Blog

Agora Data has earned a place in Auto Remarketing‘s 2026 AR500, an annual industry benchmark that highlights the companies, leaders, and innovators shaping the future of automotive finance. Being recognized in the 2026 AR500 places Agora among industry leaders whose work is driving significant impact across the automotive ecosystem. This recognition reflects our continued commitment to rethinking how auto dealers access capital, participate in contract performance, and grow their businesses.

When respected industry voices start talking about dealer financing challenges, dealers take notice. Recently, Car Dealership Guy featured findings from an auto dealer financing study commissioned by Agora. The study surveyed 414 independent dealers to better understand the realities of today’s dealer-lender relationship and uncover the operational challenges dealers face every day.
One finding stood out.

Agora Data Co-Founder, President, and Chief Operating Officer Matt Burke recently joined the Used Car News Podcast with host Jeffrey Bellant to discuss his new role as President of the National Automotive Finance Association, the organization’s 30-year history, and key auto finance trends.

The conversation covered Burke’s background in the business, how Agora approaches dealer participation in auto finance portfolios, and what he sees ahead for the industry as technology and risk dynamics continue to evolve.

Auto finance is a $1.6 trillion market in the United States — essential to the economy, auto industry, and millions of consumers. Yet much of its capital markets plumbing still relies on fragmented warehouse lines, manual verification processes, and takeout structures that add friction and cost.

Retail credit models have come a long way. But even modern modeling workflows still run into a very practical problem: data gets thin exactly where you want precision most — in the parts of the distribution where defaults cluster, or where certain borrower behaviors are rare.

As the auto finance market evolves, financial institutions and dealers are increasingly exploring ways to monetize or exit their auto portfolios.

We’re proud to announce that Agora Data has been named to the 2025 AR500, Auto Remarketing’s annual list of the Used-Car Industry’s Most Influential Companies. This recognition places Agora among the top innovators and leaders shaping the future of auto finance. Our inclusion in the AR500 reflects the significant impact we’ve made by helping independent