Issue 3 • 2026 Thank You Outgoing Chairman Michael Dickerson
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4 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Dealer’s Call to Action By Greg Kirkpatrick, President, AADA 7 A Heartfelt Thank You to Outgoing Chairman Michael Dickerson 8 2026 AADA Convention Recap Big Cedar Lodge, July 21-24 12 Thank You to Our 2026 Convention Sponsors! 13 2027 AADA Regional Meetings 14 AADA’S FEATURED PARTNER, OPENLANE Why Dealers Are Moving to Digital Auctions By OPENLANE 16 AADA 2027 Convention Let’s Take This Show on the Road! 17 Arkansas Auto Outlook Second Quarter 2026 ©2026 The Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association (AADA) | MBR Connect™. All rights reserved. Arkansas Auto Dealer is published four times per year and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of AADA, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Arkansas Auto Dealer is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of AADA. While a first‑print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (801) 676-9722. 3 Arkansas Auto Dealer
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Dealer’s Call to Action Greg Kirkpatrick President, AADA As we head into the final push towards the fall elections and the upcoming legislative session that begins in January, AADA members must work harder than ever to remain a leading organization in the Arkansas Capitol. This work includes developing and maintaining close relationships with our elected leaders. Every dealer in this association knows that business is built on relationships. We don’t simply sell a customer one car and forget them; instead, we learn their name, remember their kids, service their vehicles for years, and earn their trust so that when they need us, we’re the first call they make. This approach is exactly the one each dealer should use to get to know the people who represent their community at the State Capitol. WHY THIS MATTERS NOW On Nov. 3, Arkansans will elect many of the lawmakers who will serve in the 2027 regular session of the General Assembly. When that session opens in January, legislators will take up hundreds of bills. Some will touch our industry directly, including franchise protections, vehicle sales and titling, taxes and fees, consumer 4 Arkansas Auto Dealer
financing, and workforce issues. Others will affect us in ways that are hard to see at first glance. Decisions made in Little Rock shape how we do business in every corner of this state. Those decisions are made by people. And people are influenced most by the voices they know and trust from back home. LEGISLATORS WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU There is a common belief that lawmakers only listen to lobbyists and big donors. In my experience, that’s not true. A state legislator in Arkansas represents a community of neighbors. They shop at the same grocery stores, sit in the same church pews and cheer at the same Friday night football games. Most of them genuinely want to understand how the laws they pass will affect the people and businesses in their districts. What they often lack is someone local who can explain the real-world impact of a bill. That’s where you come in. When a legislator knows the dealer down the road, knows that the dealership employs people from the district, sponsors the Little League team and has served local families for years, a policy discussion about our industry stops being abstract and instead has a recognizable face and name. Our association staff and lobbying team do outstanding work at the Capitol, but this effectiveness multiplies when lawmakers have already heard from dealers in their own districts. DON’T WAIT FOR A CRISIS The worst time to introduce yourself to a legislator is the day you need their vote. If the first time they hear from you is in the middle of a heated session, asking for help on a bill, you’re a stranger with a request. If they’ve known you for years, you’re a trusted resource offering perspective. Build the relationship first. Here are a few simple ways to start: • Find out who represents you. Know your state senator and state