US Ambassador to EU Discusses Trade and Energy
The US ambassador to the EU, Andipzda, is set to appear for his first interview since his confirmation. He’ll cover various topics, including trade, energy, Ukraine, and President Donald Trump’s agenda.
On a different note, a recent report highlights that, although average down payments for new vehicles have dipped to near four-year lows, buyers are grappling with affordability issues in the automotive market.
An analysis from Edmunds indicates that the average down payment for purchasing a new car is now $6,020 in the third quarter of 2025. This marks the lowest amount since late 2021, down from $6,433 in the previous quarter and $6,619 a year earlier. Consumers are definitely feeling the pinch regarding new vehicle affordability.
Interestingly, buyers are increasingly facing monthly payments that exceed $1,000. This category accounted for 19.1% of all new car purchases in the third quarter, remaining close to a record 19.3% from earlier this year. Moreover, used cars are experiencing higher monthly payments as well, with those over $1,000 reaching a new high, up from 5.6% in the previous quarter.
“In the third quarter, the affordability challenge in the new car market persists,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insights. “Buyers are stretching their loan terms to lower their monthly payments, which seems to be a necessity.”
Concerns Over Rising Vehicle Prices
Caldwell also noted that new vehicles might now be viewed as a more compelling option than nearly new ones, as inventory has been hindered by reduced sales and lease activities during the pandemic.
“While APRs appear low, the prices will inevitably rise,” she commented. “Shoppers may have felt that buying a new vehicle was a more intelligent choice in the third quarter, which could provide a slight boost to the market.”
Meanwhile, experts in the automotive industry are warning that discounts are becoming harder to find, which could push prices up even faster.
It’s worth mentioning that more buyers are opting for larger loans. More than half of recent purchasers secured loans with terms extending over seven years, with Edmunds reporting that loans over 84 months made up 22% of new car loans in the third quarter. Although this figure is a small decline from 22.4% in the last quarter, it remains higher than the 18.5% recorded a year ago.
Additionally, the average loan amount for new vehicle purchases has risen to $42,647 in Q3, up from $42,388 in Q2 and $40,713 from the same period last year.
Ford’s Global Headquarters Move
Shifting gears, Ford is relocating its global headquarters for the first time in nearly 70 years.
Despite high interest rates still posing challenges for buyers—averaging around 7% in the third quarter—Edmunds reports that promotional financing from dealers is limited. Only 3.4% of loans offered a 0% rate, while 18.3% had interest rates below 4%. A significant 71.6% of loans had APRs over 4%, with 13.8% exceeding 10%.
Lastly, there was a small reduction in the federal interest rate at the end of September, but analysts say it didn’t significantly impact the third quarter. It’s a complicated landscape out there, full of twists and turns.
