Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics

Rick has spent his entire career, including 25 years in the automotive industry, leading teams to develop analytics capabilities that address key strategic business challenges. He has a passion for finding narratives in the numbers that make analytics come to life in an accessible, understandable, and most importantly actionable way. Outside of work, Rick spends most of his time running or golfing.

2 min read

What a Rising Average Marketed Price Signals for the 2026 Auto Market

Picture of Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics

Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 25, 2026

After hitting a 20-month high, the gap between vehicles that sell and those that sit is widening—precision is how you close it. At the start of this year, we outlined a straightforward expectation in the our Q1 State of the Industry report: 2026 was...

Inventory Data & Intelligence Market Trends

1 min read

How Dealers Can Adapt to Slowing Vehicle Demand

Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 19, 2026

At the start of the year, Catalyst IQ predicted a tighter 2026 automotive market. Ten weeks in, the forecast is holding true, and it helps explain...

Inventory Pricing Market Trends

3 min read

Why Aren’t Cars Moving Like They Used To?

Rick Wainschel, VP Data Science & Analytics: March 13, 2026

If you’re looking at your lot and thinking, “This used to be easier,” you’re not alone. A lot of dealers are seeing the same pattern: inventory sits...

Inventory Pricing Market Trends