid conversations on the industry’s most pressing challenges, highlighting collaboration, transparency, and long-term planning. Read More

Automakers crack down on broker sales as Kia, Toyota tighten dealer rulesKia America and Toyota Sales U.S.A. are both reinforcing stricter policies on broker sales, signaling a broader industry push to curb practices that bypass traditional retail channels and distort performance metrics. In a letter dated April 7, sent to dealers and obtained by CBT News, Kia’s VP of Sales Operations, Eric Watson, outlined renewed enforcement of its broker sales policy, emphasizing that transactions involving brokers will not count as “eligible sales.” These deals will not qualify for incentive payments or contribute to retail sales volume targets, and any misreporting could result in chargebacks. Read More

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New-vehicle financing hits new highs as affordability pressures persistNew-vehicle financing reached new highs in Q1 2026 as consumers continued to take on larger loans and restructure deals to maintain affordability, according to Edmunds. The average amount financed for new vehicles climbed to a record $43,899 in Q1 2026, up from $43,759 in Q4 2025 and $41,473 in Q1 2025. Monthly payments also reached a new peak, rising to $773, compared to $772 in the previous quarter and $741 a year earlier. Read More

CBT News announces inaugural Remarkable Leaders in F&I honoreesCBT News, the dealer community’s No. 1 resource for in-depth interviews and news coverage, is pleased to announce the winners of the CBT News Remarkable Leaders in F&I awards, powered by RouteOne. The awards honor executives, managers, and rising stars who are driving measurable results, enhancing customer experiences, and setting new standards in dealership F&I operations. Honorees reflect the diversity and innovation shaping the automotive industry, highlighting the growing impact of F&I on dealership profitability and customer satisfaction. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss 

Bozard Ford Lincoln mobile service tops 2,100 repair orders as fleet growth accelerates
On today’s episode of Service Drive, we’re joined by Jeremy Stephens, Remote Operations Director at Bozard Ford Lincoln. The last time we spoke, his team had just hit an impressive milestone of 2,000 mobile service appointments in a single month. Stephens returns to share how they’re building on that momentum, what they’ve refined since then, and where mobile service is headed from here.

Dealers urged to embrace AI and evolving strategies for loyalty-based salesWelcome to another episode of Loyalty-Based Sales Strategies, with host Jen Suzuki, Founder and President of eDealer Solutions. Joining us today is CBT News co-founder Jim Fitzpatrick, who asserts that AI is rapidly transforming the automotive industry, boosting efficiency, customer engagement, and decision-making from sales to service.