NEW YORK — Fitch Ratings recently published an updated
asset-backed sector specific criteria report for U.S. auto loan ABS.

The firm indicated the new report updates and replaces the
prior criteria report published last April.

"There have been no material changes from the previous
version; therefore Fitch expects no impact on outstanding ratings," Fitch
analysts said.

They pointed out the report presents Fitch's analytical
approach to rating prime and nonprime U.S. Auto Loan ABS and outlines the
unique features of these transactions.

Additionally, the report details key rating drivers
associated with U.S auto loan ABS as explained here:

Collateral Performance

Fitch's expectation on collateral performance is a key
driver of its ratings. Fitch assesses performance expectations through an
analysis of an originator's historical static pool and securitization data,
including delinquencies, defaults, net losses, recoveries, loss timing, and
prepayments.

Fitch analyzes the granularity of the pool of loans backing
a transaction, risk concentrations, and collateral characteristics of the pool
to determine the overall credit risks present that drive transaction loss
frequency and loss severity.

Payment Structure

The nature of a transaction's payment structure and cash
flow allocations will be a major driver in assessing credit enhancement (CE)
adequacy and rating levels. Fitch uses a Microsoft Excel-based internal cash
flow model customized to reflect the transaction payment structure and test the
impact of stressing various assumptions, including prepayments, default timing,
recovery rates, and recovery lag.

Analysts explained the output of the cash flow modeling is
reviewed to assess whether the rated bonds are fully paid, in accordance with
the transaction documents, in each stress scenario associated with a bond's
rating.

Legal Risks

Fitch noted legal risks can drive the rating in the event
that legal uncertainties pose a threat to the availability of cash flows or the
collateral itself. The transaction's legal analysis includes a review of the
legal structure and legal opinions furnished by the originator to confirm cash
flow derived from the assets will not be impaired (either as a result of the
bankruptcy or insolvency of the originator or any other transaction party, such
as a swap counterparty, or the trustee's lack of a perfected first-priority
security interest in the assets) or diminished (as a result of taxation).

Counterparty Exposures, Including Seller/Servicer
Operations

The firm pointed out counterparty exposures can pose a risk
to transactions if the relevant counterparties are a source of credit or
performance weakness. The analysis incorporates a review of the counterparties
of an auto loan ABS transaction, including operational and corporate reviews,
to determine its consistency with Fitch's counterparty criteria

Macroeconomic Risks

Finally, Fitch mentioned the economic environment can have a
material impact on U.S. auto loan ABS ratings.

As such, Fitch takes into consideration the strength of the
economy, as well as future expectations, by assessing key macroeconomic
indicators, such as unemployment.

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