S&P/Experian: Auto Default Rate Registers Largest Increase Since December 2011

NEW YORK — Auto loan defaults in increased nine basis points from July to August, the largest month-over-month increase since December 2011, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices. Despite the drop, the auto loan default rate remains low relative to historical levels. In fact, the rate is closer to levels recorded one year ... Read More »

Average Transaction Price Rises in January

IRVINE, Calif. — The average transaction for a new vehicle increased by $1,123, or 3.3%, from a year ago to $34,968, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates. The average, however, was down by $453, or 1.3%, from December 2016. Driving the year-over-year strength in pricing was a sales mix in favor of utility vehicles, with ... Read More »

NADA: 17.4 Million Units Possible for 2017

LOS ANGELES — Noting that the economic outlook is a little less certain than a week ago, the National Automobile Dealers Association’s Steven Szakaly called for a 17.1 million-unit year in 2017. But the NADA’s chief economist said he’ll have a better read by the end of February, beginning of March. By that time, Szakaly ... Read More »

New-Vehicle Registrations Return to Prerecession Levels

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — New-vehicle registration volumes for light-duty vehicles reached the highest point in nine years, with more than 17 million new vehicles registered within the United States between Nov. 1, 2014 and Oct. 31, 2015, according to Experian Automotive. The highest number of new registration volumes on record was 17.4 million in 2006, while ... Read More »

New-Vehicle Transaction Prices Rise More Than 1% in October

KBB Predicts 12% Increase in New-Vehicle Sales

IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book said this week it expects new-vehicle sales to increase nearly 12% year over year to a total of 1.43 million units in October, a predication that would put the seasonally adjusted annual rate at 197.9 million if realized. It would also be the highest October sales total since 2001. ... Read More »

Lithia’s Drop in New-Vehicle Gross Per Unit Offset by Q1 F&I Performance

MEDFORD, Ore. — Lithia Motors’ F&I operations realized a $52 increase in F&I profit per vehicle retailed, which settled in at $1,233 in the first quarter of 2015. The group’s F&I performance, coupled with the $97 increase in used-vehicle gross profit per vehicle retailed ($2,602), helped the 130-store dealer group offset lower new-vehicle gross profit ... Read More »

J.D. Power Projects Best January Sales in 10 Years

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — January new-vehicle sales are expected to reach levels not seen since 2004, according to a sales forecast from J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. The two firms expect sales for the month to reach 932,000 units, an 8.5% increase over January 2014. The total retail SAAR in January is expected to reach ... Read More »

U.S. New Auto Sales at Highest Level Since 2006

DETROIT – Sales of new vehicles in the U.S. last year grew by 6 percent to 16,522,000 units, according to AutoData Corp., marking the highest rate since 2006, reported MLive. For the Detroit Three, sales rose for both General Motors, which sold more vehicles in the U.S. than any other automaker in 2014, and for ... Read More »

J.D. Power Projects Highest December SAAR in Eight Years

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — New-vehicle retail sales in December are expected to reach a SAAR of 14.2 million units, the highest level since 2006, according to a monthly sales forecast released by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. J.D. Power projects sales of 1.3 million units for December, which represents a 7% increase on a selling ... Read More »