This episode is powered by:
Good morning. We’re starting with Florida’s flooding and safe access to your store. Then: the CPO explanation gap, faster used-EV turns, Honda’s portal interruption, and a shifting lender mix for the business office. There’s plenty to watch before making the next customer promise. Let’s get into it.
AT THE DESK
The rain can stop before the disruption does
Florida stores have a practical reason to check local conditions before Tuesday’s opening. The National Weather Service’s overnight flood warning covered southeastern Brevard, eastern Indian River, northeastern Martin and St. Lucie counties until 9:30 a.m. EST, with flooding already occurring and drainage expected to take several hours. The warning named communities including Melbourne, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. (NWS Melbourne)
The concern also extends beyond the morning commute. In Monday evening’s river forecasts, NWS projected major flooding at the Peace River near Arcadia later this week and further rises along portions of the St. Johns. Forecast timing and severity vary by river location. (NWS advisories)
Conditions differ by location: NWS’s 10:48 p.m. Monday statement confirmed central Broward’s flash-flood warning had expired, while still advising respect for remaining road closures. An expired warning is not permission to drive through standing water. (NWS Miami)
For affected stores, the opening conversation can be straightforward: confirm safe staff access, check whether customer pickup or delivery routes need changing, and update appointment expectations before people set out. Give the BDC and service drive the same current information. NWS’s instruction is clear: do not drive around barricades or through flooded areas; consult the current local advisory rather than treating last night’s warning as today’s all-clear. (NWS safety instructions)
|
Interested in advertising? Be the name dealers remember.Have a product or service built for dealerships? Introduce it through The Morning Drive. Tell us your goals, and let's talk about the right advertising opportunity.
|
ON THE LOT
“Certified” still needs an explanation
Cox Automotive’s newly released CPO study surveyed 825 consumers, ages 18–64, planning to buy within six months. Among new-vehicle shoppers open to certified pre-owned, just 31% said they knew exactly how CPO differs from a traditional used vehicle; among used-vehicle shoppers open to CPO, it was 27%. (Cox study, released November 2, full report)
Inventory matters, too. If their dealership lacked CPO stock, 78% of the new-oriented CPO considerers and 67% of the used-oriented group said they would visit another dealer for the vehicle. Those are stated intentions in a hypothetical scenario, not measured defections. (Full study, page 23)
A practical takeaway is to make the actual program tangible: what was inspected, what was reconditioned, and precisely which warranty applies. The badge should start that explanation, not substitute for it. Keep coverage descriptions specific to the vehicle and certification program.
MARKET CHECK
Used EVs are moving faster in this sample
Average days to sell · September 2026
EV: 41.9 days
Hybrid: 48.6 days
Gasoline: 54.8 days
| 0 days | 60 days |
In iSeeCars’ October 28 study, one- to five-year-old used EVs sold in September took 41.9 days on average, versus 54.8 days for gasoline vehicles and 48.6 for hybrids. A year earlier, EVs took 46.6 days and gasoline vehicles 45.7. The study analyzed more than 1.5 million vehicles across the two September periods. (iSeeCars research)
The price headline needs its own distinction. Average EV list prices were 9.8% higher than a year earlier, but September’s $32,533 average was below August’s $32,876. Annual gains and a monthly decline can both be true. (Study tables)
For acquisition decisions, use the finding as a prompt to examine your own model-level turn and pricing, not as permission to bid up every EV. These are national averages from a restricted age/model sample, not matched-vehicle appreciation, transaction prices or Florida sell-through.
SERVICE LANE
Honda’s portal recovery hit another interruption
Honda told Repairer Driven News in an October 30 update that technical challenges forced it to take its iN system offline again after restoration. The company said intermittent outages could continue over the following days while it strengthened the environment. (Repairer Driven News)
That update matters more than an older “restored” headline. This reporting does not establish a November 3 all-clear, a confirmed data theft or the current status of every dealership. For Honda stores, a sensible customer-facing check is whether the system supports the specific parts or service commitment being made today. Keep confirmed availability separate from an estimate, and use current OEM communications for operating status rather than assuming the earlier restoration settled it.
BUSINESS OFFICE
Credit unions gain financing volume as banks and captives pull back
Equifax’s October report shows 12.8 million new auto-credit accounts originated in the first half of 2026, down 1.9% from a year earlier, while original amounts financed rose 3.5% to $401.1 billion. More dollars financed did not mean more accounts opened. Equifax report, page 5.
The lender mix is worth a closer look. Credit unions originated 3.4 million accounts, up 1.6%; banks’ volume fell 3.1%, and captives’ fell 5.5%. These are national first-half results, not Florida approval rates or evidence of any lender’s current buying policy. Equifax report, page 5.
For the business office, a useful follow-up is to compare that mix with your own funded contracts and current lender programs. Treat the national shift as a reason to review financing options, not a promise that a particular customer will qualify.