representative for both where your dealership is located and where you live. They may be different people. • Invite them to your dealership. Give them a tour. Introduce them to your service techs, your finance team and your sales staff. Let them see how many local jobs and local dollars your business supports and invests. • Show up at local events. Attend town halls, chamber of commerce meetings and community gatherings where your legislators appear. A handshake and a quick hello go a long way. • Engage during campaign season. Candidate forums and meet-and-greets are great opportunities to ask where candidates stand on issues that matter to small businesses like ours. • Stay in touch after the election. Send a note of congratulations. Offer to be a resource when automotive issues come up. Follow up during the interim, not just during session. • Respond when the association calls. When we issue a call to action during session, your personal outreach to lawmakers who know you can make all the difference. THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN OUR INDUSTRY Getting to know your legislators isn’t just about protecting our businesses, although that matters. It’s about being good citizens and community leaders. Dealers have always been pillars of their hometowns. We sponsor, we donate, we volunteer and we employ. Participating in the civic life of our communities is a natural extension of who we already are. MY CHALLENGE TO YOU Between now and the start of the 2027 session, I challenge every member of this association to have at least one meaningful conversation with a state legislator or candidate from your area. Invite them to your store and tell them your story. If you’ve already built those relationships, thank you. Take it a step further and bring a fellow dealer or one of your managers along to the next conversation. Our strength as an association has always come from our members. Together, and one relationship at a time, we can make sure that Arkansas dealers have a strong voice in every district across the state. 6 Arkansas Auto Dealer
A Heartfelt Thank You to Outgoing Chairman Michael Dickerson As AADA turns the page to new leadership, we pause to thank Michael Dickerson, dealer principal of Whitson-Morgan Motor Company, for his dedicated service as chairman. Michael’s path to the car business began almost by chance — a call from his cousin Turner Whitson led him from a logistics career to a commission-only sales floor and eventually to leading the dealership himself. Throughout his time leading the dealership, Michael brought the same values that shaped his career: relationship-building, community investment and a belief in giving back. His dealerships have long been a staple in their towns, from funding the local high school’s Whitson Morgan Stadium to supporting classrooms and sponsoring community events. As chairman of AADA, Michael championed stronger grassroots engagement, pushing for more dealers to move beyond membership and into real participation — attending meetings, showing up at convention and adding their voice to the collective strength of the association. He navigated the industry through real challenges, including margin compression and rising inventory carrying costs, affordability pressures softening demand and technician shortages. AADA is stronger today because of Michael’s leadership. We extend our sincere gratitude for his time, his vision and his commitment to Arkansas’ dealers. Thank you, Michael, for a job well done! 7 Arkansas Auto Dealer
2026 AADA Convention Recap The 2026 AADA Convention was definitely one to remember! Dealers and sponsors came together to kick off an exciting week of learning, networking and building lasting relationships. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their continued partnership and support. Their generosity helps make these events possible and allows us to create meaningful experiences for our dealer community. Then, our golfers took on the spectacular Cliffhangers Golf Course for a day filled with incredible views and friendly competition! On the final night, the Chairman’s Dinner with Chairman Michael Dickerson was the perfect way to conclude our time together. Attendees experienced lively entertainment at the beautiful Top of the Rock wine cellar and participated in exciting giveaways, courtesy of our generous sponsors. A heartfelt thank you to our dealers for taking the time to join us and make this convention such a memorable experience. Your involvement and commitment are what make our association truly special. Big Cedar Lodge, July 21-24 8 Arkansas Auto Dealer
