Celebrating 20 Years of Fusion
2025 marks a milestone for Fusion Auto Finance: 20 years of innovation, growth, and commitment to credit unions.
Since 2005, Fusion has led the way in credit union auto leasing. What began as a bold idea has grown into a trusted program behind nearly 200,000 leased vehicles nationwide. Our CU Xpress Lease program is the nation’s premier solution, and the only one that guarantees 100% of the residual value at lease-end. That guarantee provides credit unions with clarity, confidence, and protection while enabling them to compete head-to-head in the auto finance market.
From our first lease portfolio to the opening of Lease Return & Resale Centers to nationwide expansion, Fusion has always been driven by one goal: helping credit unions better serve their members.
As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we’re revisiting the pivotal moments that shaped our journey.
2005 | A New Beginning
Fusion Auto Finance, LLC was founded with a singular mission: to deliver dedicated residual value management solutions to credit unions. For the first time, credit unions could confidently offer auto leasing through franchised new car dealerships, backed by Fusion’s guaranteed residual values.
It was a turning point in credit union leasing, and just the beginning of what was to come.
2006 | The Launch of CU Xpress Lease
In 2006, Fusion partnered with GrooveCar to introduce the CU Xpress Lease program, a groundbreaking indirect lease model. Credit unions could now offer auto leasing directly at the dealership while retaining full control over credit approval and rate structures.
The first credit union to join was Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU), based in Hauppauge, NY. Today, TFCU has $9.9 billion in assets and 477,000 members and remains the longest-tenured participant in CU Xpress Lease, helping set the stage for the program’s growth and success across the region.
This milestone reshaped how credit unions engaged with members and laid the foundation for two decades of innovation and expansion.
2009 | 10,000 Vehicles Leased
Despite the auto industry being in the midst of a considerable downturn, CU Xpress Lease continued to grow. The program reached 10,000 leased vehicles across 16 different brands, generating more than $300 million in new lending business for partnering credit unions.
2010 | The First Lease Return & Resale Center
With CU Xpress Lease gaining momentum, Fusion focused on delivering a seamless member experience from start to finish. In 2010, we opened our first Lease Return & Resale Center (LRRC) and Novak Motors in Hauppauge, NY, a 30,000-square-foot facility where members could return, purchase, or finance their vehicles in one convenient location.
The LRRC brought the CU Xpress Lease promise full circle: innovation, service, and the credit union difference.
2012 | 20,000 Vehicles Leased
Just six years after launch, CU Xpress Lease reached a major milestone: 20,000 vehicles leased. By then, our portfolio spanned more than 25 vehicle brands, giving members greater choice, flexibility, and value at the dealership.
That same year, we expanded remarketing with a second Novak Motors retail dealership in Bedford, Texas, strengthening our end-of-lease support for credit union members.
2014 | 45,000 Vehicles Leased
The CU Xpress Lease program surpassed 45,000 leased vehicles and $1.35 billion in total volume. Fusion also introduced the “No Surprises” Excess Wear & Tear policy, giving members peace of mind that their returned vehicles would be inspected fairly and transparently
2015 | Expanding in New Jersey
Continued demand for CU Xpress Lease led to the opening of a new Lease Return & Resale Center in Lebanon, NJ. With over 60,000 leased vehicles and $1.8 billion in new lending by that point, Fusion was rapidly redefining what credit unions could achieve in auto finance.
2016 | Growing Capacity, Expanding Footprint
Fusion and Novak Motors opened a 120,000-square-foot facility in Farmingdale, NY, replacing the Hauppauge location to better serve credit union members. That same year, CU Xpress Lease expanded to California, surpassing 85,000 leased vehicles and generating over $3.1 billion in lending.
2017 | GrooveCar Joins the Family
Fusion acquired longtime partner GrooveCar, uniting two organizations that had collaborated on CU Xpress Lease since its launch. GrooveCar provides the indirect lending platform, markets the program to dealers, acts as a liaison on behalf of the credit union, and manages the dealer relationships. Fusion is the titled owner of each leased vehicle, bears the value risk on all vehicles at lease maturity, and pays full residual value to the credit union at lease maturity.
Bringing both sides together created a more seamless and competitive program for credit unions nationwide.
2018 | 100,000 Vehicles Leased
The CU Xpress Lease program reached another milestone: 100,000 leased vehicles and more than $3.3 billion in new vehicle lending.
2021–2022 | Continued Growth
CU Xpress Lease expanded into Florida (2021) and Michigan (2022), surpassing 171,000 leased vehicles and more than $6 billion in new vehicle lending.
2025 | And On
Today, CU Xpress Lease has grown to more than 195,000 leased vehicles and over $7.4 billion in new lending.
The program now offers two partnership models: Traditional, for credit unions that want more control, and Full-Service, where Fusion handles credit decisioning, funding, servicing, title work, and lease-end vehicle remarketing. This allows credit unions to offer competitive leasing without the operational burden.
A prime example is Municipal Credit Union, headquartered in New York City with over $4.4 billion in assets, which has partnered with Fusion to provide flexible automotive leasing to its 600,000+ members. Through the Full-Service model, Fusion assumes all residual value risk and manages the leasing operations, enabling Municipal Credit Union to focus on serving its vibrant communities.
From a single idea in 2005 to a national leader in credit union auto leasing, Fusion and GrooveCar remain committed to delivering flexibility, value, and the best member experience.
Thank You for 20 Years
This celebration is not just about Fusion. It is about the credit unions, dealerships, partners, and members who have been part of the journey.
Here’s to 20 years of innovation, and the road ahead.