BILL BISHOP OVERVIEWS INDUSTRY IN HIS Q2 WHITE METAL MARKET

FLD has released its White Metal Market Report for Q2 2023. The used medium-duty wholesale market remains largely stagnant, with slight increases in dealer inventories and pricing. The big question facing the market is whether there will be enough pent-up demand for used vehicles as more units enter the market. There may be a lack of used inventory available for purchase as fleets are holding onto their vehicles for longer periods than ever before, and new inventory is still difficult to come by. The market for light-duty vehicles remains strong, with demand for smaller to mid-sized cars and SUVs remaining high.

However, production of new vehicles in this class remains stable, and the fact that it is still significantly lower than in previous years means there likely will not be enough vehicles to meet demand. Production of new medium-duty trucks has begun showing up on dealer lots, which is an encouraging sign that production is headed in the right direction. However, used medium-duty values have softened and are likely to continue to do so as new inventory enters the market. Heavy-duty trucks remain segmented into two distinctly different markets, both being driven by freight demand. The “day cab” market remains the strongest, while the sleeper market has seen a decline in both demand and values. Overall, the report suggests that the market remains largely stagnant, with slight increases in pricing and dealer inventories.