Auto industry

The first day of CU Direct's annual Drive conference included insights from dealers, executives at online car-buying platforms and more.

From availability issues to regulatory hurdles and changes in marketing strategies, dealers say there is plenty credit unions can do to improve relations between the two sides.

More than half of all states don’t have an electronic system to track car titles and liens, which increases the potential for fraud and costs for lenders.

Rates have risen, car prices are up and sales are expected to drop by nearly a half-million units this year, but institutions can take steps to ensure minimal impact.

Until now, Toyota Financial Services has offered banking services to its dealers. But as it builds its digital bank, that will soon change, according to its newly appointed chief information officer.

Credit unions haven't dipped into subprime lending as much as other lenders, which has helped protect the industry – but there could still be major speed bumps ahead.

Loans for recreational vehicles may yield higher returns than traditional auto loans, but the opportunity could fade if the economy heads into a recession.

Although the credit union industry managed to add more loans and members, lending is expected to grow at just 8 percent this year, according to a recent report.

The Detroit bank wants to focus on its core business instead, but other institutions have seen rapid growth in loans for recreational vehicles and other large pieces of transportation equipment.

More than 137,000 credit union members will now have access to the online car-buying program.

From YouTube test drives to subscription services, auto lending isn’t what it used to be – and credit unions need to ensure they’re keeping up with the times.

The Dallas auto lender might lose as much as one-third of its business if it severs ties with the automaker, raising fresh questions about whether its parent company will buy out shareholders and take full ownership.

CU Direct CEO Tony Boutelle has a word for the future of the auto industry: A.C.E.S.

Terms on car loans continue to lengthen in an attempt to keep monthly payments manageable for consumers, but one expert warns that at some point they're going to impact affordability.

Amid rising interest rates and vehicle costs, longer loan terms and more, credit union auto lenders have two paths they can take to manage the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

As it expands to the West Coast, the bank will first target car dealers at which it is already an indirect consumer lender.

Rather than jump right away into lending to car buyers, Access National will start by offering CRE and M&A financing to dealerships.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2013 guidance putting indirect auto lenders on the hook for unintentional discrimination by their partner dealers should have been subject to congressional review, the Government Accountability Office said Tuesday.

Despite the hype around self-driving cars and ride-hailing services, the automotive landscape remains much the same as ever. One thing that may be changing rapidly, however, is the way consumers buy their cars.

The 'revolution' in auto financing, communication tips and the keys to member engagement were all topics of focus during the second day of CU Direct's annual DRIVE conference in Las Vegas.