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to Our 2026 Convention Sponsors! Your generous support of the 2026 AADA Convention at Big Cedar Lodge helped create an exceptional experience for Arkansas’ franchised automobile dealers, their employees and their families. Your partnership made it possible to bring our members together for meaningful education, valuable networking and unforgettable memories. The relationships built and strengthened throughout the week are a reflection of the commitment and generosity of partners like you. We are grateful for your trust, your commitment to our association and the role you play in supporting Arkansas’ franchised automobile dealers. Thank you for being an important part of our success. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come. Thank You DIAMOND GOLD SILVER PLATINUM 12 Arkansas Auto Dealer
AADA is looking forward to visiting dealers across Arkansas during our 2027 Regional Meetings! Each stop is an opportunity to spend time with the people who make our association strong, discuss the issues impacting Arkansas dealerships and share what’s ahead for AADA. Whether you’re a longtime member or joining us for the first time, we hope you’ll make plans to attend. We look forward to seeing you this spring! Stay tuned for more dates and locations. 2027 AADA Regional Meetings FOLLOW US on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/arkautodealers May 11 Monticello May 6 Jonesboro May 13 North Little Rock May 12 Hot Springs May 5 Fort Smith May 4 Rogers 13 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Why Dealers Are Moving to Digital Auctions By OPENLANE AADA’S FEATURED PARTNER, OPENLANE The used car business moves fast, and your time matters. Every hour spent away from the dealership is an hour you’re not closing deals or planning your next inventory move. That is why more dealers are rethinking how they source and sell wholesale inventory. Instead of spending a full day traveling to a physical auction, waiting for the right lane to open and hoping the right vehicles show up, many are building a stronger vehicle-sourcing strategy by switching to digital auctions. The numbers back it up. According to a recent JPMorgan survey, 64% of franchise dealerships now prefer digital-only auctions, up from 50% last year. With OPENLANE’s digital wholesale marketplace, dealers can evaluate nationwide wholesale inventory, review detailed condition information and keep their sourcing process moving without putting the rest of the dealership on hold. Here is how moving more of your wholesale buying online can help you protect your time, source with more confidence and make smarter inventory decisions. 14 Arkansas Auto Dealer
SOURCING BEYOND YOUR LOCAL MARKET Physical auctions limit you to the vehicles available in one place at one time. When local supply is tight, or prices don’t support your margins, your options narrow quickly. With OPENLANE, you can source inventory locally or nationwide — including off-lease, dealer trades, rental fleet vehicles and more — giving you access to the industry’s fastest growing wholesale marketplace. Many vehicles are available earlier in the remarketing cycle, helping you secure inventory before it reaches the auction lane and before local competitors have a chance to bid. That broader selection makes it easier to find the right vehicles for your market, whether you’re looking for specific makes, trims, mileage or price points. BETTER CONDITION INFORMATION HELPS YOU BUY WITH CONFIDENCE Some dealers still believe they need to be physically present to understand a vehicle’s condition. But a quick walkaround in a busy lane can make