Record Vehicle Leasing Could Pinch New Auto Margins – Wall Street Journal

John Whittaker never considered leasing a vehicle until he spotted a killer deal on a Nissan Rogue crossover SUV last month.

The terms—$365 per month for a three-year contract—helped him get in a more expensive vehicle than he otherwise would have considered. “Normally, we wouldn’t have looked at a $28,000 car,” said Mr. Whittaker, a 58-year-old sheriff’s department employee from Utah.

Vehicle leasing as a percentage of…