June 2012

Good news — New car prices down on average $500 per vehicle

(June 28, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — On average, consumers are paying $500 less for a new vehicle today compared to just one year ago, according to Kelley Blue Book.  Low inventory levels are no longer suppressing new-vehicle sales as supply is meeting demand.

Prices for luxury brand used vehicles to rise in 2012, NADA predicts

(June 28, 2012) McLEAN, Va. — A sharp decline in the supply of luxury brand used cars and light trucks will result in higher prices this year, said Jonathan Banks, senior analyst with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Used Car Guide.

Kelley predicts vehicle sales will remain steady at 13.9 million SAAR

(June 27, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — New-vehicle sales are projected to hit 13.9 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in June 2012, slightly improved from the 13.8 million unit pace posted in May 2012, according to Kelley Blue Book, kbb.com.

Kelley Blue Book's prediction for June SAAR is well below the 14.5 million unit average pace for the first four months of the year. The daily selling rate will fall to 47,000 units per day, which is 8 percent below the four-year high in May and up 16 percent from June 2011.

Edmunds offers list of '15 Used Car Best Bets'

(June 23, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com has released its 15 Used Car Best Bets for 2012. A total of 11 makes are represented on the list, with four makes (Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota) each contributing two models.

Tesla future rides on Model S

(June 22, 2012) Tesla makes the first deliveries today of its highly anticipated Model S electric luxury sedan. Edmunds.com Green Car Analyst John O'Dell says that the base-level models start at a luxury-market level $57,400 (before incentives), but the first deliveries are special, high-end models with pre-incentive price tags of $105,400.

Double-digit year-over-year growth in new-vehicle sales expected in June

(June 22, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — June's new-vehicle retail sales rate is approaching a 12 million-unit pace, the strongest level since February, according to a monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and Associates' Power Information Network (PIN) and LMC Automotive.

Wyoming paid most, Indiana least for car repairs in 2011, study finds

(June 21, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Drivers in Wyoming paid the most in the nation for car repairs at an average cost of $389.18, according to CarMD.com, which analyzed more than 160,000 repairs made on vehicles with "check engine" light problems in 2011.

Initial vehicle quality improves, but in-vehicle technology a challenge

(June 20, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — As the U.S. automotive industry continues to recover, vehicle manufacturers posted the strongest improvement in initial quality since 2009 and are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) released today.

Survey finds high gas prices still hurting small business owners

(June 20, 2012) WASHINGTON — With gas and energy prices hitting highs in the past few months, the self-employed are cutting back their business activity, according to the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). Results from a survey of more than 500 NASE members reveal that 53 percent said the rise in prices has moderately or significantly hurt their business.

Total Car Score Names 'Top 10 Convertible Cars for 2012'

(June 20, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Just in time for the start of summer, Total Car Score has announced its list of the Top Ten Convertible Cars for 2012 and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class drop top garnered the top spot followed by the Infiniti G convertible.

"There is nothing quite like that first drive of summer with the top down. In honor of that tradition, Total Car Score has put together a list showcasing seasonal vehicles that are synonymous with summer fun," said Karl Brauer, editor in chief, founder and CEO of Total Car Score.