Fitch Rates Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2015-3

NEW YORK--()--Fitch Ratings has assigned the following ratings to the notes issued by Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2015-3:

--$197,000,000 class A-1a notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$131,000,000 class A-1b notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$227,000,000 class A-2 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$227,000,000 class A-3 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$86,640,000 class A-4 notes 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$50,940,000 class B notes 'AAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$48,260,000 class C notes 'Asf'; Outlook Stable;
--$42,900,000 class D notes 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable;
--$53,620,000 class E notes 'BB-sf'; Outlook Stable.

Subsequent to Fitch's presale publication, Ally Financial Inc. (AFIN) decided to split the A-1 notes into classes A-1a and A-1b.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
Stable Collateral Characteristics: The 2015-3 pool is representative of nonprime collateral, with a 633 weighted average (WA) Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) score, 8.8% WA APR and 105% WA loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. Of the pool, 60% consists of new vehicle contracts, while extended-term contracts total 77%, all relatively consistent with recent securitized pools.

One-Year Revolving Period Risk: The revolving structure introduces risk of collateral migrating to a weaker pool before the start of the amortization period, although eligibility criteria pertaining to the additional receivables may mitigate some of this risk. Fitch accounts for collateral migration in its derivation of the base case loss proxy for 2015-3.

Adequate Credit Enhancement: Initial hard credit enhancement (CE) for class A notes totals 19.5%. The non-declining reserve is 0.50%, subordination totals 18.25% and initial overcollateralization (OC) is 0.75%, growing to a target of 2.25% after the revolving period. The expected excess spread totals 5.08% per annum.

Stable Portfolio Performance: AFIN's nonprime auto loan portfolio performance has improved relative to the weak 2006?2008 period, given the gradual improvements in the U.S. economy and health of the used vehicle market. Fitch's base case loss proxy for 2015-3 is 5.50%. However, Fitch's current CNL extrapolations for outstanding CARAT transactions which have begun to amortize is 3.00% to 3.50%.

Stable Corporate Health: Fitch currently rates AFIN 'BB+'/'B'/Outlook Stable. AFIN demonstrates solid capabilities as an originator, underwriter and servicer, as evidenced by its historical prime and nonprime portfolios and securitization performance.

Legal Structure Integrity: The legal structure of the transaction should provide that a bankruptcy of AFIN would not impair the timeliness of payments on the securities.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
Unanticipated increases in the frequency of defaults and loss severity on defaulted receivables could produce loss levels higher than the base case. This in turn could result in Fitch taking negative rating actions on the notes.

Fitch evaluated the sensitivity of the ratings assigned to Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2015-3 to increased credit losses over the life of the transaction. Fitch's analysis found that the transaction displays some sensitivity to increased defaults and credit losses. This shows a potential downgrade of one or two categories under Fitch's moderate (1.5x base case loss) scenario, especially for the subordinate bonds. The notes could experience downgrades of three or more rating categories, potentially leading to distressed ratings (below 'Bsf') or possibly default, under Fitch's severe (2.5x base case loss) scenario.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE
Fitch was provided with third-party due diligence information from Deloitte & Touche LLP. The third-party due diligence focused on comparing or re-computing certain information with respect to 225 loans from the statistical data file. Fitch considered this information in its analysis, and the findings did not have an impact on the analysis. A copy of the ABS Due Diligence Form-15E received by Fitch in connection with this transaction may be obtained through the link at the bottom of this rating action commentary.

Fitch's analysis of the Representations and Warranties (R&W) of this transaction can be found in the reports titled 'Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2015-3 -- Appendix'. These R&W are compared to those of typical R&W for the asset class as detailed in the special report 'Representations, Warranties, and Enforcement Mechanisms in Global Structured Finance Transactions' dated June 12, 2015.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable Criteria
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance and Covered Bonds (pub. 14 May 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=744158
Criteria for Interest Rate Stresses in Structured Finance Transactions and Covered Bonds (pub. 19 Dec 2014)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=838868
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria (pub. 06 Jul 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=867952
Rating Criteria for U.S. Auto Loan ABS (pub. 10 Apr 2015)
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=863979

Related Research
Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2015-3 -- Appendix
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=869493

Additional Disclosures
Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf_frame.cfm?pr_id=989693
ABS Due Diligence Form 15E 1
https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/press_releases/content/ridf15E_frame.cfm?pr_id=989693&flm_nm=15e_989693_1.pdf
Solicitation Status
https://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=989693
Endorsement Policy
https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31

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Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Timothy McNally
Associate Director
+1-212-908-0870
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
33 Whitehall Street
New York, NY 10004
or
Secondary Analyst
Hylton Heard
Senior Director
+1-212-908-0214
or
Committee Chairperson
Du Trieu
Senior Director
+1-312-368-2091
or
Media Relations
Sandro Scenga, New York, +1 212-908-0278
sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com

Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Primary Analyst
Timothy McNally
Associate Director
+1-212-908-0870
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
33 Whitehall Street
New York, NY 10004
or
Secondary Analyst
Hylton Heard
Senior Director
+1-212-908-0214
or
Committee Chairperson
Du Trieu
Senior Director
+1-312-368-2091
or
Media Relations
Sandro Scenga, New York, +1 212-908-0278
sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com