WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle retail sales are expected to increase moderately to 13.2 million cars and light trucks in 2007 -- up from 13.0 million in 2006 -- according to J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting.
Retail transaction data is collected by the Power Information Network (PIN), a division of J.D. Power and Associates. Retail transaction data -- which does not include fleet sales -- is a precise reflection of consumer demand for new vehicles.
New-vehicle retail sales represented 78.8 percent of the total light-vehicle market in 2006 and are expected to increase to approximately 80 percent in 2007. While retail sales are increasing, total sales -- which include fleet sales -- are forecasted to drop by approximately 90,000 units to 16.5 million in 2007.
"We're seeing a gradually recovering retail market, one that's returning to pre-2005 levels," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of J.D. Power and Associates Automotive Forecasting. "The fleet market is going through a correction as automakers pull back on fleet sales, and that's causing a dip in the total market."
Retail sales comprised nearly 85 percent of total U.S. light-vehicle sales between 2002 and 2004, but dipped dramatically to 77.7 percent in 2005 as fleet sales increased. Schuster notes that incentives carried the retail market between 2002 and 2004, and the retail market dropped dramatically when automakers began to decrease the dependency on incentives in 2005.
"Retail sales are returning to a healthy range, benefiting from an increase in new product in the car and crossover segments," said Schuster. "It's encouraging that the retail market as a whole is standing more on its own without major price reductions or the massive rebates we saw post 9/11."
According to the Power Information Network (PIN), a division of J.D. Power and Associates, the average actual new-vehicle retail transaction price -- which is the final vehicle price paid minus any customer cash rebates -- has increased from $25,920 in 2004 to $26,881 in 2006, and customer cash rebates have decreased from $2,973 to $2,371 over the same period.
About Power Information Network (PIN)
PIN's automotive solutions are based on the collection and analysis of daily new- and used-vehicle retail transaction information from more than 10,000 automotive dealership franchises in North America. PIN's industry-leading automotive solutions incorporate consumer demand and sales information to improve business for automotive dealers, manufacturers, lenders, and other companies in the industry. Additional information is available at www.powerinfonet.com
About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.
Media Relations Contacts:
John Tews Jeff Perlman
J.D. Power and Associates J.D. Power and Associates
Troy, Mich. Westlake Village, Calif.
(248) 312-4119 (805) 418-8976 / cell: (818) 317-3070
john.tews@jdpa.com
jeff.perlman@jdpa.com
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050527/LAF028LOGO-a
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com