[SIGNAL BRIEF] OEM Supply and Sales: Q1 2026 US sales ~3.7M, down ~6% YoY; Ford lost ~50K trucks after aluminum hit,

Q1 2026 US sales ~3.7M, down ~6% YoY; Ford lost ~50K trucks after aluminum hit, adding ~1,000 workers

Automaker Q1 reports compiled by Autobody News point to a softer new-vehicle flow into the fleet. Total U.S. new-vehicle sales were about 3.7 million units in Q1 2026, down roughly 6% from Q1 2025. The article notes the year-ago quarter was boosted by tariff-driven pull-ahead, making comparisons unusually tough across brands.

On the supply side, Ford is still working through an aluminum constraint tied to a September 2025 fire at Novelis that the article says wiped out an estimated 40% of U.S. sheet aluminum supply. Ford estimates it lost about 50,000 trucks, and it has added roughly 1,000 workers and is eliminating summer shutdowns to recover volume, with Novelis targeting full capacity as early as May 2026.

What this means for dealers: Expect tighter allocation and fewer fresh trades if OEM production stays constrained into early summer. Keep used acquisition active, especially on high-velocity truck trims, and communicate realistic inbound timing to customers so you can hold gross and protect CSI.

Source: Autobody News — https://www.autobodynews.com/news/q1-auto-sales-decline-6-as-aluminum-shortage-hits-ford-f-series-hybrid-records-continue

What this means for dealers: Expect tighter allocation and fewer fresh trades if OEM production stays constrained into early summer.

Source: Autobody News