Car Market Prices Rise Amid Pandemic Shortages: 8 Million Vehicles Lost

The U.S. car market continues to feel the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with about 8 million vehicles not produced due to supply shortages and production shutdowns. Sales in 2025 reached approximately 16.2 million, rising from a low of 13.8 million in 2022, but remain below the 17.55 million record set in 2016. Forecasts suggest 15.8 million sales in 2026 according to Cox, and 16.3 million per JD Power. The declining supply of new vehicles is constraining the used market, leading to increased prices across all vehicle age categories.