Posts Tagged ‘Auto Sales Data’
January 28th, 2013
Buyers around the world continue to respond to fine new products from Nissan Motor Company, with both U.S. and global sales hitting new record highs for Japan’s second largest automaker.
Nissan sold 4,940,133 units the world over in 2012, an increase of 5.8% over 2011 numbers. In the U.S., Nissan sold 1,141,656 units for a gain of 9.5%. In its home market of Japan, Nissan sold 659,756 cars and trucks for an 11.6% gain.
U.S. growth was slightly below the industry’s overall pace, even as rivals in Toyota and Honda saw much stronger growth percentage-wise. But these numbers can be deceiving: Nissan was not hampered by the Spring 2011 Japanese natural disasters to the extent of Japan’s other automakers, therefore not seeing as much of a “rebound” in 2012.
Nissan continues to shift more and more production to North America, with output up 14.6% in the U.S. and 12.6% in Mexico for the year. By producing more of its products to be sold here on these shores, with the new revised 2013 LEAF now among its U.S.-made products, Nissan has been a driving force behind auto industry job growth.
October 1st, 2012
Total U.S. new car sales in September are up 11% over the same month last year, expected to hit around 1.2 million units for a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 14.6 million vehicles. That keeps pace with industry full-year sales projections ranging from around 14.3 to 14.5 million cars and light trucks. In 2011, carmakers moved 12.8 million vehicles.
Retail sales, i.e. sales to customers like you and I rather than rental car fleets and corporations, are one of the best barometers for the industry’s overall health. Retail sales should hit 950,000 units in September, a rock-solid proportion of all car sales. The industry’s growth in 2012 has been solid and steady without big peaks and valleys, which is good for carmakers because it allows them to tailor new vehicle production and pricing strategies accordingly, bringing greater profitability.
A full 66% of more than 100 high-level auto industry executives surveyed say their companies have added U.S. jobs in the last year, with 72% predicting job growth in the year to come, according to an August comprehensive industry survey by KPMG International.
October 1st, 2012
Don't get used to this...zero APR financing won't last forever.
New car sales in the U.S. jumped 9.5% in September as improving credit scores coupled with remarkably low financing boosted car buying and helped with consumers’ bottom lines.
Record Low Interest Rates Drive Sales
Banks are currently charging the lowest average interest rates on new car loans since the Federal Reserve began tracking these statistics in 1971. Finding 0% financing, often resulting in thousands in savings when applied over 60 months, has become easier as nearly every major automaker currently offers some models at 0% to A-plus credit buyers (credit scores 790-999).
Sales to buyers with B-tier credit, around 650 to 679, have risen 26% this year as financiers are much more willing to work with a greater number of buyers.
September 2012: By the Numbers
September sales at Toyota rose around 36% in September, while Honda moved around 28% more vehicles last month over the same month in 2011. The Japanese brands were still recovering at this time last year from catastrophic natural disasters, but have successfully regained the market share they lost during those trying times. Nissan, which was hit less hard by the earthquake and tsunami last year, saw sales fall around 2.1%. Volkswagen/Audi sales rose about 30% with current zero-interest financing on Touareg, Tiguan, Passat, Jetta and Golf.
The American brands underperformed the industry average as Japanese brands fought back, but still saw small overall sales increases. Ford sales rose around 2.3%, while Chrysler moved about 6.3% more cars and GM 2.4%. Sales at Hyundai/Kia rose 9.1% as Korea’s automakers continue to court new buyers despite lower-than-average incentive spending.
The annualized selling rate for September measured 14.5 million vehicles, right on place for 2012 total-year projections which place new vehicle sales well over 14 million. Automakers moved 12.8 million cars and trucks here in 2011.
September 6th, 2012
New car sales are at the highest levels we’ve seen in more than 4 years. August’s 20% increase in sales over the same month in 2011 came as gas prices spiked and the average age of vehicles on American roads reached its highest level ever. But it’s not just fuel-efficient hybrids and small cars that are driving the slow uphill climb, even though Toyota Prius line sales doubled over 2011 numbers. Ford F-150 and RAM 1500 sales were both up around 20% in August. The new Ford Escape set a sales record, and Explorer sales reached their highest levels since 2006. Volkswagen reported its best August since 1973. So what’s behind the shift? 3 top reasons…
1. Need-Based Sales: An Aging Fleet
It’s no secret: cars and trucks just plain wear out over time. The average age of consumer vehicles on U.S. roads is now more than 11 years, or around 150,000 miles. Work trucks and grocery-getters alike are being replaced as it’s no longer cost-effective to keep repairing the same old jalopy.
2. Available Credit and 0% Financing
Except for rare cash buyers, consumers need credit in order to get into a new car. Not only is that credit open once again to a greater number of buyers, but those with good credit are seeing more 0% financing promotions than at any time in recent memory. Financing a $25,000 car at 0% (with 20% down) saves around $50 per month over financing the same car at typical 3.9% rates.
3. Fuel Efficiency: New Records Every Month
The average sales-weighted fuel efficiency of new cars sold in America now stands at 23.8 mpg, an increase of 1.3 mpg just since 2011 numbers. Crossovers with 30 mpg, 40 mpg cars and 50 mpg hybrids can save their owners thousands over the life of the vehicle. Gas prices over $4 per gallon in parts of the country are a strong driving force for fuel-efficient car sales, and consumers are finding increased mpg in every segment.
September 4th, 2012
U.S. new car sales picked up steam nicely once again in August, after a slightly slower Summer had industry analysts wondering if the auto bubble was beginning to burst. With approximately 1.3 million new light vehicles sold for a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of around 14.5 million vehicles in August, consumers are responding to high gas prices by buying up fuel-efficient cars in record numbers.
Ford (+13%), GM (+10%) and Chrysler (+14%) all posted double-digit sales gains over the same month in 2011. Spurred on by strong incentive-driven 2012 RAM 1500 sales, Chrysler had its best August since 2007, but VW shined even brighter. With monthly sales up 62.5%, the German brand posted its strongest August since 1973.
Toyota, Honda and Nissan all posted large gains as well with Honda sales growing more than 60%. At this time last year, Japan’s automakers were still recovering from the tragic 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
With the average car in the U.S. now a record 11 years old, automakers expect a strong finish in 2012 as consumers replace an aging fleet with more-efficient cars. This bodes well for the U.S. economy in general, with new car sales traditionally seen as a barometer for consumer confidence and overall economic health.
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