February New-Vehicle Sales Forecast Sunny
Early figures put volume up 1.4%, SAAR also up on higher inventory, incentives.
Retail sales alone are also forecast to increase this month to more than 981,000 units, up about 4%.
IMAGE: Pexels/Torsten Dettlaff
February new-vehicle sales are expected to rise over year-earlier numbers, according to a J.D. Power/GlobalData forecast.
It said combined retail and nonretail sales should be up 1.4% year-over-year to 1.2 million units.
This February has one more selling day than last February due to this year being a leap year.
The report put the seasonally adjusted annual rate, or SAAR, at 15.4 million units, up 0.4 million year-over-year.
Retail sales alone are also forecast to increase this month to more than 981,000 units, up about 4%.
J.D. Power said the sales surge is happening due to revived inventory and manufacturer incentives and lowered retailer profit margin. But even with those shifts, “retail customers will still spend more on new vehicles this month than in any other February on record,” said its data and analytics division president, Thomas King.
Retailer profit per unit, is forecast to fall 31% year-over-year to $2,574, according to the forecast.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry
Gem State Stores Change Hands
A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.
Read More →
Charging In Motion
Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.
Read More →
Twin Cities Stores Sell
Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.
Read More →
U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels
Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.
Read More →
The Powertrain Shift
Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.
Read More →
Achromatic Autos
The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens
Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.
Read More →
First-Half Dealership Deals Up
Buy-sell activity shows that acquirers are looking for value and scale as many retailers seek to leave an increasingly competitive and complex market, Kerrigan Advisors reports.
Read More →
Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →