SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com, the premier resource for car shopping and automotive information, sees reason for the automotive industry to be optimistic about car sales for the rest of the year, and is raising its 2013 light vehicle sales forecast to 15.5 million. The industry hasn’t achieved that level of annual sales since 2007.
“Car shoppers seem unfazed by fiscal issues in the news,” commented Edmunds.com Chief Economist Lacey Plache, PhD. “Even though consumer confidence has been up and down so far this year, there are ‘wealth effects’ that are making Americans feel comfortable finally buying the new cars they’ve been waiting for.”
Dr. Plache explains that many people are feeling wealthier thanks to rising home prices and the strong stock market. Many have refinanced their home mortgages, which Edmunds.com estimates on an average mortgage could save a homeowner $210 per month and make room in the budget for a new car payment.
The improving labor market has put additional cash in some buyers’ pockets. And credit has been loosening more and more since the recovery began, which is key to car sales.
The fiscal cliff, the sequester and financial news from overseas have not had any noticeable impact on car shopping trends in 2013, according to Dr. Plache. But, she cautions that any drama at home or abroad that rocks the stock market or dominates news headlines could deter some car shoppers.
Looking ahead, the industry still has an ace up its sleeve: More car leases are set to expire in the second half of this year than the comparable period last year, which means that a number of car shoppers will be in market then regardless of state of the economy. That is likely to give the industry a solid year-over-year increase even when taking into account the strong 2012 finish.
“Sales per driver and vehicles per driver will remain below pre-recession levels even with 2013 sales of 15.5 million cars, so there is room for even more improvement in 2014 and beyond,” notes Dr. Plache. “Automakers and car dealers with the right products and branding messages are looking at a great growth opportunity.”
About Edmunds.com, Inc.
Edmunds.com is a car-shopping Web site committed to helping people find the car that meets their every need. Almost 18 million visitors use our research, shopping and buying tools every month to make an easy and informed decision on their next new or used car. Whether you’re at the dealership or on the go, we’re always by your side with our five-star Edmunds.com iPhone and iPad apps and our Edmunds.com Android App. Our comprehensive car reviews, shopping tips, photos, videos and feature stories offer a friendly and authentic approach to the automotive world. We’re based in Santa Monica, Calif., but you can connect with us from anywhere by following @Edmunds on Twitter or by becoming a fan of Edmunds.com on Facebook.
More details on Edmunds.com’s revised 2013 auto sales forecast can be found here>>
