New-Car Sales To Fall 2 Percent Year-Over-Year; Despite Decline, October Results Strong On Replacement Demand, Increased Incentive Spend, According To Kelley Blue Book

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle sales are expected to decline 2 percent year-over-year to a total of 1.34 million units in October 2017, resulting in an estimated 17.9 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), according to Kelley Blue Book.

"Although the headline shows a small decline in sales, October looks relatively strong for the industry, as evidenced by the nearly 18 million SAAR," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book. "Sales blew past expectations in September toward an 18.5 million SAAR pace, and we expect October to keep up some of that momentum. Some of the strength can be attributed to replacement demand that continues in Texas and Florida, but perhaps more importantly, higher incentive spend is playing a role. Even with production cuts this year, incentives are on the rise and have reached 11 percent of average transaction prices. This is an indicator that new-vehicle demand is still contracting, and production cuts could be on the horizon to prevent oversupplies."

Key Highlights for Estimated October 2017 Sales Forecast:

• In October, new light-vehicle sales, including fleet, are expected to hit 1,340,000 units, down 1.9 percent compared to October 2016 and down 11.8 percent from September 2017.
• The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for October 2017 is estimated to be 17.9 million, up from 17.8 million in October 2016 and down from 18.5 million in September 2017.
• Retail sales are expected to account for 82.7 percent of volume in October 2017, down from 83 percent in October 2016.

After a record year of sales in 2016 and seven consecutive annual increases, Kelley Blue Book's forecast for 2017 calls for sales in the range of 16.9 and 17.2 million units, which represents a 1 to 3 percent decrease from last year.

Volkswagen Group Shows Strength on New SUVs in Lineup;
Fiat Chrysler to Report Largest Declines Among Major Automakers

Once again, manufacturers are likely to report mixed sales day results. Volkswagen Group could report significant growth in October with a projected 12 percent increase. Volkswagen has two new SUVs on the market, the all-new Atlas and the redesigned Tiguan, which should account for most of the brand's growth. These new models will help Volkswagen transition their volume toward SUVs from a lineup that has been traditionally dominated by cars.

On the other hand, Fiat Chrysler could have the largest year-over-year declines with an anticipated 11 percent decrease. While part of the drop is due to fleet and rental reductions, retail sales also look to be down. Although SUVs are still in high demand, Fiat Chrysler's SUVs could be down nearly 10 percent for October 2017. However, we should note that the recently redesigned Jeep Compass should have a very strong month.

Compact SUV to Be Top-Selling Segment; Mid-Size, Small Cars Continue to Lose Out to SUVs for Foreseeable Future

Compact SUV will be the top-selling segment in October 2017, topping 18 percent of the market and growing nearly 10 percent year-over-year. The segment's leader, the Toyota RAV4, will likely have its streak of 40,000-plus monthly sales broken, but should still have significant gains. The Nissan Rogue could have the biggest month of all and increase sales by 60 percent from this time last year. Lastly, Kelley Blue Book expects the redesigned Chevrolet Equinox to have another solid month of growth in the 20 percent range from October 2016.

Mid-size cars will drop again, marking 20 consecutive months of declines for the segment. This segment has lost market share for five straight years, although new generations of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord now reaching dealerships will generate some buzz among some consumers. However, without a major spike in gas prices, mid-size and small cars in general will continue to lose out to SUVs for the foreseeable future.

There are 25 sales days in October 2017 compared to 26 sales days in October 2016.  All percentages are based on raw volume, not daily selling rate.  

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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 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 Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has 32,000-plus team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

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SOURCE Kelley Blue Book