Insights on Automotive & Transportation

The consumer products industry enters 2026 facing a rapidly shifting legal and regulatory landscape.

Fully autonomous vehicles (i.e., those that can operate on public roads without a human driver, SAE level 4), now mostly in the form of ride-hailing services, are becoming ubiquitous in urban areas across the nation as manufacturers and operators look to expand their services and gain market share.

Analysts say 2026 will bring fierce competition among automakers, but higher MSRPs, steady inventory and affordability pressures mean buyers may not pay less.

Welcome to the February 2026 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

In the latest episode of Beyond the Lot, Kevin E. Timson speaks with Zach Kuzemka, CEO of NBB, about the current state of the dealership buy-sell market, with a focus on the need to “grow or go,” bring in outside capital, optimize rooftop mix, and implement long-term succession plans and estate plans.

ArentFox Schiff has released its latest annual report analyzing forced labor law developments and enforcement activity.

While enforcement may have taken a backseat to other trade priorities in 2025, this year may be poised to bring a swift and aggressive return to form, particularly if the tariff landscape begins to stabilize.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Aram Ordubegian has been named managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. He succeeds Aaron Jacoby, who will continue in his active practice and role as chair of ArentFox Schiff’s Automotive & Transportation industry group. Both attorneys also sit on the firm’s Executive Committee.

On January 20, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the World Economic Forum. Coming a week after his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, his remarks made headlines globally.

ArentFox Schiff’s Automotive Practice Group represented Sunroad Auto in selling its Kearny Mesa Genesis and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships to separate buyers.

ArentFox Schiff’s Automotive Practice Group represented Knight Automotive Group in selling Sunrise Ford Fontana and Sunrise Ford North Hollywood to GoAuto, a Canadian dealership group that has been expanding its US presence.

Kevin Timson talks with Mercer Capital Vice President David Harkins, who shares insights into automotive dealership valuation.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the election of 18 new partners, effective January 1, 2026.

Montway LLC is an Illinois-based leading automotive-transport broker that assists customers with transporting their vehicles across the country to alleviate them of the burden of driving those vehicles themselves.

ArentFox Schiff’s Automotive Group secured a jury verdict for $1.185 million in damages for our client M5 Automotive LLC, following a contract dispute over the sale of a Kastner Honda, a dealership in Napa, California.

Ford is considering discontinuing its electric F‑150 Lightning after racking up roughly $13 billion in EV losses since 2023, reflecting broader industry headwinds for large electric pickups as demand cools, costs remain high, and incentives fade.

As the automotive retail world turns, the Fall Conference for the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) did not fail to provide some key insights for franchised dealers.

ArentFox Schiff represented US Auto Trust in its acquisition of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Czinger and Maserati dealerships in Dallas, Texas. US Auto Trust owns several luxury dealerships in Southern California, and the transaction represents its first expansion into Texas.

ArentFox Schiff represented long-time client McKenna Automotive Group in selling its Subaru of Huntington Beach dealership to Sutherlin Automotive Group, an Alabama based dealership group.

Whether by pleading or contractual provisions, New York practitioners face the risk of surrendering a client’s right to a jury trial with unsettling ease. This article exposes these procedural snares by: first, introducing the statutory mechanism found in CPLR 4101 that is central to jury waiver by pleading and explores how merely asserting equitable or declaratory judgment claims can forfeit the right to a trial by jury; second, it surveys the enforceability of pre-dispute contractual jury waivers, highlighting New York’s willingness to extend such clauses beyond pure contract claims and juxtaposing that stance with less accommodating jurisdictions; and finally, it distills practical drafting and motion practice strategies designed to help practitioners preserve (or strategically eliminate) the jury right. By charting these intersecting doctrines – and the hidden pitfalls they create – this article aims to arm litigators and transactional lawyers alike with the vigilance necessary to avoid stumbling into an unintended waiver.

The firm’s Automotive group sponsored and presented at the National Association of Dealer Counsel (NADC) 2025 Fall Conference, held in Chicago from October 19–21, 2025. The NADC Fall Conference convenes leading professionals from across the automotive industry for a comprehensive educational program focused on the latest trends, emerging challenges, and key legal considerations shaping the automotive dealership landscape. Attendees benefit from engaging, practitioner-led sessions and robust opportunities to exchange insights on a wide range of dealer-related issues.

In this episode of Baker Tilly’s “Up to Speed” podcast, our partner Mike McMahan shares his insight on the legal considerations dealerships must address as they integrate AI solutions into their operations.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 21 practices and 84 attorneys have been recognized by The Legal 500 United States 2025 guide, including three Tier 1 rankings for (1) Chicago Elite – Corporate and M&A Leading Law Firms, (2) Intellectual Property – Patents: Prosecution (Including Re–Examination and Post–Grant Proceedings), and (3) Finance – Restructuring (Including Bankruptcy): Municipal.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 69 attorneys were recognized as leaders in their field and 23 practices spanning the firm’s litigation, regulatory, and transactional capabilities were ranked in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Welcome to “Beyond the Lot,” a podcast series hosted by Kevin Timson that invites industry experts to weigh in on trends and auto retail business topics.