Cox Automotive’s fourth-quarter survey of 919 dealers put current-market sentiment at 38 and future-market sentiment at 42, both below the prior quarter. The sample included 492 franchised and 427 independent respondents, with a stated margin of error of plus or minus 3.23%.
The disclosure makes the result more interpretable than an unexplained confidence score, but sentiment remains perception—not store performance.
Use sentiment as context
A cautious national reading can inform scenario planning for pricing, inventory and expense. It should not override a store’s traffic, turn, gross, cash and lender data.
Segment the local response
Franchise and independent stores face different supply and capital constraints. Groups should compare rooftops and departments before applying one narrative to the whole organization.
The index is a Cox Automotive commercial survey measuring dealer sentiment, not realized market performance.
Cited references
- Cox Q4 2025 Dealer Sentiment Index — Commercial survey