it easy to miss issues that impact reconditioning costs and profitability. OPENLANE helps you buy with greater confidence through AI-enhanced condition reports backed by experienced human inspectors. Each report includes 25+ vehicle photos, inspector test-drive notes, engine audio analysis, OBD-II diagnostic insights and AI-enhanced damage detection, all supported by human inspection. With more transparent vehicle information before you bid, you can better estimate reconditioning costs, make more informed buying decisions and avoid buying blind. BUYER PROTECTIONS HELP REDUCE RISK One of the biggest concerns dealers have about buying online is uncertainty. What if the vehicle isn’t what you expected? While dealers sell more and more as-is vehicles on other platforms, on OPENLANE, about 93% of vehicles have some form of arbitration coverage. Combine that with OPENLANE’s powerful Buyback Guarantee* to create even more confidence. Eligible franchise dealer purchases are backed by Buyback Guarantee, so if you’re not happy with the vehicle, we’ll take it back — no questions asked*. That means you can spend less time worrying about risk and more time sourcing the right inventory. TURN YOUR CARS INTO MORE CASH, FAST It’s not just easy to source inventory digitally; it’s also a breeze to sell on OPENLANE. OPENLANE’s marketplace drives more views, more bids and better outcomes to its dealers. Need a car off your lot quick? The average vehicle sells in less than one day on the OPENLANE marketplace, with 80% of vehicles selling outside of the seller’s region. Want to make sure a car stays off your lot for good? Seller Guard is OPENLANE’s powerful seller protection, meaning you won’t have to deal with arbitrations for nearly all the vehicles you sell. All of that adds up to a better wholesale experience for both buyers and sellers. There’s never been a better time to let OPENLANE make wholesale easy for you. AADA dealers receive $2,500 in buy or sale fee credits when they sign up. To get started, sign up today at openlane.com/aada. *Private buying terms and conditions apply. 15 Arkansas Auto Dealer
LET’S TAKE THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD! AADA 2027 Convention One Grand Boulevard, Point Clear, Alabama. Tuesday, July 20th - Friday, July 23rd Clear your calendar and pack your bags — the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association is heading to Alabama for our 2027 Convention! Catch up with familiar faces, make new connections, and enjoy a change of scenery with your fellow dealers. We’ll bring the industry together. You bring yourself — and your best road-trip stories. More details coming down the road! Questions? Contact Katrina at kburnett@arkautodealers.com Arkansas dealers. Alabama bound. The Grand Hotel
100,092 108,522 117,421 115,200 2023 Actual 2024 Actual 2025 Actual 2026 Forecast Second Quarter 2026 Released July 2026 Market Summary Forecast for State New Retail Light Vehicle Registrations UP 7.6% vs. ‘22 UP 8.4% vs. ‘23 UP 8.2% vs. ‘24 DOWN 1.9% vs. ‘25 Arkansas Auto Outlook Coverage of the Arkansas new vehicle market TM YTD '25 YTD '26 % Chg. Mkt. Share thru June thru June '25 to '26 YTD '26 TOTAL 58,659 56,869 -3.1% Car 6,983 6,847 -1.9% 12.0% Light Truck 51,676 50,022 -3.2% 88.0% Domestic 30,447 28,760 -5.5% 50.6% European 2,895 2,496 -13.8% 4.4% Japanese 17,655 18,031 2.1% 31.7% Other Asian 7,662 7,582 -1.0% 13.3% Domestics consist of vehicles sold by GM, Ford, Stellantis (excluding Alfa Romeo and FIAT), Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid. Other Asian includes Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, and VinFast. