High Purchase Intent Points to Increased Vehicle Sales and Growing Used‑Car Supply

Rhea-AI Summary

TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) reports sustained consumer intent to buy vehicles in 2026, with 39% of 3,076 surveyed U.S. adults saying they plan to purchase and >80% of those intending to buy within 12 months. The data points to rising used-car supply as 65% expect to trade in current vehicles. Hybrid interest (33%) and EV interest (16%) are growing, while affordability and charging infrastructure remain key adoption barriers.

Key Figures

Survey sample size: 3,076 consumers Vehicle purchase intenders: 1,190 consumers (39%) Purchase within 12 months: More than 80% +5 more

8 metrics

Survey sample size 3,076 consumers U.S. adults 18+ surveyed for 2026 vehicle intent

Vehicle purchase intenders 1,190 consumers (39%) Respondents intending to buy a vehicle

Purchase within 12 months More than 80% Of consumers intending to buy a vehicle

Trade-in expectation 65% Prospective buyers expecting to trade in current vehicle

Buy vs. lease mix 87% buy / 13% lease Among consumers planning a vehicle transaction

Powertrain preferences 50% gas / 33% hybrid / 16% EV Intended vehicle type among prospective buyers

EV interest reasons 72% fuel, 66% environment, 62% technology Top motivations among EV-interested consumers

EV hesitation factors 51% engine preference, 41% range, 34% charging, 37% price Reasons for not considering EVs

Market Reality Check

Price: $67.58 Vol: Volume 2,112,344 is near ...

normal vol

$67.58 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,112,344 is near the 20-day average 2,137,723 (relative volume 0.99). normal

Technical Shares at 77.21, trading below the 200-day MA of 85.81 and 23.7% under the 52-week high 101.19.

Peers on Argus

TRU fell 2.29% while several data/market peers were also weak: FDS -2.3%, MORN -...

TRU fell 2.29% while several data/market peers were also weak: FDS -2.3%, MORN -1.8%, CBOE -1.25%, NDAQ -0.38%. MSCI diverged, gaining 2.68%. With no peers in the momentum scanner and mixed moves, today’s action appears more stock-specific than a broad sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 28 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 28	Industry award	Positive	-1.1%	Recognition for branded call solution in telco innovation awards.
Jan 15	Research report	Neutral	-0.3%	Gig economy report highlighting account rental and fraud risks.
Jan 14	Data partnership	Positive	+1.8%	Actable partnership showing 10% lift in AI marketing models.
Jan 13	Earnings timing	Neutral	-1.3%	Announcement of Q4 2025 earnings release and conference call date.
Jan 08	Mortgage pricing	Positive	+4.0%	Launch of 2026 mortgage pricing aimed at lower costs for homebuyers.

Pattern Detected

Recent news flow has mostly seen price moves align with the underlying tone, with one divergence where an industry award coincided with a modest decline.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, TRU’s news has centered on product recognition, data partnerships, and macro-focused research. A Jan 13 earnings-date notice drew a mild negative move, while a Jan 14 AI marketing partnership and a Jan 8 mortgage pricing update saw positive reactions up to 4%. Awards and research-oriented releases on Jan 28 and Jan 15 were followed by small declines. Today’s auto-demand study continues TRU’s pattern of using large-scale consumer research to highlight credit and lending trends.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights strong vehicle purchase intent for 2026, with more than 80% of intender...

Analysis

This announcement highlights strong vehicle purchase intent for 2026, with more than 80% of intenders planning to buy within 12 months and 65% expecting to trade in existing cars, supporting used-car supply. It also details shifting preferences toward hybrids and EVs alongside persistent affordability and infrastructure barriers. In context of TRU’s recent research-driven releases, investors may watch how lenders, originations trends, and upcoming earnings commentary reflect these consumer intent findings over time.

Key Terms

electric vehicles (evs), tariffs, ev tax credit, charging infrastructure

4 terms

electric vehicles (evs) technical

"Half of prospective buyers indicated they intend to purchase a traditional gas-powered vehicle compared to 33% for hybrids and 16% for electric vehicles (EVs)."

Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars and trucks that run on electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries or other stored electricity instead of a conventional gasoline engine. They matter to investors because widespread adoption reshapes demand and costs across automakers, parts suppliers, battery makers, utilities and raw-material producers — like a new household appliance that replaces the old one and shifts who makes money and who bears new risks.

tariffs regulatory

"These leasing trends emerged as auto loan originations began to rise in 2025, driven by anticipation of tariffs and, to a lesser extent, the end of the EV tax credit."

Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries. They increase the cost of those goods, which can lead to higher prices for consumers and impact international trade. For investors, tariffs matter because they can influence the profitability of companies, affect supply chains, and shift economic stability across different regions.

ev tax credit regulatory

"originations began to rise in 2025, driven by anticipation of tariffs and, to a lesser extent, the end of the EV tax credit."

