10-K

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES TRUST 2021-1

(Exact name of issuing entity as specified in its charter)

Commission file number of the issuing entity: 333-228364-13

Central Index Key Number of issuing entity: 0001839893

SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES LLC

(Exact name of depositor as specified in its charter)

Commission file number of depositor: 333-228364

Central Index Key Number of depositor: 0001383094

SANTANDER CONSUMER USA INC.

(Exact name of sponsor as specified in its charter)

Central Index Key Number of sponsor: 0001540151

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of the issuing entity)

86-6367386

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No. of the issuing entity)

c/o Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC

1601 Elm Street, Suite 800

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of principal executive offices)

(214) 292-1930

(Telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: None

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Not applicable

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K (e.g. Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).

None

PART I

The following items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:


Item 1		Business
Item 1A		Risk Factors
Item 1C		Cybersecurity
Item 2		Properties
Item 3		Legal Proceedings

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Nothing to report.

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Substitute information provided in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:

Item 1112(b) of Regulation AB. Significant Obligors of Pool Assets (Financial Information)

Nothing to report.

Item 1114(b)(2) of Regulation AB. Credit Enhancement and Other Support, Except for Certain Derivatives Instruments (Information Regarding Significant Enhancement Providers)

Nothing to report.

Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB. Certain Derivatives Instruments (Financial Information)

Nothing to report.

Item 1117 of Regulation AB. Legal Proceedings.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo Bank”), as indenture trustee, has provided the following information:

In December 2014, Phoenix Light SF Limited (Phoenix Light) and certain related entities filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging claims against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as trustee for a number of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) trusts. Complaints raising similar allegations have been filed by Commerzbank AG in the Southern District of New York, IKB International and IKB Deutsche Industriebank (together, IKB) in New York state court, and Park Royal I LLC and Park Royal II LLC in New York state court. In each case, the plaintiffs allege that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee, caused losses to investors, and plaintiffs assert causes of action based upon, among other things, the trustee’s alleged failure to notify and enforce repurchase obligations of mortgage loan sellers for purported breaches of representations and warranties, notify investors of alleged events of default, and abide by appropriate standards of care following alleged events of default. In July 2022, the district court dismissed Phoenix Light’s claims and certain of the claims asserted by Commerzbank AG, and subsequently entered judgment in each case in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In August 2022, Phoenix Light and Commerzbank AG each appealed the district court’s decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Phoenix Light dismissed its appeal in May 2023, terminating its case. In November 2023, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. entered into an agreement with IKB to resolve IKB’s claims. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. previously settled two class actions filed by institutional investors and an action filed by the National Credit Union Administration with similar allegations.

PART II

The following items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:


Item 5		Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Item 6		[Reserved]
Item 7		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 8		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9		Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A		Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

Other Information

None.

Item 9C.

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

PART III

The following items have been omitted in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:


Item 10		Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Item 11		Executive Compensation
Item 12		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14		Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Substitute information provided in accordance with General Instruction J to Form 10-K:

Item 1119 of Regulation AB. Affiliations and Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Information required by Item 1119 of Regulation AB has been omitted from this report on Form 10-K in reliance on the Instruction to Item 1119.

Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Compliance with Applicable Servicing Criteria

Each of Santander Consumer USA Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (each, a “Servicing Participant”) have been identified by the issuing entity as parties participating in the servicing function with respect to the pool assets held by the issuing entity. Each of the Servicing Participants has completed a report on an assessment of compliance with the servicing criteria applicable to it (each, a “Report on Assessment”), which Reports on Assessment are attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K. In addition, each of the Servicing Participants has provided an attestation report (each, an “Attestation Report”) by one or more registered public accounting firms, which reports are also attached as exhibits to this Form 10-K.

None of the Reports on Assessment or the related Attestation Reports has identified any material instances of noncompliance with the servicing criteria described in the related Report on Assessment as being applicable to such Servicing Participant.

Item 1123 of Regulation AB. Servicer Compliance Statements

Santander Consumer USA Inc. has been identified by the issuing entity as the servicer with respect to the asset pool held by the issuing entity. Santander Consumer USA Inc. has completed a statement of compliance with applicable servicing criteria (a “Compliance Statement”) signed by an authorized officer. The Compliance Statement is attached as an exhibit to this Form 10-K.

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules


(a)(1)		Not Applicable.

(a)(2)		Not Applicable.

(a)(3)		See Item 15(b) below.

(b) Exhibits

The exhibits listed below are either included or incorporated by reference as indicated:


Exhibit No.		Description

1.1		Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2021, among Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC (“Santander Drive”), Santander Consumer USA Inc. (“SC”) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2021)

3.1		Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Santander Drive dated as of March 7, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form SF-3 filed by Santander Drive (Commission File No. 333-228364) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2018)

3.2		First Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2017, by SC, as sole equity member (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form SF-3 filed by Santander Drive (Commission File No. 333-228364) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2018)

4.1		Indenture, dated as of February 17, 2021, between Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2021-1, as issuer (the “Issuer”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021)

10.1		Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, between SC and Santander Drive (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021)

10.2		Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among the Issuer, Santander Drive, SC and the Indenture Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021)

10.3		Administration Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among the Issuer, SC, as administrator, and the Indenture Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission February 18, 2021)

10.4		Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, between Santander Drive and Wilmington Trust, National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner trustee for the Issuer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021)


10.5		Asset Representations Review Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, among the Issuer, SC, as sponsor and servicer, and Clayton Fixed Income Services, LLC, as asset representations reviewer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2021)

10.6		First Amendment to Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2021, by and among Santander Drive, as seller, and SC, as servicer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-D/A filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2021)

10.7		Second Amended and Restated Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2021, among Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, N.A., Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form 8-K filed by the Issuer (Commission File No. 333-228364-13) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2021)

31.1		Certification (Santander Drive)

33.1		Management’s Assessment of Compliance with SEC Regulation AB Servicing Criteria (SC)

33.2		Assessment of Compliance with the Applicable Servicing Criteria (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.)

33.3		Assessment of Compliance with the Applicable Servicing Criteria (Computershare Trust Company, N.A.)

34.1		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with respect to SC)

34.2		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (KPMG LLP with respect to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.)

34.3		Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with respect to Computershare Trust Company, N.A.)

35.1		Servicer Compliance Statement (SC)

(c)	Not Applicable.

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

None.

Supplemental information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act

No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material has been sent to certificateholders, and the registrant does not presently contemplate sending any such materials subsequent to the filing of this report.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 29, 2024


SANTANDER DRIVE AUTO RECEIVABLES LLC, as depositor

By:		/s/ Corey Henry
Name:		Corey Henry
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer (senior officer in charge of securitization of the depositor)