It’s not only the new vehicle market that’s showing signs of revival in February – used vehicle sales are up as well, with more than 1.8 million units changing owners.
This healthy sales trend comes during February, traditionally the slowest month in the previously owned trade.The latest data from CNW Research show that year-over-year sales of used vehicles were up 12%.
During 2010 almost 37 million used vehicles changed owners – roughly four times the rate of new vehicle sales in the sluggish U.S. economy, and this was without any help from government incentives. How this secondary market sorts out this year remains to be seen, but trade-in values are rising because of the demand, which also helps the new car market. Chart follows:
| February 2011 Used Vehicle Sales by – CNW Research |
| |
Total |
% Year |
Dealers |
Indep. |
Casual |
| Jan 10 |
1,887,089 |
5.1 |
658,594 |
668,030 |
560,465 |
| Feb |
1,612,382 |
4.4 |
584,972 |
561,431 |
465,978 |
| Mar |
2,394,721 |
6.5 |
859,944 |
842,463 |
692,314 |
| April |
3,286,712 |
8.9 |
1,193,076 |
1,133,916 |
959,720 |
| May |
4,186,861 |
11.4 |
1,461,633 |
1,558,768 |
1,166,459 |
| June |
4,623,459 |
12.5 |
1,575,467 |
1,701,317 |
1,346,675 |
| July |
3,962,875 |
10.7 |
1,414,893 |
1,492,225 |
1,055,757 |
| Aug |
3,942,136 |
10.7 |
1,354,150 |
1,415,337 |
1,172,649 |
| Sept |
3,086,412 |
8.4 |
1,067,425 |
1,118,378 |
900,609 |
| Oct |
2,593,623 |
7.0 |
891,773 |
877,081 |
824,772 |
| Nov |
2,501,348 |
6.8 |
836,701 |
796,679 |
867,968 |
| Dec |
2,806,369 |
7.6 |
917,842 |
844,525 |
1,044,002 |
| 2010 |
36,883,987 |
100 |
12,816,470 |
13,010,150 |
11,05,369 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jan 11 |
2,006,423 |
|
706,060 |
716,895 |
583,468 |
| Feb |
1,802,429 |
|
619,214 |
668,276 |
514,938 |
| v Feb 10 |
11.79% |
|
5.85% |
19.03% |
10.51% |
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.