A government electric vehicle (EV) tax credit is a policy that lets buyers reduce the amount of taxes they owe when they purchase or lease an eligible electric car, effectively lowering the vehicle’s out-of-pocket cost like a built-in coupon. Investors watch these credits because they can speed up consumer adoption, boost automaker sales and production plans, and shift demand among manufacturers and battery suppliers, affecting revenue and profitability across the auto and clean-energy supply chain.

charging infrastructure technical

"Internal combustion powertrains still dominate because affordability and charging infrastructure continue to challenge EV adoption"

Charging infrastructure is the network of electric vehicle chargers, power supplies, software and physical sites (like curbside stations and parking lots) that lets electric cars recharge. Investors care because it is the backbone that enables electric vehicle adoption and recurring revenue from usage, similar to how gas stations and highways support gasoline cars; strong infrastructure growth can boost demand for related companies and real estate owners.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

TransUnion research shows resilient demand amid affordability pressures; hybrid and EV interest continues to rise

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) reports that consumer intent to purchase vehicles remains strong for 2026, with four in ten U.S. adults planning to buy a car, most within the next year. The company announced these findings today at the 2026 AFSA Vehicle Finance Conference in Las Vegas. TransUnion surveyed 3,076 U.S. consumers age 18 and older. Among them, 1,190 respondents say they intend to buy a vehicle—39% of the total sample—showing that vehicle purchases rank high on consumers’ priority lists.

More than 80% of consumers who indicated intent to buy a vehicle expect to purchase within the next 12 months. This trend holds across all generations. Additionally, 65% of prospective buyers expect to trade in their current vehicle, which supports the market for used cars.

“New vehicle purchases remain a clear priority for consumers, with more than a third of those surveyed planning to buy a car within the next 12 months,” said Jason Laky, executive vice president and head of financial services at TransUnion. “This intent to purchase points to solid underlying market demand and could meaningfully increase used‑car supply as shoppers replace existing vehicles.”

Among consumers planning a vehicle transaction, 87% intend to buy, and 13% intend to lease. Younger generations express greater interest in leasing—17% of Gen Z and Millennials compared with 7% of Baby Boomers—reflecting a preference for flexibility and lower upfront and ownership costs.

These leasing trends emerged as auto loan originations began to rise in 2025, driven by anticipation of tariffs and, to a lesser extent, the end of the EV tax credit. Super prime and subprime segments led this growth, despite ongoing challenges related to affordability.

Affordability remains the most significant obstacle for consumers not planning to buy: 53% cite cost concerns, and 44% cite economic uncertainty. Whether these barriers lessen will depend on the direction of vehicle prices, interest rates and improving consumer confidence.

Traditional Gas Vehicles Still Lead, but Hybrid and EV Interest Continues to Grow

Half of prospective buyers indicated they intend to purchase a traditional gas-powered vehicle compared to 33% for hybrids and 16% for electric vehicles (EVs). Millennials show a slight preference for hybrids over gas-powered vehicles, while Gen Z favors traditional gas models. Still, nearly half of all respondents say they remain open to considering an EV in the future.

Consumers interested in EVs cite lower fuel costs (72%), environmental benefits (66%) and new technology features (62%) as key reasons. Those who do not consider EVs cite preference for combustion engines (51%), range anxiety (41%), limited charging infrastructure (34%) and price concerns (37%).

Older consumers considering future EV purchases emphasize fuel savings and environmental benefits, whereas Gen Z places additional value on advanced technology and features.

“Internal combustion powertrains still dominate because affordability and charging infrastructure continue to challenge EV adoption,” said Satyan Merchant, senior vice president of auto and mortgage business leader at TransUnion. “Millennials show increasing interest in hybrids, while Gen Z leans toward traditional gas vehicles—likely due to affordability constraints. Audience segmentation and credit-based targeting tools enable lenders to pinpoint affordability-driven consumers across generations who are most likely to be ready to enter the auto market in the near term.”

For more insights and to learn how TransUnion Automotive Solutions can help auto lenders reach the right consumers with precision, click here.

About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world.

http://www.transunion.com/business

Contact	Dave Blumberg TransUnion
E-mail	dblumberg@transunion.com
Telephone	312-972-6646

FAQ

What did TransUnion (TRU) find about U.S. vehicle purchase intent for 2026?

TransUnion found that 39% of surveyed U.S. adults intend to buy a vehicle, most within 12 months. According to TransUnion, the survey of 3,076 adults showed over 80% of those intending to buy expect to do so within the next year, across generations.

How could TransUnion's findings affect used-car supply and dealers (TRU)?

The research suggests used-car supply may increase as 65% of prospective buyers plan to trade in current vehicles. According to TransUnion, higher trade-ins could expand dealer inventory and influence pricing dynamics if purchase intent translates into completed transactions.

What did TransUnion report about EV and hybrid interest among prospective buyers (TRU)?

TransUnion reports 33% of prospective buyers prefer hybrids and 16% prefer EVs, with half open to future EV consideration. According to TransUnion, EV interest is driven by fuel savings, environmental benefits and tech features, while affordability and charging remain concerns.

How does leasing interest vary by generation in TransUnion's survey (TRU)?

TransUnion found younger generations show stronger leasing interest—17% for Gen Z and Millennials versus 7% for Baby Boomers. According to TransUnion, this reflects younger buyers' preference for lower upfront costs and flexibility amid affordability pressures.

What are the main barriers to vehicle purchase identified by TransUnion (TRU)?

TransUnion identified affordability (53%) and economic uncertainty (44%) as top barriers for non-buyers. According to TransUnion, whether these barriers ease will depend on vehicle prices, interest rates, and improvements in consumer confidence over time.