Dealers are short of new models as launches dry up

Tension is rising in American showrooms: dealers need new models to keep customers coming in, but the industry is going through a sharp slowdown in launches. With higher costs, electric-car investments and production hurdles, automakers are postponing or spacing out many debuts.

For the market, the impact is clear: fewer novelties mean less shopper interest and fewer sales opportunities. In Europe, where pricing is already under pressure, a similar shortage would weigh even more on volumes and margins, especially for mass-market brands.