Average New-Vehicle Prices Rise More Than $2,000 from Last Year, Hitting All-Time Record High for May, According to Kelley Blue Book

IRVINE, Calif., June 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The estimated average transaction price for a light vehicle in the United States was $41,263 in May 2021, according to the analysts at Kelley Blue Book. New-vehicle prices increased $2,125 (up 5.4%) from May 2020, while increasing $493 (up 1.2%) from April 2021.   

"Last month's average transaction price performance highlights an all-time high in year-over-year growth for the month of May," said Kayla Reynolds, industry intelligence analyst at Cox Automotive. "Many manufacturers reported year-over-year gains in average transaction prices. The largest increase came from Mitsubishi, up 12% from this time last year."

Manufacturer

May

2021

Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

April

2021

Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

May

2020
Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

Percent
Change

April 2021 to

May 2021*

Percent
Change
May

2020 to
May 2021*

American Honda (Acura, Honda)

$32,564

$32,062

$29,412

1.60%

10.70%

BMW Group

$58,062

$57,747

$57,243

0.50%

1.40%

Daimler

$65,396

$64,893

$61,600

0.80%

6.20%

Stellantis (Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Ram)

$48,093

$46,888

$43,191

2.60%

11.30%

Ford Motor Company (Ford, Lincoln)

$45,802

$47,031

$45,508

-2.60%

0.60%

General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC)

$48,544

$46,801

$43,784

3.70%

10.90%

Hyundai Kia

$31,118

$30,755

$29,040

1.20%

7.20%

Mazda

$30,914

$30,565

$29,656

1.10%

4.20%

Mitsubishi

$25,221

$23,873

$22,525

5.60%

12.00%

Nissan North America (Nissan, INFINITI)

$32,554

$31,320

$32,680

3.90%

-0.40%

Subaru

$33,525

$32,467

$31,131

3.30%

7.70%

Tesla Motors

$52,560

$50,705

$57,617

3.70%

-8.80%

Toyota Motor Company (Lexus, Toyota)

$37,267

$36,349

$35,519

2.50%

4.90%

Volkswagen Group (Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche)

$46,356

$45,598

$44,096

1.70%

5.10%

Volvo North America

$52,148

$50,691

$48,291

2.90%

8.00%

Industry

$41,263

$40,770

$39,138

1.21%

5.43%

*Kelley Blue Book average transaction prices do not include applied consumer incentives

As one of the most affordable manufacturers with the lowest average transaction price in May Mitsubishi reported recovery within the retail space moving into the second quarter of the year. A majority of the models within the Mitsubishi lineup experienced year-over-year average transaction price increases in May 2021. The latest Outlander and Outlander PHEV are Mitsubishi's highest-priced vehicles, with MSRPs starting at $25,795 for the 2022 Outlander and $36,295 for the 2021 Outlander PHEV. Overall, the Outlander model line saw sales more than double for May 2021 when compared to May 2020. The inclusion of the PHEV trim level within the model lineup aided sales and pricing gains.

Despite the large gap in average transaction prices for luxury and non-luxury segments in May 2021, non-luxury vehicles had a larger year-over-year price increase at 4.9% (up $1,805), while luxury vehicles climbed 2.9%, or $1,597, from this time last year. Standard full-size SUVs and pickup trucks contributed to the growth among non-luxury segments. The third and fourth highest-priced models within the segment include the GMC Yukon XL ($79,695) and Yukon ($77,031), both priced substantially above the industry and segment average.

Segment

May

2021

Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

April

2021

Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

May

2020
Transaction
Price
(Avg.)*

Percent
Change

April 2021
to

May 2021*

Percent
Change May

2020 to
May 2021*

Compact Car

$23,403

$22,796

$22,395

2.70%

4.50%

Compact SUV/Crossover

$31,580

$31,034

$30,148

1.80%

4.70%

Electric Vehicle

$52,486

$51,518

$58,863

1.90%

-10.80%

Entry-level Luxury Car

$47,548

$47,426

$44,707

0.30%

6.40%

Full-size Car

$40,774

$39,898

$38,315

2.20%

6.40%

Full-size Pickup Truck

$56,200

$55,727

$52,274

0.80%

7.50%

Full-size SUV/Crossover

$68,970

$68,386

$62,647

0.90%

10.10%

High Performance Car

$95,797

$94,826

$110,326

1.00%

-13.20%

High-end Luxury Car

$105,124

$101,362

$102,912

3.70%

2.10%

Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car

$30,875

$30,159

$28,230

2.40%

9.40%

Luxury Car

$68,746

$68,244

$63,147

0.70%

8.90%

Luxury Compact SUV/Crossover

$48,111

$47,762

$46,305

0.70%

3.90%

Luxury Full-size SUV/Crossover

$98,209

$97,845

$88,950

0.40%

10.40%

Luxury Mid-size SUV/Crossover

$65,024

$63,265

$61,073

2.80%

6.50%

Luxury Subcompact SUV/Crossover

$42,064

$40,686

$39,176

3.40%

7.40%

Mid-size Car

$29,513

$28,769

$27,198

2.60%

8.50%

Mid-size Pickup Truck

$40,291

$39,244

$37,370

2.70%

7.80%

Mid-size SUV/Crossover

$43,095

$42,290

$40,535

1.90%

6.30%

Minivan

$42,105

$41,142

$36,471

2.30%

15.40%

Sports Car

$42,173

$41,667

$39,248

1.20%

7.50%

Subcompact Car

$20,004

$19,295

$18,592

3.70%

7.60%

Subcompact SUV/Crossover

$27,351

$27,018

$25,280

1.20%

8.20%

Van

$41,802

$41,408

$40,371

1.00%

3.50%

Industry

$41,263

$40,770

$39,138

1.21%

5.43%

*Kelley Blue Book average transaction prices do not include applied consumer incentives

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About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using vehicles easier for everyone. The global company's more than 27,000 team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Dickinson Fleet Services, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of nearly $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

 

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book

For further information: Brenna Buehler, 949-473-6595, brenna.buehler@coxautoinc.com
Key Contacts

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Lisa Aloisio
404.725.0651
lisa.aloisio@coxautoinc.com

Sr. Public Relations Manager
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949.473.6595
brenna.buehler@coxautoinc.com

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