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. The graph above shows annual new retail light vehicle registrations from 2023 to 2025, and Auto Outlook’s projection for 2026. Historical data sourced from Experian Automotive. FORECAST State New Vehicle Market Predicted to Hold Steady in 2nd Half of Year Year-to-date results in state market Arkansas new retail light vehicle registrations declined 3.1% during the first six months of this year versus a year earlier, better than the 6% drop in the nation. Second quarter registrations this year were off 3.9% compared to 2Q ‘25. Factors steering the new vehicle market It might sound like a broken record because we have been emphasizing it for a long time, but pent-up demand resulting from delayed purchases during the pandemic will continue to support the market for the foreseeable future. The vehicle fleet continues to age, and as a result, replacement demand will place a floor on how low sales can go - which is a good thing because other key determinants are pointing to a softening market. Affordability issues continue to keep many prospective purchasers on the sidelines. Relatively high interest rates, elevated vehicle transaction prices, and stagnant real personal incomes have made a new vehicle purchase a stretch for many consumers. Increasing costs and inflationary pressures resulting from tariffs, higher gas prices, and an uncertain economy are other headwinds. It’s a complicated forecast scenario, and there is heightened uncertainty due to changing federal government policies and geopolitical events, but it seems likely that the new vehicle market will drift lower this year, while avoiding a significant decline. Forecast for rest of this year New retail light vehicle registrations in the second half of this year have a chance to increase versus year earlier. Third quarter results should be weaker compared to 3Q ‘25, while an increase is possible in the fourth quarter. Annual registrations this year are predicted to exceed 115,000 units and decline 1.9% from 2025. Tracking alternative powertrain sales Battery electric vehicle registrations declined 7.1% during the first half of this year versus year earlier. BEV share in the state was just 2.0%, well below the U.S. share of 6.9%. Hybrid vehicles continued to post gains, with registrations improving 8.7% in the first half of this year and market share reaching 10.9%. Monitoring brand sales performance State new vehicle registrations for Nissan, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Lexus, and Ram increased by more than 5% so far this year versus year earlier. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, GMC, and Nissan were top selling brands (see page 4). Based on a comparison to U.S. market share, GMC, Ford, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Ram are strong performing brands in the Arkansas market (see page 5). 17 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Page 2 Arkansas Auto Outlook -1.1% 0.3% -2.2% -3.9% 5.6% -4.7% -8.0% -4.2% Q3 '25 Q4 '25 Q1 '26 Q2 '26 State U.S. 27,979 28,561 2Q avg. ('21 to '25) Q2 '26 Arkansas Auto Outlook Published by: Auto Outlook, Inc. PO Box 390, Exton, PA 19341 Phone: 610-640-1233 EMail: autooutlook@icloud.com Editor: Jeffrey A. Foltz Information quoted must be attributed to Arkansas Auto Outlook, published by Auto Outlook, Inc. on behalf of the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association and must also include the statement: “Data sourced from Experian Automotive.” At Auto Outlook, we strive to provide sound and accurate analyses and forecasts based upon the data available to us. However, our forecasts are derived from thirdparty data and contain a number of assumptions made by Auto Outlook and its management, including, without limitation, the accuracy of the data compiled. As a result, Auto Outlook can make no representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the data we provide or the forecasts or projections that we make based upon such data. Auto Outlook expressly disclaims any such warranties, and undue reliance should not be placed on any such data, forecasts, projections, or predictions. Auto Outlook undertakes no obligation to update or revise any predictions or forecasts, whether as a result of any new data, the occurrence of future events, or otherwise. KEY TRENDS IN ARKANSAS NEW VEHICLE MARKET STATE MARKET VS. U.S. Arkansas DOWN 3.1% U.S. DOWN 6.0% Data sourced from Experian Automotive. QUARTERLY RESULTS Data sourced from Experian Automotive. % Change In New Retail Market YTD ‘26 thru June vs. YTD ‘25 New retail light vehicle registrations in Arkansas declined 3.1% during the first six months of this year versus year earlier, better than the 6% fall in the Nation. QUARTERLY TREND Percent Change in Registrations vs. Year Earlier QUARTERLY PERSPECTIVE 2Q ‘26 Registrations Versus 2Q Average for Previous Five Years The state and U.S. markets declined in 2Q ‘26 vs 2Q ‘25. 