2025 Agenda
The Auto Finance Summit 2025 agenda is built to address the real-world challenges and strategic priorities facing lenders today — rising interest rates, affordability headwinds, tightening credit conditions, and the impact of tariffs on vehicle pricing.
This year’s program offers actionable insights and advanced strategies from senior executives who are helping shape the future of lending and leasing.
The sessions are crafted to deliver immediate value you can take back to your team to navigate the road ahead.
9:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM WOMEN IN AUTO FINANCE LUNCHEON
The Women in Auto Finance Luncheon is an exclusive networking opportunity to support and cultivate female leadership in the industry. The luncheon will include a keynote speech from someone who will share her experiences and expertise on navigating and thriving in auto lending and leasing.
1:30 – 3:00 WORKSHOPS – CONCURRENT
Workshop 1: Design Sprint
When you have a tough problem without a clear solution, a design sprint is one of the best ways to approach the issue. During this design sprint, you will take a structured approach to exploring problems and challenges facing the automotive finance industry, working alongside fellow professionals to ideate, refine, prototype, and test solutions.
Workshop 2: Fraud Management
More information to come.
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM THE KICKOFF SESSIONS
Two crucial sessions to kick off your Auto Finance Summit right.
Session 1: PRESENTATION: MACROECONOMIC AND AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
– The prognosis for interest rates and consumer credit health
– Assessing the economic headwinds facing the auto finance market into 2026
– Forecasting the SAAR amid geopolitical unrest and uncertain inventory levels
Session 2: Kickoff Fireside: Preparing for 2026
A senior industry leader will put the focus on the forthcoming year, offering invaluable perspective and advice on how to best prepare and position your business for a 2026 that promises to be anything but ordinary
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM EMERGING LEADERS MEETUP
Emerging leaders in the industry are invited to this exclusive reception with designated Ambassadors with extensive industry experience for networking and learning.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM AUTO FINANCE SUMMIT OPENING RECEPTION
Location: Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS
Enjoy breakfast and connect with exhibitors in the main hall. For those focused on specific areas of the industry, niche networking meetups will take place concurrently in dedicated lounge spaces within the exhibit hall.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Servicing & Risk Management Professionals
Join fellow professionals working in collections, servicing, and risk management for an informal coffee meetup during breakfast.
9:00 AM WELCOMING REMARKS
9:05 AM – 9:45 AM SESSION 1: FIRESIDE CHAT
Franz Reiner, Chairman of the Management Board, Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG will sit down in a “fireside chat” to discuss the economy, innovation, industry trends, and fresh growth ideas, along with market expectations for 2026.
Location: General Session
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM SESSION 2: EXECUTIVE DIALOGUE ON THE FUTURE OF AUTO FINANCE
Senior executives from some of the nation’s largest auto financiers gather to discuss inflation, squeezed credit markets, management strategies, and how to prepare for the year ahead.
Location: General Session
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
Take a break, grab a coffee, and visit with exhibitors in the main hall. During this time, a niche networking meetup will also be held for sales and marketing professionals in a designated lounge in the exhibit hall.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Sales & Marketing Professionals
Connect over coffee with fellow leaders in sales and marketing for informal networking and conversation.
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM SESSION 3: FIRESIDE CHAT
A key industry executive will sit down for a fireside chat to discuss the economy, innovation, industry trends, and fresh growth ideas, along with market expectations for 2026.
Location: General Session
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM SESSION 4 PANEL: ROADMAPS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN AUTO LENDING & LEASING
– Strategic growth against economic headwinds and competitive pressures
– Adapting to evolving consumer and dealer expectations and shifting demand
– Expanding reach to underserved consumers
Location: General Session
12:30 PM 2025 AUTO FINANCE EXCELLENCE AWARDS & LUNCHEON
The awards, which have been presented annually since 2005, recognize achievements by companies and/or executives in the industry.
Auto Finance News and the Auto Finance Summit are pleased to solicit your nominations for the 2025 Auto Finance Excellence Awards, which celebrate achievements in the automotive lending and leasing industry. Click here to submit your nominations.
