SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Experian Automotive recently found that subprime loans on used vehicles are starting to rebound and gain ground.

Experian indicated that there was a "slight loosening" of credit for used-vehicle financing in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter.

In fact, the subprime credit category, which includes non-prime, subprime and deep-subprime, came in at 36.42 percent for the fourth quarter, up from 33.99 percent in the third quarter of 2009, according to the company.

"While the lion's share of the new-car market is being driven by prime lending, loans for subprime customers are still out there, especially in the used market, if customers and automotive retailers know where to look," explained Melinda Zabritski, director of automotive credit for Experian Automotive.

"Understanding which lenders have programs specific to these markets can make a big difference in getting customers with credit challenges into a vehicle," she continued.

To learn more about automotive lenders and market trends, be sure to attend the Automotive Economic Forecast and Financial Forum May 10-11 in Chicago where Zabritski will be on hand to provide Experian's latest information and analysis.

"In today's changing automotive finance market staying current with the latest industry trends helps lenders and automotive finance executives succeed in this difficult environment. This session will focus on providing key automotive finance trends for both the new and used lending market," Zabritski explained today.

"Discussion items will include shifting market share, consumer credit from both the national and regional perspective, how and what consumers finance as well as overall characteristics of consumer loans," she continued.

In addition to Zabritski, the lineup of speakers currently includes:

—Sudarshan Mhatre, senior analysts, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Autofacts

—Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, chief economist, Ford Motor Co.

—Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist, Wells Fargo Securities.

—William Strauss, senior economist and economic adviser, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

—Bernard Swiecki, director of market analysis, Center for Automotive Research.

—Tom Kontos, executive vice president of customer strategies and analytics, ADESA

—Matt Traylen, chief economist and client partner, ALG

—Tammy Darvish, DARCARS

Attendees who register for the conference before April 12 will receive the early-bird registration rate of $695. After that time, the cost to register goes up to $795. 

The event is designed for automotive industry executives, banking and finance industry executives, allied industry executives, dealer group executives, supplier and aftermarket executives, economists, and analysts from a broad spectrum of new and pre-owned automotive sales, manufacturing, leasing, financing and aftermarket arenas. 

Registration, hotel and travel information, sponsorship details, the latest news about the conference and agenda information are available online at www.automotiveforecastforum.com. 

For more information about the event, contact Marilu McQuilkin, director of meetings and events, at (800) 608-7500 or mmquilkin@sacherokee.com.