2Q ‘26 registrations were above the previous five year average. 18 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Second Quarter 2026 Page 3 COMPARISON OF STATE MARKETS - SEGMENT MARKET SHARES The table above shows percent market share for five primary segments in 24 selected state markets during the first half of this year. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. Market Share by Type of Vehicle Combining the blue and orange sections in the graph above corresponds to the standard industry definition of light trucks. Small crossovers are broken out, however, since many are more similar to compact hatchbacks than to trucks. Small CUV share was 24.3% during the first half of this year, well below the 32.6% share in the U.S. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. Domestic brand market share in Arkansas was higher than U.S. levels: 50.6% vs. 38.3%. State Japanese brand share was 31.7% in the first half of this year. Other Asian brands accounted for a higher share of the state market than in the Nation. Note: Other Asian includes Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, and VinFast. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. VEHICLE AND BRAND SEGMENTS - STATE AND U.S. (YTD ‘26 THRU JUNE) Domestic, European, Japanese, & Other Asian Share 63.7% 51.2% 24.3% 32.6% 12.0% 16.2% 0.0% 25.0% 50.0% 75.0% 100.0% State U.S. Light trucks (excl. Small CUVs) Small CUVs Passenger Cars 50.6% 38.3% 31.7% 40.6% 13.3% 11.9% 4.4% 9.1% 0.0% 25.0% 50.0% 75.0% 100.0% State U.S. Domestic Japanese Other Asian European Market Share for Primary Segments in 24 Selected State Markets - YTD 2026 thru June Mainstream Mainstream Mainstream Pickup Luxury Passenger Cars Small SUVs Mid and Full Size SUVs Trucks Segments Rank Area % share Area % share Area % share Area % share Area % share 1 California 18.4 Pennsylvania 35.9 Arkansas 25.4 Arkansas 29.1 California 28.9 2 Georgia 16.1 Ohio 35.4 Louisiana 24.2 Oklahoma 28.6 New Jersey 25.2 3 Maryland 15.4 New York 34.9 Michigan 24.1 Louisiana 27.1 Florida 23.4 4 Virginia 14.8 Massachusetts 34.3 Tennessee 23.6 Michigan 26.6 Nevada 21.4 5 Arizona 14.6 Minnesota 33.2 Colorado 23.4 Texas 25.7 New York 19.8 6 Florida 14.6 Illinois 32.4 Minnesota 23.4 Minnesota 22.7 Washington 18.7 7 Nevada 14.4 Michigan 32.1 Oklahoma 23.2 Arizona 22.0 Massachusetts 18.5 8 North Carolina 14.1 New Jersey 31.9 North Carolina 22.0 Tennessee 22.0 Maryland 18.2 9 Louisiana 13.6 Oregon 31.7 Virginia 21.2 Colorado 21.5 Arizona 17.5 10 Texas 13.1 Washington 31.4 Illinois 20.9 Oregon 20.7 Colorado 16.9 11 Illinois 12.2 Maryland 29.6 Georgia 20.6 Georgia 19.8 Georgia 16.8 12 Tennessee 12.2 Colorado 28.8 Ohio 20.6 Nevada 18.8 Illinois 16.6 13 Ohio 12.0 Virginia 28.7 Pennsylvania 20.6 North Carolina 18.6 Texas 16.4 14 New Jersey 11.7 North Carolina 27.0 New York 20.2 Ohio 17.6 Virginia 16.1 15 Massachusetts 10.8 Florida 26.7 Texas 20.2 Washington 16.7 North Carolina 14.9 16 Oklahoma 10.8 Tennessee 26.1 Oregon 20.1 Pennsylvania 16.6 Pennsylvania 13.9 17 Washington 10.8 Nevada 25.2 Maryland 19.5 Virginia 15.3 Oregon 13.2 18 Arkansas 10.7 Oklahoma 24.7 Arizona 19.2 Florida 15.2 Tennessee 13.0 19 Oregon 10.3 Arkansas 24.1 Washington 18.9 Massachusetts 14.2 Louisiana 11.1 20 Pennsylvania 9.9 Arizona 24.0 Massachusetts 18.8 Illinois 13.8 Ohio 10.5 21 New York 8.7 Georgia 23.9 New Jersey 18.8 California 13.3 Oklahoma 10.2 22 Minnesota 7.0 California 22.8 Nevada 17.5 Maryland 13.2 Michigan 10.1 23 Colorado 6.3 Texas 22.4 Florida 17.3 New York 12.5 Minnesota 10.0 24 Michigan 4.4 Louisiana 21.8 California 13.7 New Jersey 9.1 Arkansas 8.5 19 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Page 4 Arkansas Auto Outlook % Change in State Registrations for Top 20 Brands- YTD '26 thru June vs. YTD '25 Quarterly Results Largest % increases from 1Q '26 to 2Q '26 Tesla Up 76.2% Mazda Up 17.6% Lincoln Up 15.8% Honda Up 15.6% Buick Up 14.8% Nissan Up 11.4% Kia Up 10.9% Cadillac Up 3.9% Subaru Up 3.0% Jeep Up 1.7% Arkansas and U.S. Market Shares for Top 15 Brands in State - YTD '26 thru June Cadillac, -31.9% Volkswagen, -28.1% Buick, -21.5% Honda, -11.3% Subaru, -11.3% GMC, -8.8% Chevrolet, -6.5% Ford, -4.3% Mazda, -3.3% Hyundai, -2.7% Lincoln, -1.6% Kia, 1.6% Toyota, 3.4% BMW, 4.7% Ram, 5.1% Lexus, 7.9% Jeep, 10.1% Mercedes-Benz, 17.8% Tesla, 23.2% Nissan, 28.3% 14.9 11.5 11.1 10.4 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.3 4.1 4.1 3.6 2.