Auto experts see annual new-car sales below 15 million
By Mark Glover - Sacramento Bee
Santa Monica-based Edmunds.com, the popular automotive information site, is projecting that new-car sales nationwide will drop below 15 million mark this year, a steep decline from 17 million unit sales that were common at the beginning of the decade.
Nationally, U.S. new-car dealers sold about 16.1 million new vehicles in 2007, down from about 16.5 million in 2006.
But a wobbly economy, nervous consumers, real estate/credit crises and high gas prices prompted Edmunds' auto industry experts to revise their 2008 sales projections downward.
"There is still uncertainty in the marketplace, and we have no reason to believe gas prices will decrease in the short term," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds. "Due to these conditions, we've lowered our 2008 sales forecast from 15.5 million units to 14.9 million units."
Edmunds also forecast U.S. new-car sales of 1.2 million units in June, a 16.7 percent decrease from June 2007 and a 13.3 percent decline from May.
Edmunds projected the combined U.S. market share for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors at 45.4 percent this month, down from 51.4 percent in June 2007 but slightly up from 45.3 percent in May this year.
"Some analysts are predicting that Toyota will outsell GM in June. But GM's '72-Hour Zero Percent Financing' sale will probably be enough to keep them on top," said Michelle Krebs, senior editor of Edmunds' AutoObserver.com.
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This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your car lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com