September 2011

Early strength in September new-vehicle sales holds throughout month

(September 30, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — September may mark the first time that new-vehicle retail sales have remained strong throughout the month since the vigorous selling rate at the beginning of 2011, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which gathers real-time transaction data from more than 8,900 retail franchisees throughout the United States.

Study: Facebook as effective as auto content providers in driving referrals

(September 30, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Social networking site Facebook refers nearly as much new-vehicle buyer traffic to automaker websites as do major independent automotive content providers such as Autotrader.com, Cars.com and Edmunds.com, according to the 2011 Website Performance Tools Report, a collaborative effort between J.D. Power and Associates and Compete Inc.

Edmunds forecasts highest monthly SAAR since April

(September 29, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An estimated 1,038,052 new cars will be sold in September for a projected Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 12.9 million light vehicles, forecasts Edmunds.com. The sales pace marks the highest monthly SAAR since the 13.2 million light vehicles reported in April. That was the last full month before supply disruptions stemming from the Japanese earthquake had a true impact on sales.

Ten tips for first-time car buyers from Kelley Blue Book

(September 29, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com today offers 10 Tips for First-Time Car Buyers, including what, how and where to buy.

Buying a car for the first time is a celebratory moment in anyone's life, regardless of age, and the site's expert editors offers their 'best kept secrets' to ease the trip to the dealer with these easy-to-remember pointers.

NADAguides discovers some used car prices exceed the new car price

(September 29, 2011) COSTA MESA, Calif. — NADAguides has discovered that more than 100 2011-model-year used vehicles are carrying a higher manufacturers suggested retail price than the comparable new models.

Some models were found to be valued at a whopping 39 percent more than the original MSRP price.

Study finds SUVs and pickups pose far less risk in crashes with cars

(September 28, 2011) ARLINGTON, Va. — Today's SUVs and pickups pose far less risk to people in cars and minivans than previous generations, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Until recently, SUVs and pickups were more likely than cars or minivans of the same weight to be involved in crashes that killed occupants of other cars or minivans. That's no longer the case for SUVs, and for pickups the higher risk is much less pronounced than it had been.

What recession? Predicted September sales will push SAAR to 13.1 million

(September 27, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar.com today said in its September 2011 sales and incentives forecast that light vehicle sales in the U.S. will push the Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (SAAR) to 13.1 million, a big jump from the 12.1 million last month. The forecast shows the following:

Auto Nation CEO predicts continued auto growth

(September 26, 2011) DENVER — Continuing their tour of the country Auto Nation CEO Mike Jackson and Auto Nation President Mike Maroone have taken their insider slideshow to company owned dealerships and employees in Colorado.

The program that has been repeated in several regions over several months focuses on the $500 million dollar investment that Auto Nation is making in building and renovation of dealerships, a three year program started in 2010, stretching across the nation.

A game of numbers

(September 22, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Atlanta is the hottest U.S. market for new car buyers, reports Edmunds.com.  An Edmunds.com analysis of automotive registration data reveals that new retail car registrations in the Atlanta metropolitan area were 24 percent higher in the first half of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.

The caveat is that if you sold only one car last year and two cars this year your year over year change would be 100 percent. Although all of the markets in the Edmunds’ analysis are in the top 50 they are not necessarily the markets producing the best sales numbers in regard to total new car volume. 

NADAguides recommends nine models as 'best buys'

(September 22, 2011) NADAguides has recommended nine models in its Quarterly Car Buyers Market Report as current "best buys."

Based on an in-depth analysis of depreciation value, current incentives and rebates, warranty, assistance services and features, the analysts at NADAguides announce the following vehicles as Top Recommended Current Buys: