The average transaction price for light vehicles in the US was $30,646 in May 2014, down $149 or -0.5% compared to May 2013 and down $1,174 (-3.7%) from April 2014, according to a leading web buying site.
“Industrywide we saw average transaction prices contract slightly in May,” says Larry Dominique, President of ALG and Executive Vice President of TrueCar.
“Conversely, Chrysler and GM were able to command higher prices, while shrinking their incentive spend-to-price ratio. This is a positive brand indicator for the two automakers.”
TrueCar estimated the ratio of incentive to average transaction price for light vehicles was 8.7% in May 2014, up 1.1% from May 2013 and up 7.5% from April 2014. Chrysler, GM and Nissan are down by more than 9% in the incentive to average transaction price ratio for May compared to last year.
In addition, TrueCar estimated that the average incentive for light vehicles was $2,677 in May, up $17 (0.7%) from May 2013 and up $91 (3.5%) from April 2014.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
