Podcast: Increase in Q1 Originations for Ally Financial and Huntington

## A Rollercoaster Ride: The State of Auto Finance in Q1

Ah, the first quarter of 2025—it brought us a mixed bag of updates from the auto finance sector. **New Yorkers** like a little drama, and Q1 didn’t disappoint. From booming origins to credit performance highs, let’s dig into the latest pulse of the industry, New York style.

### Ally Financial Leading the Pack

When it comes to auto finance, **Ally Financial** is like that neighbor who always seems to know what’s up. With a hefty 4.1% uptick in auto originations and a whopper 28.6% leap in lease originations, it seems like everyone’s driving an Ally-financed car these days. Retail auto delinquencies did their best impression of a disappearing act, dipping by 9 basis points to 3.79% YoY. Ally’s chatting up a storm, boasting record auto applications and attributing its wins to savvy underwriting and improved payment activity.

If you want the full scoop, check out Amanda Harris from [Auto Finance News](https://www.autofinancenews.net/).

### Regionals: The Tale of Two Banks

Meanwhile, regional banks were doing their own thing. **Huntington Bank** was strutting down the street with a 25% YoY rise in auto originations. But hold on—their net charge-offs and payment delinquencies over 30 days didn’t get the memo and went up too. It’s like forgetting to pay the pizza bill after a wild night out.

Then, there’s **U.S. Bank**. Someone might want to send a bouquet—they saw indirect loan and lease originations fall by 27.3% YoY. Not a good look, but there’s room to grow.

### The Bigger Picture: Tariffs and Auto Affordability

Now, here’s a puzzler: March was a sweet spot for new-vehicle affordability, but it wasn’t all roses. Auto tariffs expectedly threw a wrench in the works. Tariffs are doing more than just making brunch more expensive—they’re pushing auto prices up, possibly leading to a downward spiral in new vehicle sales and securitization volumes.

According to [Deutsche Bank](https://www.db.com/), these tariffs might shrink the pockets of automakers and financiers alike. It’s a ripple effect that vendors like **Ford** have already addressed, announcing potential price hikes if the tariffs stick around. But hey, March still shone with higher incomes and lower interest rates, enhancing vehicle affordability to the best we’ve seen in 45 months.

> **Table: March Vehicle Sales Snapshot**
> | Metric | Value |
> |——————————-|————————————|
> | New-Vehicle Affordability | Highest in 45 months |
> | Used Vehicle Sales Increase | 12% YoY |
> | Securitization Volume Decline | Due to tariff-induced price hikes |

### On the Horizon: What’s Next?

Looking ahead, there’s buzz about the Auto Finance Summit East 2025. From May 12-14 at the JW Marriott Nashville, movers and shakers like **Santander Consumer USA** and **Chase Auto** will share insights that could smoothen some of these bumpy rides. For more insider info, head over to [Auto Finance Live](https://autofinance.live).

In the meantime, New Yorkers might want to buckle up for another quarter’s drama. It looks like this rollercoaster ride in auto finance isn’t slowing down any time soon.

### Stay in the Loop

For the latest puzzle pieces in the fast-changing world of auto finance, follow us on [X and LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com). The road ahead is full of twists, but it promises to be an exciting ride. We’ll catch you on the next episode of “The Roadmap Podcast”—subscribe on [iTunes](https://www.apple.com/itunes/) or [Spotify](https://www.spotify.com). Stay ahead, stay informed, and keep navigating the concrete jungle with style.