David VanAmburg | Source | Managing Director at American Customer Satisfaction Index

The overwhelming retreat in customer satisfaction may be yet another sign of a bumpy road for automakers in 2019. In the first half of the year, U.S. car sales wilted across an industry already saddled with rising costs and ongoing tariff threats. Millennials strapped with debt, a shift to used cars, and the rise of ride-sharing apps may result in a movement away from new car purchases. Customer satisfaction drops will only deepen the challenges facing the auto industry.