Location: General Session
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM SESSION 5: CONCURRENT TRACKS
Industry Trends & Insights:
PANEL: SMART UNDERWRITING IN A SHIFTING CREDIT ENVIRONMENT
– Planning for depreciation, market corrections, and normalizing LTVs post-tariffs
– Adjusting underwriting models to account for increased delinquency and default risks
– Using alternative and real-time data to enhance decisioning and automate income validation
Growth & Partnerships:
PANEL: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATION
– Current state of lender-dealer collaboration
– A practical guide to partnerships with dealer groups
– The role technology plays in enabling stronger partnerships between lenders and dealer
Innovation & Technology:
PANEL: IDENTIFYING TOMORROW’S DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES
– Where to invest in digitalization for optimum return
– New ways to use data to enhance customer service, communications, and analytics
– Maintaining personalization in the shift toward AI and automation
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM SESSION 6: CONCURRENT TRACKS
Industry Trends & Insights:
PRESENTATION: ON THE USED-VEHICLE MARKET, BALANCING RISK, GROWTH, AND FLUCTUATING VALUES
– Strategic implications of volatile used-vehicle prices and mixed sales results
– Valuation forecasts for the coming year for ICE and EVs
– Ideas for honing tariff-challenged residual values
Growth & Partnerships:
PANEL: NEW AVENUES IN SUBPRIME AND NEAR-PRIME AUTO LENDING
– Strategies for growth in underserved segments, without compromising risk mandates
– Using alternative data to drive portfolio growth and maximize returns
– Balancing increased used-vehicle demand and higher costs
Innovation & Technology:
PANEL: IMPROVING COLLECTIONS AND SERVICING THROUGH AI AND AUTOMATION
– The latest on deploying chatbots to improve collections
– Machine learning to predict delinquency and optimize outreach
– Building self-service tools to enhance customer experiences
3:45 PM – 4:45 PM COFFEE BREAK IN EXHIBIT HALL
Reconnect with exhibitors, catch up with peers, or take time to unwind before the cocktail reception. A dedicated space within the exhibit hall will also host a niche networking meetup for technology professionals during this break.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Technology Professionals
Join auto finance professionals focused on innovation, automation, and digital transformation for informal conversation and idea-sharing.
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM – COCKTAIL RECEPTION IN EXHIBIT HALL
8:00 AM REGISTRATION OPENS
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM BREAKFAST IN EXHIBIT HALL
Enjoy breakfast and explore the exhibit hall at your own pace. A dedicated lounge area will also host a niche networking meetup for professionals from small to mid-sized finance companies.
Niche Networking Coffee Meetup: Small to Medium-Sized Finance Company Professionals
Connect with peers from small and mid-sized finance companies to discuss shared challenges, growth strategies, and key lessons learned.
9:15 AM – 9:45 AM SESSION 7: PRESENTATION: CAPITAL MARKETS IN FLUX
Navigating fluctuating spreads and worsening credit performance in a shifting market
– Geopolitical unrest and evolving monetary policy influences on spreads and investor sentiment
– Assessing prime and subprime performance and issuance trends heading into the New Year
– Key strategies for improved liquidity and capital acquisition
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM SESSION 8: PANEL: Adapting to evolving compliance oversight in auto finance
– Parsing the shifts in federal and state-level oversight
– Regulatory considerations for sound servicing, collections and repossessions
– Best practices for keeping aftermarket and underwriting compliance at the forefront
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM COFFEE BREAK
Take a quick break to recharge with a cup of coffee before heading into the final session of the day.
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM SESSION 9: PANEL: Best practices for fighting fraud
– Current fraud schemes and how to get ahead of them
– Operational imperatives to improve fraud prevention
– Tools and tricks for better results, without compromising customer experience
11:30 AM CONFERENCE CONCLUDES
Venue
We’re excited to announce that the Bellagio Las Vegas is the exclusive hotel for Auto Finance Summit 2025!
Known for its iconic fountains, luxurious accommodations, and central location on the Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio offers the perfect setting for high-level networking and deal-making.
Stay where the industry meets — all official Summit programming and networking will take place on-site. Book your room early to secure exclusive rates and be at the center of the action.
