Through the end of August, 2026 model-year vehicles still represented roughly 85% of new inventory on dealer lots.

That is unusually high this late in the year. At the same point last year, current-model vehicles represented about 72% of inventory.

There are legitimate reasons. Some 2027 launches are arriving later, some model years have been extended and supply varies significantly by brand.

But eventually the calendar creates its own problem.

As more 2027 inventory arrives, dealers carrying large numbers of 2026 F-150s, Silverados, Sierras, Wranglers and other high-volume models may need increasingly aggressive incentives to prevent aging inventory from becoming next year's problem.

Should OEMs be reacting sooner?

Waiting until November or December to throw cash at aged vehicles may protect incentive spending today, but it also transfers carrying cost and depreciation risk to the dealer.

Maybe aging inventory should trigger automatic factory support before dealers are forced to discount it themselves.