March 2017 Sales Thread
03-31-17, 05:21 AM
#1
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
March 2017 Sales Thread
http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...0-analysts-say
Discounts to drive U.S. sales to best March since 2000, analysts say
March 30, 2017 @ 1:30 pm
U.S. new-vehicle sales are on pace for the strongest March since 2000, with fast-rising incentives expected to help the industry post its 1st year-over-year increase of 2017.
Sales are projected to rise 3 percent, according to a forecast from Kelley Blue Book. Edmunds projects a 2.1 percent increase, and LMC Automotive estimates a 1.6 percent gain, while ALG is calling for only a 0.2 percent increase. The forecasts translate to an annualized sales rate of 16.9 million to 17.4 million, up from 16.66 million a year ago.
Analysts say they are seeing signs that the market is beginning to erode, even as automakers dangle more generous cash-back and lease deals to keep showrooms busy.
“Despite considerably higher discounts and incentives, first quarter sales totals will likely only finish flat versus last year, a signal of weakening consumer demand for new vehicles,” Tim Fleming, a KBB analyst, said in a statement. “As sales cool after years of robust growth, adjusting production accordingly and managing supply, especially in car segments, should be top priorities for automakers.”
Automakers are scheduled to report March sales on Monday.March is the ninth consecutive month in which new-vehicle incentives average at least 10 percent of the sticker price, according to J.D. Power, which provides the data for LMC’s forecast. ALG data show that incentive spending climbed 13 percent from a year ago, to $3,511, with the biggest jumps, percentagewise, occurring at Subaru, American Honda, General Motors and Nissan North America. BMW is the only 1 of the 12 largest automakers whose incentives declined from March 2016.
“If you only look at the sales numbers, it could be tempting to say that the industry is just as strong as it was a year ago,” Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of industry analysis, said in a statement Wednesday. “But there are several areas of concern this year lurking just below the surface. Inventories have reached levels not seen in more than a decade, and incentives are rising. We’re also seeing an increase in loan duration and indications of an increase in subprime lending, both of which demonstrate sales aren’t coming as easily as they used to.”
A report from Wells Fargo last week said retail demand appears to be “losing steam.”But LMC said it is maintaining its full-year forecast for 2017 of 17.6 million sales, which would be 0.3 percent more than the record 17.54 million sold last year. It said there is considerable uncertainty about policies Congress or the Trump administration will enact, such as a controversial tax on imported parts and vehicles that could raise prices and reduce demand by as much as 2 million vehicles.
GM is expected to gain nearly 1 point of market share, according to the KBB and ALG forecasts. Subaru, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen Group of America also are projected to post above-average sales increases.
Ford Motor Co. is forecast to post the biggest market share decline, though KBB said that would be the result of reduced fleet deliveries overshadowing a smaller increase in retail volume. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Hyundai-Kia are expected to lose share as well.
KBB said SUVs and crossovers continue to pull customers away from traditional sedans, with midsize car sales falling 17 percent and midsize utilities rising 17 percent in March.
Analysts are seeing more signs that the U.S. new-vehicle market is beginning to erode, even as automakers dangle more generous cash-back and lease deals to keep showrooms busy. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPSSend us a Letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.U.S. new-vehicle sales are on pace for the strongest March since 2000, with fast-rising incentives expected to help the industry post its 1st year-over-year increase of 2017.
Sales are projected to rise 3 percent, according to a forecast from Kelley Blue Book. Edmunds projects a 2.1 percent increase, and LMC Automotive estimates a 1.6 percent gain, while ALG is calling for only a 0.2 percent increase. The forecasts translate to an annualized sales rate of 16.9 million to 17.4 million, up from 16.66 million a year ago.
Analysts say they are seeing signs that the market is beginning to erode, even as automakers dangle more generous cash-back and lease deals to keep showrooms busy.
“Despite considerably higher discounts and incentives, first quarter sales totals will likely only finish flat versus last year, a signal of weakening consumer demand for new vehicles,” Tim Fleming, a KBB analyst, said in a statement. “As sales cool after years of robust growth, adjusting production accordingly and managing supply, especially in car segments, should be top priorities for automakers.”
Automakers are scheduled to report March sales on Monday.March is the ninth consecutive month in which new-vehicle incentives average at least 10 percent of the sticker price, according to J.D. Power, which provides the data for LMC’s forecast. ALG data show that incentive spending climbed 13 percent from a year ago, to $3,511, with the biggest jumps, percentagewise, occurring at Subaru, American Honda, General Motors and Nissan North America. BMW is the only 1 of the 12 largest automakers whose incentives declined from March 2016.
“If you only look at the sales numbers, it could be tempting to say that the industry is just as strong as it was a year ago,” Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of industry analysis, said in a statement Wednesday. “But there are several areas of concern this year lurking just below the surface. Inventories have reached levels not seen in more than a decade, and incentives are rising. We’re also seeing an increase in loan duration and indications of an increase in subprime lending, both of which demonstrate sales aren’t coming as easily as they used to.”
