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November 23, 2011
Million-Unit November Should Lift U.S. SAAR to Post-Clunker High
A WardsAuto forecast calls for U.S. auto makers to sell 1 million light-vehicles over the 25 selling days in November, a 10.5 percent increase in daily sales over year-ago (24 days) and a 2.2 percent uptick from October (25 days). At 1 million units or better, the industry would achieve a SAAR of 13.7 million or more, which would be the highest non-Clunker rate since June 2008. The industry seemed poised to hit that mark last month, but fell below expectations with a SAAR of 13.2 million units. However, the annual year-end selling season kicks off at the end of this month, and auto makers eager to boost relatively low 2011 sales totals could throw themselves into the incentive-giving season with more gusto than last year. More available inventory for Toyota and Honda should boost car sales in general for both auto makers. Detroit auto makers are the month’s biggest wildcard. All three likely will sell a large number of trucks and cars to fleets before January and the distribution of those sales over the next two months could swing the November and December SAARs significantly. For more from Wards on November sales, click here.
10 Most Fuel-Efficient Non-Plug-In Cars
CNN has compiled a list of the hybrid and traditional gas powered cars that use the least fuel for the 2012 model year, according to the federal government's fuel economy ratings. Plug-in cars like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet Volt are even more "fuel-efficient," according to the government's rating system. But for those who aren't ready to make the leap from the pump to the plug, these are the efficiency champs. Sorry, diesel fans, but no diesel cars made this list. Their combined fuel economy – city and highway – wasn't as good as that of the hybrid cars that dominate these rankings. First up, and no surprise to anyone, is the Toyota Prius. The iconic hybrid, which accounts for half of all hybrid car sales, remains the stingiest car you can buy without a plug. The Honda Civic hybrid takes the number 2 spot, with a base price of $24,050 and impressive 44 City/44 HWY fuel economy. Of the 10 fuel sippers identified by CNN, 9 are international nameplate brands. Click here to see the complete slideshow of fuel efficient cars.
U.S. Drivers Log Fewer Miles on the Road
Americans hit the brakes on driving in September. The Detroit News reports that they logged 3.7 billion fewer miles as driving fell for the seventh straight month in the face of high gas prices. The Federal Highway Administration said Americans have driven 29.8 billion fewer miles in the first nine months of 2011, which remains on pace to be the lowest yearly number of miles driven since 2003. In September, driving fell by 1.5 percent to 244.2 billion miles. The Energy Information Agency says gas prices are still about 50 cents a gallon higher than last year. The average recent price nationwide at the pump was $3.39, compared with $2.85 a year ago. Americans are using 500,000 fewer barrels of oil a day, a sign driving may fall even further. The Energy Information Agency said the four-week average demand for gasoline use is 8.58 million barrels a day. Last year at this time, the four-week average was 9.1 million barrels of oil a week. As Americans log fewer miles, they may hold on to aging vehicles even longer as they drive less. The average age of vehicles on the roads has risen to 10.6 years, the oldest ever. For more on Americans’ driving habits, click here.
Hybrids Safer for Passengers, More Deadly to Pedestrians
A hybrid version of a passenger car is safer than a conventional gas-powered one for occupants, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That’s because a hybrid model typically weights more, says the Institute. For instance, Cars.com reports that a Toyota Highlander Hybrid weighs about 4,500 pounds compared to 4,170 pounds for the gas-powered Highlander. The extra mass gives the weightier vehicle an advantage in a crash because it will push a smaller, lighter car backward on impact, according to IIHS. That means less crash force is inflicted upon the occupants of the heavier vehicle, but more on the lighter one. On average, hybrids weigh 10 percent more than their conventional gasoline counterparts. As a result, hybrid owners are 25 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than people traveling in an identical model but with a conventional gasoline engine. While the advancement is good for occupants, the same can’t be said for pedestrians. Hybrids are nearly 20 percent more likely to injure pedestrians compared to regular models due to the quiet nature of hybrids at low speeds. For more on hybrid safety, click here.
These Luxury Cars Have the Highest Theft Rates
While some of the best-selling cars in the U.S. also top the most frequently stolen list each year because of their sheer numbers, another look at the statistics reveals which cars by percentage sold are the most likely to by targeted by thieves. MSNBC reports that data recently released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that the car most frequently stolen, based on the number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles sold during 2009, was the $92,000 Audi S8 sport/luxury sedan, with 8.81 thefts per 1,000 vehicles produced. That comes out to just two out of the 227 S8s that were sold in the U.S., so it’s hardly a widespread epidemic. Still, NHTSA’s statistics prove the point that the flashiest cars on the road can also be the most popular — for the wrong reasons. The Ford Shelby Mustang GT had the next highest theft rate for 2009, with 8.61 vehicles per 1,000 stolen. Also in the top five were the sportiest variant of BMW’s midsize sedan, the M5 (7.58/1,000), retro-flavored Dodge Charger full-size sedan (6.47/1,000), and the no longer produced Honda S2000 roadster (5.60/1,000). Click here for a slideshow of all the most frequently stolen vehicles.
Integrated Run Lists with Third-Party Vendors Help You Locate the Cars You Need
This tight supply and high demand doesn’t mean it’s not possible to keep your lot stocked with profitable, pre-owned inventory. Here are three quick and easy tips to locate those hard-to-find vehicles. ADESA has joined forces with several used car management services and mobile applications. Access ADESA Run Lists in just seconds, from virtually anywhere. ADESA Run Lists are fast, easy, and reliable. Make your trip to the auction more efficient by reviewing run lists before you go to the sale. Find vehicles using make, model, body style and more. Locate auction sites and types. Even see the number of vehicles being auctioned. ADESA’s partnerships allow you to locate, purchase, and track inventory as well as manage the overall sales process. Click here to see a few of our alliance partners. Each of these companies offers a unique service that allows you to access ADESA Run Lists and locate hard-to-find vehicles immediately through their various applications. Click here to learn more about AIADA Affinity Partner, ADESA, or visit www.ADESA.com.
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