2- 2019 Cadillacs that a dealer apparently couldn't sell new ... now 'used'.

[raaizin]

Dealer gets a kickback from factory when car is sold. Didnt they once play games with in service date to get incentive from factory without actually selling the car. I remember this being a thing back in the day not sure if it is still happening

 

[RooflessVW]

Maybe last chance to get holdback credit for dealer.

Most likely. Could maybe write off the depreciation

 

[Skippy722]

Maybe Cadillac does not want Zombie cars showing up in their published monthly yearly sales and gave incentives to dealers to rid themselves of them.

Zombie cars: Discontinued vehicles that aren't dead yet

Once a car is discontinued, it doesn't just disappear instantly. Here are 12 old, killed-off vehicle models that inexplicably racked up new sales in 2021.

www.autoblog.com

Ahhh zombie cars… in the last quarter Stellantis somehow sold 2 Chrysler 200’s and a Dodge Dart, which both ended production in 2016!

I feel bad for the person who bought the Dart, and I hope those 200’s at least had the v6….

 

[Audiman]

Does America not have any laws about how old a vehicle can be when it’s first registered and still be classed as new? In the UK a vehicle can be a maximum of two years old (from build date) when it’s first registered as new. Over this it gets a age related plate that is based on its build date so a dealer would always register a car before it gets to two years old then put it on the used pitch. I’ve seen cars on the used pitch with 4 miles on them. Can also be other reasons when emissions laws change sometimes older stock has to be registered before a certain date.

 

[partspro]

the manufacturer pays for the warranty, not the dealer, the dealer wants a factory warranty on their inventory. Maybe it's just a way to market them to a different audience..one who may look at used but not new. A 'picky' new buyer may not be interested in a 2 yr old new car with lot rot...but a savvy used buyer may feel they've found the buy of a lifetime.

I agree, book keeping and 'sold' gets more new stock

 

[nthach]

Most likely. Could maybe write off the depreciation

Floorplan also plays a role. Dealerships are paying a bank(not their dealership chain) a loan to keep cars in inventory. The longer a car sits at the dealership, the more they pay on their floorplanning loan.

The invoice for a car sold to the dealership may have a lienholder like a bank on it. When I worked at the dealership some 10+ years ago, BofA was doing Hendrick’s floorplan.