The percentage of seriously delinquent auto loans reached its highest level since March 2012 recently, and the New York Fed is keeping a close eye on a recent uptick in auto loan originations to borrowers with subprime credit and an increase in delinquencies among younger buyers.
Volkswagen Group's mobility business, Moia, is set to test its ride-sharing service in Hamburg with electric passenger vans, beginning in April.
The amount of money spent by private equity firms to acquire automotive companies in 2018, according to PwC's year-end report on industry mergers and acquisitions. While the overall number of deals was basically flat for the year, the activity of financial investment firms rose sharply in 2018, up from $9 billion in 2017, according to PwC. "Capital continues to be available," PwC concludes of the private equity sector; "financial buyers have significant dry powder and corporate balance sheets are strong (compared to historical periods when the sector faced potential slowdown)."
Amazon's investment bolsters the idea that pickups may represent the industry's best opportunity to perfect and popularize all-electric powertrains.
