Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Black Book Describes Wholesale Market as ‘Tough'

Luxury, highline cars are among the vehicles with the largest adjustments.

by Staff
October 14, 2008
2 min to read


Stating that the market has been tough lately, Black Book’s adjustments for about the past week have been mostly downward in the range of $100 to $200 to $300 on almost all segments of the industry.

Ricky Beggs, Black Book’s vice president and managing editor, said luxury, upper-end, highline type cars, or those that might not be everyday drivers, are among the vehicles with the largest adjustments.

Ad Loading...

The smaller, more economical cars, and especially the lower level economy cars, are much softer, Beggs said in an analysis via online video. Dealers are being very selective about which vehicles they bid on. “They’re not going in there looking for a speculative type purchase, but buying one that has definitely been sold or that they definitely have a need for,” he said. In this week’s video analysis, Beggs described the unusual fall market and congratulated the National Auto Auction Association on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.

“Anyone who is familiar with NAAA knows that they are a first-class organization that has revolutionized the auto auction industry. We tip our hats to incoming president Bob McConkey, outgoing president John Rea and NAAA executive director Frank Hackett,” Beggs said.

A link to Beggs on the Market can be found on Black Book’s home page at BlackbookUSA.com, and a video library of previous commentaries can be viewed there as well.

Speaking about the video analysis, Beggs said, "It may be an understatement to say that the current market is moving very quickly. When we were redesigning our Web site, our customers indicated that they would like to see a brief, two- to three-minute video recap of the latest market conditions. Based on this feedback, we felt the time was right to provide Beggs on the Market as a complement to the daily delivery of our timely, independent and accurate information.”

More Rental Operations

hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operationsby StaffSeptember 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operationsby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental OperationsSeptember 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental OperationsSeptember 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental OperationsSeptember 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operationsby StaffAugust 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Bobby Klyce in memoriam image
Rental Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 13, 2026

In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend

The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.

Read More →
Ad Loading...