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Good morning. We’re starting with Florida’s statewide election results and the franchise protections that will carry into the next administration. Then, a look at wholesale values, deferred service work and the OEM developments worth watching. Let’s get into it.
AT THE DESK
Florida’s statewide results and the franchise-policy handoff
Byron Donalds is Florida’s governor-elect, while James Uthmeier won the attorney general race, Blaise Ingoglia won the chief financial officer race, Wilton Simpson won another term as agriculture commissioner and Ashley Moody won the U.S. Senate special election, according to election-night reporting (WKMG). These are reported race outcomes, not a statement that certification is complete.
For franchised dealers, the transition comes with an important legislative record. Governor Ron DeSantis helped strengthen Florida’s franchise protections by signing HB 637 on June 13, 2023 (Florida Senate).
The legislation expanded restrictions on direct sales and dealership ownership by manufacturers with established dealers, added protections involving pricing and vehicle allocation, and created a process for FLHSMV inquiries into alleged franchise-law violations (Senate legislative summary). Those provisions concern the manufacturer-dealer relationship, not simply a change in who occupies the governor’s office.
Florida Automobile Dealers Association Chairman Randy Hoffman and President Peter Cuderman put out a joint statement this morning:
“The Florida Automobile Dealers Association congratulates Governor-elect Byron Donalds, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, and U.S. Senator Ashley Moody on their election victories.”
“We have enjoyed an outstanding working relationship with each of these leaders, built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to Florida’s businesses, consumers, and communities. They understand the important role local dealerships play as employers, small businesses, and community partners throughout our state.”
“We are confident this administration and Cabinet will preserve Florida’s strong, dealer-friendly laws and the pro-business environment that allows our members to invest, create jobs, and serve their customers. We also look forward to continuing our close partnership with Senator Moody in Washington on the federal issues that affect Florida dealers and the customers who depend on them.”
“FADA looks forward to building on these relationships, protecting a strong and competitive franchise dealer system, and working together to keep Florida the best state in the nation to do business.”
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MARKET CHECK
Trucks and SUVs take the bigger wholesale hit
Black Book’s November 3 report puts the weekly wholesale decline at 0.76% for trucks/SUVs, versus 0.35% for cars, for the week ending October 31 (Black Book). The overall market fell 0.65%, compared with 0.71% the previous week, while estimated auction conversion rose one percentage point to 59% (full report).
More vehicles selling at auction does not, by itself, mean stronger pricing. For your store, a segment-and-age review of appraisal assumptions and units waiting on recon is more useful than a blanket adjustment. These are national wholesale measures, not Florida retail transaction prices or prescribed markdowns.
The bigger decline is in trucks and SUVs
Cars: −0.35%
Trucks / SUVs: −0.76%
| 0% decline | 1% decline |
SERVICE LANE
More repair orders, less work approved
AutoNation’s October 30 earnings call offered a more specific service signal than “customers are spending less”: customer-pay repair orders increased, but customers deferred more work and bought fewer hours per repair order, CEO Mike Manley said (AutoNation’s Q3 call).
Manley described only minor retail-pricing pressure, not a broad collapse in labor rates; he also outlined planned retention packages combining price, convenience and warranty value, particularly as vehicles age out of the dealership relationship (AutoNation’s Q3 call).
That is one retailer’s experience, not a Florida benchmark. Still, separating traffic, hours sold and deferred recommendations could help a service manager see whether a busy drive is translating into completed work. Returning customers and approved repairs deserve separate attention.
ON THE LOT
Hyundai’s October gain came with a split underneath
Hyundai reported 73,452 U.S. sales in October, up 5%, with retail sales rising 9% to 62,646; hybrids grew 20% and represented 29% of total volume (Hyundai).
The model table tells the more useful story: Santa Fe increased 52%, while Tucson declined 23%; Ioniq 5 rose 21% for the month but remained down 23% year to date (Hyundai). A monthly rebound and a year-to-date decline can both be true.
For operators, that is a reason to discuss model and powertrain mix, not just the brand total. These are national sales results, not evidence of Florida registrations, local availability or what any individual store should order.
OEM WATCH
JLR confirms a mid-2027 production exit
JLR told Road & Track on November 3 that Evoque and Velar production will end in mid-2027, with sales continuing through 2027 in selected global markets where demand remains strong (Road & Track’s original confirmation).
The company tied the change to factory transitions for its next generation of vehicles, including the Range Rover GT and a new Defender-family model (Road & Track). For JLR stores, the practical distinction is production timing versus sell-through: that statement does not establish a final U.S. ordering date or a Florida allocation schedule. Customer conversations should stay within the confirmed timetable rather than promising a direct replacement.
THE BIG PICTURE
Automakers renew the push for a Chinese-vehicle law
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation urged Congress on November 2 to pass legislation making restrictions on Chinese vehicles permanent, ahead of lawmakers’ post-election return, Reuters reported (Reuters).
The industry group framed its request around security and competition; the development is a renewed legislative push, not an enacted new ban (Reuters). For dealers, the issue is the longer-term competitive landscape and the durability of federal entry restrictions. Watch for actual congressional action before translating advocacy into assumptions about which vehicles could reach U.S. showrooms.
DATES THAT MATTER
Tomorrow: Florida’s dealer advisory board meets
November 5, 9 a.m. EST: FLHSMV’s Automobile Dealers Industry Advisory Board meets virtually to discuss dealer-industry matters; the public is invited, and attendance is optional (Florida’s October 16 notice). This is a meeting reminder, not a new compliance deadline or rule effective date.