US car market faces slowdown signals and rising pressure

The US car market is entering a more delicate phase. After years of solid recovery, the mix of expensive credit, still-high prices and weaker incentives could cool purchases, especially in the higher end of the market.

For automakers, the challenge is twofold: protect sales volumes without hurting profits, while also managing the shift to electric vehicles and new technologies. Europe should watch closely, because the impact on suppliers and global strategies can spread quickly.