A look at the fall 2026 used-car market, what rising fuel costs mean for resale values, and how Missouri drivers can make smarter buying and trade-in decisions.

Something interesting is happening in the used-vehicle market this fall. The affordable sedan or hybrid that seemed easy to overlook a few years ago is attracting more attention, while some larger pickups are experiencing greater pricing pressure. For shoppers who remember when trucks seemed to hold their value almost automatically, that change can be surprising.

For years, one of the biggest problems with the electric vehicle market was simple:

There weren't enough affordable used EVs.

Consumers interested in electric vehicles often faced a difficult choice. They could spend considerably more for a new EV, buy one of a relatively small number of older used models, or stay with a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle.

That situation is changing quickly.

Fleet electrification sounds relatively simple on paper. Replace gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles with electric ones, install chargers, reduce fuel consumption, and begin taking advantage of lower maintenance requirements.

In practice, especially in the Midwest, it is much more complicated.

If your mental image of a Ford Mustang Mach-E is a quiet electric SUV commuting through Kansas City, prepare to completely recalibrate your expectations.

Ford Racing has taken the basic idea of the Mustang Mach-E and transformed it into something so extreme that calling it a modified production vehicle almost misses the point.

Electric vehicles have improved dramatically in a relatively short period of time. Today's EVs can travel farther, charge faster, perform better in cold weather, and offer significantly more power than many of the electric vehicles introduced only a decade ago.

Yet one component continues to define nearly every compromise engineers make when designing an electric vehicle: the battery.

The global automotive industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its 130-year history. For more than a century, automakers competed primarily on horsepower, reliability, styling, fuel economy, and manufacturing quality. Today, however, a new competitive battleground has emerged—electric vehicles (EVs).

The Growing Need for Sustainable Solutions in the Electric Vehicle Era

The automotive industry is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. As manufacturers invest billions of dollars into electrification, battery technology has become one of the most important components of the modern vehicle. Electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, energy storage systems, and renewable energy infrastructure all depend on advanced batteries to function.

Why Ford’s New EREV Strategy May Be the Most Practical Approach for Truck Buyers

The electric truck market has changed dramatically over the past few years. When manufacturers first introduced electric pickups, many believed the future would quickly shift toward fully battery-electric trucks. The reality has been more complicated.

For years, pickup truck shoppers had a simple expectation: power first, efficiency second. Trucks were judged by how much they could tow, how much they could haul, how long they could last, and how confidently they could handle tough work. Fuel economy mattered, but for many buyers, it was something they accepted as part of owning a capable truck.

Ford has helped change that conversation.