Automakers could sell more than 17 million new cars and trucks in the U.S. this year, approaching the sales record set in 2000 of 17.4 million, Automotive News is reporting.
Analysts raised their forecasts after a strong July for automakers and new cars that will be reaching showrooms in high-selling segments by the end of the year. Last month was the 18th consecutive month for increasing sales.
Our own Timothy Cain thinks that regardless of the final number, 2015 will be a very, very, very good year for automakers.
Cain writes:
It’s been 18 months since monthly auto sales volume last decreased. That decrease, mind you, was brought about by a slight decline in the lowest-volume month of the year, January. In other words, growth in America’s auto industry is notable both for its rapidity and its consistency. It’s that consistency that makes it hard to believe the current pace won’t continue. Regardless of the outright volume attained by manufacturers competing in the U.S., 2015 will undoubtedly be better than 2014. Already, through just seven months, an additional 434,000 new vehicles have been sold compared with the same period one year ago.
Spurred by cheap gas prices, trucks are pacing the overall market as the fastest-selling segment in the U.S. this year. Sales of trucks grew 13 percent this year.
Automakers such as Honda and Chevrolet will introduce newer versions of their Accord and Malibu respectively in the coming months, and that should further stoke car sales, Automotive News points out.
The Wall Street Journal notes that while new car purchases are happening more frequently, and at higher prices, used car prices are finally starting to dip, which may be a relief to low-cost and entry buyers.
Won’t be me-
Won’t be me-ee-ee
I ain’t no profligate son– son, son
Haha, indeed.
I’d already purchased a new car this year, but I supplemented that with a 2011 BMW X5 (that came with a reeeeeeeally long warranty) this past Saturday. I thought it to be a very good deal.
As far as mid-sized sedans go, I think MY2016 should be a refresh year for the Fusion as well. It’s getting to be a bit stale, least of which is because it doesn’t have a string of LED lights (or even available HID bulbs) with which to decorate its front fascia. Also, I’m hoping they can redesign the rear fascia to look a bit less alien-like. And the Passat *really* needs a refresh, especially if it’s going to remain through MY2018 or so…
Passat’s MY2016 introduction is delayed until late October. It’ll be a very heavy refresh, similar to what VW did with the MKVI Golf. New sheetmetal, new front and rear, and most notably, completely revised interior. My guess is that it will come close to matching the interior look of the Euro Passat and add options like HIDs that are currently lacking.
That’s good. In addition to all-new sheetmetal, the Mk.6 Golf actually had some structural improvements as well. As far as HIDs, also good. The Passat is actually the only mid-sized sedan not even available with projector-beam headlamps (save for the outgoing Malibu LS).
Nice pair you have there!
Doing my part to help set the record, my new car pickup is a week from Friday. Finally!
We use more Oil than China and India combined! I am glad we are selling more vehicles, I also want to continue improving efficiency and sustainable resources!
You do realize I hope that your sentiments are not shared by Indians or Chinese and they waaay outnumber & outbreed us.
Maybe barking wrong tree, Sahib?
Greetings Professor Falken. Would you like to play a game?
Thanks, but I’d rather just spectate. Very remotely.
How about Global Thermonuclear War?
A sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ. Tʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀʏ. Hᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ɴɪᴄᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴄʜᴇss?
Dr. Z, what the heck is up with those fonts?
Was that a copy/paste from some ancient web page?
Uɴɪᴄᴏᴅᴇ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴄᴀᴘs. Sᴇᴇ ʜᴛᴛᴘ://ғsʏᴍʙᴏʟs.ᴄᴏᴍ/ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀs/sᴍᴀʟʟᴄᴀᴘs/
Thanks.
Dr. Z just used that font to seize control of every Jeep Cherokee within WiFi range of anyone reading his comment.
ツ
Awesome! Can he remotely flush the row of urinals?
‘Cause, you know.. sometimes those automatic valves stick and it’s pretty warm right by the engine there…. think of the pedestrians!
Only the ones with internet connected urinal cakes.
Haha, if I could hack any new vehicle I’d open up CPython, type >>>ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛ sᴋʏɴᴇᴛ and see what happens.
Actually, I’d more than likely try to recode the assembly line controllers of every factory to allow anyone to order a car with exactly the options they want regardless of package. I’m more of a white hat than a black hat.
AutoNews today also has the second installation of a six part series, “Industry On Trial”, following up on Marchionne’s statement that consolidation is inevitable given the rising costs of car development.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20150810/INDUSTRY_ON_TRIAL/308109987/marchionnes-diagnosis-of-industry-weakness-goes-far-beyond-fca
Hey look at that timeless attractive Lexus just sitting there minding its own business!
They certainly don’t want to make anything like THAT anymore.
Sure doesn’t seem like it. When I am really bored at a long stop light I will entertain myself with counting off the cars that are 10 years or older as they drive by the other direction. This game does have some variance as to what part of town you are in, but either way, there are still a lot of heaps gracing our motorways everyday.
I am not the best on platform codes, but holly smokes there are a lot of 2006 and older Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Escalade still plying the streets.
We’d call those GMT800 SUVs. And yes, they seem to be everywhere regardless of income level.
“Automakers such as Honda and Chevrolet will introduce newer versions of their Accord and Malibu respectively in the coming months, and that should further stoke car sales, Automotive News points out.”
– Don’t think new versions of sedans will stoke sales for too long. with the possibly exception of the new Malibu which addresses the no.1 issue with the outgoing model – cramped interior room.
There might be a temporary bump, but the exodus to crossovers will continue.
“Spurred by cheap gas prices, trucks are pacing the overall market as the fastest-selling segment in the U.S. this year. Sales of trucks grew 13 percent this year.”
I hate how stupid and short-sighted Americans are sometimes.
Because the rest of the planet does such a great job of thinking ahead?
It’s not just Americans. It’s a human failing.
Agree. But on the subject of cars and too big/wasteful – Americans win that one.