Live from the Cox Automotive stage at NADA 2026 in Vegas, I teamed up with the dynamic duo: Pete Grupposo (SVP, Sales at Manheim + NextGear Capital) and Patrick Janes (AVP, vAuto Inventory Solutions) to dissect the tidal wave of off-lease BEVs crashing ashore this year. We're talking a jaw-dropping 185% surge, rocketing from modest numbers to roughly 300,000 units flooding the used EV scene. Yes, that's the kind of growth that makes even seasoned dealers do a double-take. We unpacked how this deluge is about to remix the entire used EV market, with tons of these freshly returned rides cruising through upstream wholesale channels instead of straight to retail lots. Dealers, take note: your sourcing playbook just got an electric upgrade. We also covered why the expired tax credits are ironically doing us a favor, finally bringing some crystal-clear pricing and real-world data to used EVs. Then there's the great dealer divide: the "EVs? Hard pass" crowd versus the ones building legit EV cultures and reaping the rewards. Spoiler: one side is probably sleeping better at night. Surprise hits in states like Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, where sub-$25,000 used EVs are quietly becoming the hottest ticket for budget-savvy buyers. Turns out, these cars deliver shockingly low ownership costs perfect for younger drivers or first-timers who want to plug in without selling a kidney. And don't sleep on the luxury used EV goldmine! Imagine snagging a BMW or Mercedes EV that once felt forever out of reach, now suddenly attainable. We dove into battery health scores as the ultimate trust-builder (because nothing kills range anxiety faster than hard numbers proving "your battery's still got game"). Oh, and yes... I couldn't resist dropping my weird new parody lyrics to "We Didn't Start the Fire" because nothing says 'serious industry panel' like electric-themed Billy Joel lyrics. Don't miss these 18 minutes of pure edu-tainment that you've come to expect from yours truly!

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This episode is sponsored by Cox Automotive. Cox Automotive is the world’s largest automotive services and technology provider. Fueled by the largest breadth of first-party data fed by 2.3 billion online interactions a year, Cox Automotive tailors leading solutions for car shoppers, auto manufacturers, dealers, lenders and fleets. The company has a portfolio of industry-leading brands that include Autotrader®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, vAuto®, Dealertrack®, NextGear Capital™, CentralDispatch® and FleetNet America®. To learn more, visit coxautoinc.com

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