May Sales, Hybrid Momentum, and Strained Affordability

**What do newly-released May sales numbers, rising hybrid demand, and shifting consumer behavior reveal about today’s auto market?** In this episode of The Auto Market Brief, Host and Executive Analyst Erin Keating is joined by Jeremy Robb, Cox Automotive’s Chief Economist, to break down May sales performance, evolving demand, and the latest data shaping how the market is responding to ongoing economic pressure: **What May sales reveal about market resilience:**  New vehicle sales improved in May, with stronger performance emerging later in the month and signaling continued stability across the market. **Why hybrid momentum continues to build:**  Automakers offering strong hybrid portfolios are seeing gains as consumers increasingly prioritize fuel efficiency and overall value. **How affordability pressure is reshaping demand:**  Rising fuel costs and elevated inflation are shifting consumer spending patterns, with increased interest in lower-priced and older vehicles pointing to continued trade-down behavior. The episode also explores evolving industry dynamics, including tariff uncertainty, supply chain risk tied to supplier disruption, and how automakers are adjusting EV strategies in response to changing demand. The Auto Market Brief delivers timely data, clear context, and practical insight to help industry leaders make smarter decisions—what’s happening now, and what’s coming next. *The Auto Market Brief is powered by Cox Automotive. For more industry insights and expert perspectives, visit our Insights Hub at* https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights*.*