New-Car Sales To Jump 12 Percent In October 2015; Highest October Volume Since 2001, According To Kelley Blue Book

KBB.com Analysts Increase Sales Forecast to 17.4 Million SAAR for 2015; Compact Utility Vehicles Strengthen at Double the Industry's Pace

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle sales are expected to increase nearly 12 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.43 million units in October 2015, resulting in an estimated 17.9 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry.  At 1.43 million units, this will be the highest October sales volume since 2001.

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"Coming off the strongest sales month in a decade in September, sales continue to roll along this month, with double-digit growth expected for the industry in October 2015," said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for Kelley Blue Book.  "Key economic indicators for auto sales are still strong, including jobless claims at a historic low as the national unemployment rate approaches 5 percent, fuel pricing nearing six-year lows and interest rates that remain near zero.  This momentum has pushed Kelley Blue Book's forecast to 17.4 million for 2015, a 5.6 percent year-over-year improvement."

Key Highlights for Estimated October 2015 Sales Forecast:

  • In October, new light-vehicle sales, including fleet, are expected to reach 1,430,000 units, up 11.9 percent from October 2014 and down 0.6 percent from September 2015.
  • The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for October 2015 is estimated to be 17.9 million, up from 16.5 million in October 2014 and down from 18.1 million in September 2015.
  • Retail sales are expected to account for 84.8 percent of volume in October 2015, up from 84 percent in October 2014.

F-Series Volume Pushing Ford to New Levels of Growth; Volkswagen Sales Remain Flat
This month, expect continued growth from Ford Motor Company, with a 16.6 percent increase in new-car sales.  The new F-150 is pushing the overall F-Series volume to new levels of growth this year, while the refreshed Explorer also is driving solid growth for Ford. 

"With most brands experiencing growth this month, Volkswagen Group should report fairly even sales totals in the wake of their diesel emissions issue," said Gutierrez.  "Audi and Porsche will be driving the sales growth for the manufacturer, as the Volkswagen brand posts negative figures, largely due to the stop-sale of its diesel models, which previously made up nearly 20 percent of the brand's sales volume."

 

Sales Volume 1

Market Share 2

Manufacturer

Oct-15

Oct-14

YOY %

Oct-15

Oct-14

YOY %

General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC)

250,000

226,819

10.2%

17.5%

17.8%

-0.3%

Ford Motor Company (Ford, Lincoln)

219,000

187,897

16.6%

15.3%

14.7%

0.6%

Toyota Motor Company (Lexus, Scion, Toyota)

198,000

180,580

9.6%

13.8%

14.1%

-0.3%

Fiat Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Jeep, RAM)

191,000

170,480

12.0%

13.4%

13.3%

0.0%

American Honda (Acura, Honda)

135,000

121,172

11.4%

9.4%

9.5%

0.0%

Nissan North America (Infiniti, Nissan)

120,000

103,117

16.4%

8.4%

8.1%

0.3%

Hyundai-Kia

110,000

94,775

16.1%

7.7%

7.4%

0.3%

Volkswagen Group (Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche)

50,000

49,130

1.8%

3.5%

3.8%

-0.3%

Total 3

1,430,000

1,277,821

11.9%

-

-

-

1 Historical data from OEM sales announcements

           

2 Kelley Blue Book Automotive Insights

           

3 Includes brands not shown

           

Compact Utility Segment Strengthens at Double the Industry's Pace; Small, Mid-Size Cars Continue to Fall
For the third month in a row, compact utility vehicles will be the top segment with expected growth of nearly 40 percent.  This segment has seen five new models enter the segment in the past year, which has resulted in more than 20,000 units sold per month.  Still, the rest of the segment continues to strengthen at double the rest of the industry's pace. 

With low fuel prices and exploding popularity of small utilities, small and mid-size cars will continue to lose market share in October.  These are already two of the most competitive segments in the market, and year-to-date sales in both segments have declined.  While Kelley Blue Book expects an increase in volume in October, due to strong overall sales momentum in the automotive industry, market share will drop by more than a full percentage point for these car segments. 

 

Sales Volume 1

Market Share

Segment

Oct-15

Oct-14

YOY %

Oct-15

Oct-14

YOY %

Compact SUV/Crossover

215,000

155,569

38.2%

15.0%

12.2%

2.9%

Full-Size Pickup Truck

196,000

179,290

9.3%

13.7%

14.0%

-0.3%

Mid-Size Car

192,000

174,262

10.2%

13.4%

13.6%

-0.2%

Compact Car

180,000

173,905

3.5%

12.6%

13.6%

-1.0%

Mid-Size SUV/Crossover

168,000

141,209

19.0%

11.7%

11.1%

0.7%

Total 2

1,430,000

1,277,821

11.9%

-

-

-

1 Kelley Blue Book Automotive Insights

           

2 Includes segments not shown

           

There are 28 sales days in October 2015, compared to 27 sales days in October 2014.  All percentages are based on raw volume, not daily selling rate. 

To discuss this topic, or any other automotive-related information, with a Kelley Blue Book analyst on-camera via the company's on-site studio, please contact a member of the Public Relations team to book an interview.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and get updates on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week.  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's KBB.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend® study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year for four consecutive years.  Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive company.

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SOURCE Kelley Blue Book

For further information: Chintan Talati, 949-267-4855, chintan.talati@kbb.com; Joanna Pinkham, 404-568-7135, joanna.pinkham@kbb.com; Brenna Robinson, 949-267-4781, brenna.robinson@kbb.com; Michelle Behar, 949-268-4259, michelle.behar@kbb.com
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