(June 2, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The auto industry will continue on a steady pace of recovery, but sales won't return to pre-recession levels before 2016, according to a new five-year forecast of U.S. automotive sales published by Edmunds.com.

Edmunds anticipates new car sales will climb to 15.85 million in 2015, falling short of the benchmark of 16.1 million sales in 2007, the last full year before the U.S. economy fell into a recession. On average, 11.7 million cars have been sold in the U.S. in each of the last three years, and Edmunds predicts 2011 sales will reach 12.9 million.

"In the past six to eight months, an increasing number of signs suggest that economic fundamentals are improving, and these factors are contributing to rising auto sales momentum," said Dr. Lacey Plache, chief economist at Edmunds.com.

"We expect this momentum to continue, but at a moderate pace, given the fundamental steps that are still needed for a full economic recovery. For example, at the current rate of roughly 250,000 jobs added per month, it will take nearly two and a half years to recover the 7 million jobs needed to reach pre-recession employment levels, which do not include jobs needed to accommodate population growth."

In addition to unemployment, Dr. Plache noted that other economic factors are keeping auto sales from recovering as fast as they fell. Those factors include the continuing housing crisis and tighter lending standards. As a result, consumers are holding on to vehicles longer and average vehicle age is increasing.

Just last week, Edmunds.com reported that supply disruptions stemming from the March earthquakes in Japan led to a decline in May 2011 auto sales. But Japanese automakers are reporting accelerated improvements in production, and any effect on U.S. auto sales will not likely linger much past the summer. Still, Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl says that U.S. automakers ave a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost their reputations and cut into their Japanese competitors' market shares.