| Oct 23, 2025 1:33:31 PM
New vehicle prices are at a record high according to new September data shared by Kelley Blue Book. Its new estimates indicate that the new-vehicle average transaction price (ATP) surged past $50,000 last month for the first time ever. KBB researchers say this continues the trend of rising new-vehicle prices that have gone up steadily for more than a year with the pace accelerating in recent months. Still, KBB researchers say people are buying cars at a healthy pace despite rising prices.
As to why prices surged in September, KBB attributes it in part to the rush to buy EVs which are more expensive. Car Pro Show host Jerry Reynolds says he expects the ATP will drop back under that mark in October, with very few electrics being sold since the $7,500 federal rebate is gone.
Reynolds was on Fox 26 Houston this week to talk about this exact subject, you can see the TV segment here or below:
Here are some additional stats from Kelley Blue Book:
“It is important to remember that the new-vehicle market is inflationary. Prices go up over time, and today’s market is certainly reminding us of that. The $20,000-vehicle is now mostly extinct, and many price-conscious buyers are sidelined or cruising in the used-vehicle market,” said Erin Keating, Executive Analyst, Cox Automotive. “Today’s auto market is being driven by wealthier households who have access to capital, good loan rates and are propping up the higher end of the market. Tariffs have introduced new cost pressure to the business, but the pricing story in September was mostly driven by the healthy mix of EVs and higher-end vehicles pushing the new-vehicle ATP into uncharted territory. We’ve been expecting to break through the $50,000 barrier. It was only a matter of time, especially when you consider the best-selling vehicle in America is a pickup truck from Ford that routinely costs north of $65,000. That’s today’s market, and it is ripe for disruption.”
Electric Vehicle Sales Soar Despite Higher Prices
Photo Credit: Wellnhofer Designs/Shutterstock.com.
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