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 U.S. State BRANDS AND MODELS The primary metric used to identify winning and losing brands is the percent change in registrations vs. year earlier, shown on the graph below. Nissan and Tesla were the biggest gainers so far this year among the top 20 brands. But this snapshot does not capture the shorter term trend in sales. Year to date registrations for a brand may have posted a decline, but if growth picked up during the most recent quarter, that’s significant. The table below shows the ten brands with the largest increases, or smallest declines, from the first to the second quarters of last year. Data for all brands are shown on page 8. WINNERS AND LOSERS TOP SELLING BRANDS Largest % increases during YTD ‘26 vs. YTD ‘25: Nissan, Tesla, MercedesBenz, Jeep, and Lexus. Largest % increases in 2Q ‘26 vs. 1Q ‘26: Tesla, Mazda, Lincoln, Honda, and Buick. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. Red circles show Arkansas market share. U.S. market share is represented by the gray bars. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, GMC, and Nissan were the top five selling brands in the state so far this year. GMC state share was well above U.S. levels. Cadillac had a relatively big decline in the first half of ‘26 (down 31.9%), but registrations trended higher in 2Q (up 3.9% vs. 1Q). 20 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Second Quarter 2026 Page 5 Toyota, -1991 Honda, -1877 Tesla, -1639 BMW, -764 Mazda, -728 Lexus, -718 Mercedes-Benz, -592 Subaru, -416 Audi, -339 Volvo, -253 Acura, -234 Volkswagen, -228 Land Rover, -185 Porsche, -152 Mitsubishi, -149 Genesis, -118 Cadillac, -31 Dodge, -27 Chrysler, -17 Lincoln, 44 Infiniti, 107 Kia, 379 Jeep, 412 Hyundai, 528 Buick, 747 Ram, 878 Chevrolet, 908 Nissan, 963 Ford, 2321 GMC, 3492 -4,000 -2,000 0 2,000 4,000 Actual registrations minus target (state industry registrations times U.S. market share) Top 20 Selling Models during YTD '26 thru June - Market Share and % Change in Registrations vs. YTD '25 State % chg. State % chg. Rank Model Share % '25 to '26 Rank Model Share % '25 to '26 1 Ford F-Series 6.4 -7.3 11 Ford Explorer 1.4 22.4 2 GMC Sierra 6.0 -4.8 12 Toyota RAV4 1.4 -29.2 3 Chevrolet Silverado 4.3 -3.0 13 Ford Bronco 1.4 -3.0 4 Ram Pickup 3.9 5.1 14 Toyota Tundra 1.4 -11.7 5 Honda CR-V 2.0 -15.4 15 Chevrolet Equinox 1.4 4.7 6 Nissan Rogue 1.9 49.2 16 Hyundai Elantra 1.4 1.3 7 Toyota Tacoma 1.7 20.8 17 Toyota Camry 1.3 -2.7 8 Hyundai Tucson 1.6 1.6 18 Chevrolet Traverse 1.3 62.9 9 Chevrolet Trax 1.6 -7.6 19 Kia Telluride 1.3 15.9 10 Kia K4 1.5 27.1 20 Ford Expedition 1.3 -14.6 BRANDS AND MODELS TOP SELLING MODELS Table on the left presents the top 20 selling models in the state during the first six months of this year. Share of industry registrations and the percent change versus the same period a year earlier are also shown. Models with the five largest percentage increase are shaded blue. Data sourced from Experian Automotive. The graph below provides an indicator of brands that are popular in Arkansas (relative to the National standard), and those that are not. Here’s how it works: For the top 30 selling brands, each brand’s share of the U.S. market is multiplied by industry retail registrations in the state during the first six months of this year. This yields a “target” for the state market. Target registrations are subtracted from actual registrations to derive the measurement of sales performance. Brands at the top of the graph (i.e., GMC, Ford, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Ram) are relatively strong sellers in the state, with actual registrations exceeding calculated targets by large margins. For instance, GMC registrations exceeded the target by 3,492 units. Arkansas Retail Market Performance based on registrations during YTD 2026 thru June Actual registrations minus target (state industry registrations times U.S. market share) Data sourced from Experian Automotive. 1. GMC 2. Ford 3. Nissan 4. Chevrolet 5. Ram BRAND SALES PERFORMANCE 21 Arkansas Auto Dealer
