Auto ABS

Higher LTVs and fewer low-risk, new-car loans trumped the recent decline in managed-portfolio delinquencies and improved ABS performance since 2015.

The sponsor is pooling what a majority of customers are buying these days, but future gas-price shocks could depressed used-vehicle prices on the lower MPG models.

The transaction is backed by 6,857 loans with a total balance of $835 million, or roughly 13% of the $6.4 billion of commercial vehicle and equipment loans in Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA.

The performance of outstanding transactions issued via the Capital Auto Receivables Trust platform is weakening, so rating agencies are demanding additional investor protections.

Credit enhancement on the senior notes has risen to 36.25% from 28.7% to account for higher expected losses on the collateral; Kroll's base-case range is for 6.75% to 8.75% over the life of the deal.

DriveTime's improving loss performance in recent securitizations allowed it to relax the enhancement levels on its first securitization of the year.

The transaction is the second this year involving Santander's Chrysler Capital preferred-lender unit; in January Santander sold bonds on its first-ever deal backed by Fiat Chrysler leases.

Despite riskier terms, rising delinquencies and falling used car values, investors keep buying bonds backed by prime and subprime auto loans and leases.

Credit support on the senior tranche of the $800 million transaction is 19.25%, up 250 basis points on the comparable tranche of the sponsor's previous deal to offset the impact of falling used car prices.

It's deep and liquid, and spreads are tight. To many, a deal with a few idiosyncratic risks — not to mention cool factor — just offers a chance to pick up a little extra yield.