{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Auto Market Brief","title":"Diesel Hits Record Highs, Credit Availability Improves, and the Industry Balances Innovation and Investment","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1552,"description":"Diesel prices have reached record highs, credit availability continues to improve, and automotive leaders are facing new questions about where to invest for the future.\n\nIn this episode of The Auto Market Brief, host Erin Keating and Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jeremy Robb discuss the latest economic indicators, including credit availability, inflation, diesel prices, real wage growth, and vehicle affordability. While lenders continue to expand access to credit and support vehicle demand, rising fuel costs and inflation pressures are creating new challenges for consumers and the broader economy.\n\nDiesel prices reach record highs\nDiesel prices climbed above six dollars per gallon, driving concerns about transportation costs, inflation expectations, and the broader cost of goods throughout the economy. Erin and Jeremy examine why diesel remains one of the most important indicators influencing transportation costs, inflation expectations, and the cost of goods throughout the economy.\n\nCredit availability continues to improve\nWhile affordability challenges persist, lenders are showing a greater willingness to extend credit, helping support vehicle demand across the market. The discussion explores what's driving that trend, including lender confidence, improved financing conditions, and the relative stability of vehicle values in recent years.\nThe industry faces tough questions about investment and innovation\nAs technology investments become more expensive and competition intensifies, automotive companies are being forced to make increasingly difficult decisions about where to invest capital and how to scale new technologies. The discussion explores autonomous vehicle deployment, regulatory oversight, the rising cost of technology investments, and how manufacturers are evaluating where to allocate capital for future growth.\nThe episode also covers CPI inflation, real wage growth, rising transportation costs, vehicle affordability, Volkswagen's portfolio strategy,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/mPhq4Ud0y4lU2YXYz-Omjao1zbtOyAUAJHJj3xS99IQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS83NDMy/Mjg1NDA1Y2FiOWQ4/OWY2NDJkYjJjYTNi/OTQzZC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}