Page 6 Arkansas Auto Outlook The table below shows the top five selling models during the first six months of this year in 20 segments. In addition to unit registrations, it also shows each model’s market share in its respective segment. BEST SELLERS IN PRIMARY SEGMENTS Small Cars: Kia K4 Compact SUV: Honda CR-V Mid Size & Large Cars: Toyota Camry 3 Row Mid Size SUV: Ford Explorer Full Size Pickup: Ford F-Series Luxury Compact SUV: Tesla Model Y Subcompact SUV: Chevrolet Trax Luxury Midsize SUV: Lexus RX Data sourced from Experian Automotive. BRANDS AND MODELS Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Kia K4 843 22.0 Toyota Camry 764 38.6 Ford Mustang 203 68.8 Tesla Model 3 68 15.7 Hyundai Elantra 768 20.1 Kia K5 394 19.9 Mazda MX5 22 7.5 Cadillac CT5 55 12.7 Honda Civic 590 15.4 Honda Accord 390 19.7 Toyota 86 21 7.1 Acura Integra 45 10.4 Toyota Corolla 479 12.5 Hyundai Sonata 205 10.4 Nissan Z 15 5.1 Lexus ES 41 9.5 Nissan Sentra 472 12.3 Nissan Altima 113 5.7 Subaru BRZ 14 4.7 BMW 4-Series 34 7.9 Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Chevrolet Corvette 110 34.9 Toyota Tacoma 983 24.9 Ford F-Series 3617 28.7 Kia Carnival 277 32.4 Porsche 911 33 10.5 Ford Maverick 652 16.5 GMC Sierra 3426 27.2 Toyota Sienna 223 26.1 Mercedes CLE-Class 24 7.6 Nissan Frontier 476 12.1 Chevrolet Silverado 2427 19.3 Honda Odyssey 210 24.6 Mercedes E-Class 22 7.0 Chevrolet Colorado 474 12.0 Ram Pickup 2223 17.7 Chrysler Pacifica 115 13.5 Tesla Model S 18 5.7 Ford Ranger 436 11.1 Toyota Tundra 782 6.2 Chrysler Voyager 22 2.6 Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Ford Transit Connect 182 44.4 Chevrolet Trax 885 22.0 Honda CR-V 1128 11.7 Toyota 4Runner 702 21.0 Ram Promaster 77 18.8 Subaru Crosstrek 502 12.5 Nissan Rogue 1092 11.3 Hyundai Santa Fe 641 19.1 Mercedes Sprinter 56 13.7 Nissan Kicks 433 10.8 Hyundai Tucson 889 9.2 Subaru Outback 598 17.9 Chevrolet Express 36 8.8 Buick Encore GX 383 9.5 Toyota RAV4 809 8.4 Jeep Grand Cherokee 522 15.6 Ford E-Series 33 8.0 Chevrolet TrailBlazer 360 8.9 Chevrolet Equinox 776 8.0 Honda Passport 223 6.7 Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Ford Explorer 814 11.1 Ford Bronco 800 21.4 Acura ADX 56 36.6 Tesla Model Y 426 35.7 Chevrolet Traverse 746 10.1 Ford Expedition 717 19.2 BMW X1 32 20.9 BMW X3 146 12.2 Kia Telluride 744 10.1 GMC Yukon 661 17.7 Audi Q3 17 11.1 Mercedes GLC-Class 110 9.2 Nissan Pathfinder 710 9.7 Chevrolet Tahoe 470 12.6 Mercedes GLA-Class 14 9.2 Lexus NX 80 6.7 Hyundai Palisade 577 7.8 GMC Yukon XL 324 8.7 BMW X2 11 7.2 Lincoln Corsair 69 5.8 Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Model Regs. Share Lexus RX 281 15.5 Cadillac Escalade 218 23.7 Kia K4 843 12.3 Ford F-Series 3617 7.2 BMW X5 182 10.0 Lexus TX 163 17.7 Hyundai Elantra 768 11.2 GMC Sierra 3426 6.8 Infiniti QX60 171 9.4 Infiniti QX80 103 11.2 Toyota Camry 764 11.2 Chevrolet Silverado 2427 4.9 Lincoln Nautilus 160 8.8 Lincoln Navigator 95 10.3 Honda Civic 590 8.6 Ram Pickup 2223 4.4 Lincoln Aviator 153 8.4 BMW X7 88 9.6 Toyota Corolla 479 7.0 Honda CR-V 1128 2.3 Luxury and High End Sports Cars Compact/Mid Size Pickup Full Size Pickup Mini Van Top Selling Models in Each Segment - New Retail Light Vehicle Registrations (YTD '26 thru June) Small Cars Mid Size and Large Cars Sports/Pony Cars Near Luxury Cars Luxury Mid Size SUV Luxury Large SUV Top Selling Passenger Cars Top Selling Light Trucks Large Van Subcompact SUV Compact SUV 2 Row Mid Size SUV 3 Row Mid Size SUV Large SUV Luxury Subcompact SUV Luxury Compact SUV SEGMENT LEADERS 22 Arkansas Auto Dealer
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