A report from Wells Fargo last week said retail demand appears to be “losing steam.”But LMC said it is maintaining its full-year forecast for 2017 of 17.6 million sales, which would be 0.3 percent more than the record 17.54 million sold last year. It said there is considerable uncertainty about policies Congress or the Trump administration will enact, such as a controversial tax on imported parts and vehicles that could raise prices and reduce demand by as much as 2 million vehicles.
GM is expected to gain nearly 1 point of market share, according to the KBB and ALG forecasts. Subaru, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen Group of America also are projected to post above-average sales increases.
Ford Motor Co. is forecast to post the biggest market share decline, though KBB said that would be the result of reduced fleet deliveries overshadowing a smaller increase in retail volume. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Hyundai-Kia are expected to lose share as well.
KBB said SUVs and crossovers continue to pull customers away from traditional sedans, with midsize car sales falling 17 percent and midsize utilities rising 17 percent in March.
04-03-17, 04:45 AM
#2
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Nissan
http://www.autonews.com/article/20170403/RETAIL01/304039932/how-nissan-got-to-10
How Nissan got to 10%
To boost its market share, the automaker had to reboot product, sales, distribution
April 3, 2017 @ 12:01 am
That, says the automaker's chief U.S. sales executive, has been the real point of the audacious 6-year goal of lifting its U.S. market share to 10 percent by March 31, 2017 -- an increase of more than three points from the moment the plan was announced in June 2011.
"We had to grow the entire organization to be capable of selling that many cars and trucks," says Christian Meunier, senior vice president for Nissan sales, marketing and operations. "It required changes all through the company, in how we operate, in how we distribute, how our dealers perform and how we manage.
"It made us ask, "How do we get there?' You have to put in place an organization that makes it possible."
For the record, Nissan North America indeed reached a 10.2 percent market share as of Feb. 28, 2017, although market shares ebb and flow from month to month. The industry's March results, due out this week, traditionally come in a spot lower for Nissan. Early April will reveal whether Nissan has precisely hit that bold 2011 target.
It has been a workout.
Like a determined 50-year-old training for a marathon, Nissan has felt the burn. The mission has sometimes harried company managers, discombobulated retailers who recoiled from factory pressure to move the metal, and even provoked scorn from competitors and industry analysts who criticized the push as a sure path to diminished brand value.
Now, regardless of whether Nissan's March results hit the 10 percent mark, the company's U.S. management is putting the exercise into perspective.
"We've really transformed ourselves in the process," Meunier told Automotive News just ahead of the March close.
Meunier, a Frenchman who took over U.S. sales in early 2016 after lifting Nissan's market share in Canada, said the transformation required more compelling products, more employees in the field, a more concerted effort to make customers happy and keep them happy, and a more sophisticated approach to how Nissan researches, forecasts and plans for its local markets.
Sentras to L.A.
"It takes a lot of different things to make this happen," says Rinaldi Halim, executive manager of Downey Nissan near Los Angeles. "The competition hasn't just laid down and let it happen. We've really had to get better at what we're doing."
Halim is seeing the effort firsthand. Los Angeles has been a key battleground for Nissan's market share campaign, hotly contested sale for sale by its chief rivals, Toyota and Honda, which are powerfully entrenched with strong dealer networks there.
Los Angeles offers a glimpse of how Nissan has tried to get smarter.
The market traditionally was weighted toward compact sedan sales, and in years past Nissan focused its fight there on pushing Sentra sales.
But that put the brand at a disadvantage. In 2011, the Sentra -- at one long-ago time the biggest-selling import nameplate in the U.S. industry -- was getting outsold 2 to 1 by the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. An earlier strategy to make the Sentra stand out in the market with an edgier design had fallen flat, and Nissan's local share was suffering for it. At the end of 2012, a year and a half into the national market share drive, the Nissan brand share of Los Angeles new-vehicle registrations stood at just 6.9 percent, according to IHS Markit.
Nissan planners took the Sentra back to the drawing board and in late 2012 unveiled a new generation that was a little roomier and more fuel efficient, with more content and a more dignified look that linked it to the more expensive Altima and Maxima.
That redesign got Sentra back in the game, and today it sells nearly twice the number of Sentras it sold in 2011. Nissan also lavished attention on the design of the current Altima, to similar results. Once an also-ran in the midsize sedan segment, the Altima gained enough popularity after 2012 to sporadically outsell the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
As it rolled out more attractive sedans, Nissan also stepped up its marketing to Hispanic consumers, a large part of Downey Nissan's customer base. The automaker diverted ad dollars to market models other than the Sentra there. It also became more aggressive with lease programs, which Halim says is critical in Los Angeles.
"We can look beyond the Sentra to sell Maximas and Muranos for $40,000, but my customers need to lease them," he says. "Nissan has responded."
The efforts are yielding market share results. The Nissan brand closed 2016 with a 7.7 percent share of L.A. registrations. This week, Halim's dealership will move to a newly constructed store down the street that triples its current outgrown 2½-acre operation.
"It's time for us to step up and make a nicer appearance for our customers," Halim says. "People expect more from us now."
Meunier sums up the company's marketing attitude toward L.A. this way: "If all we're doing there is advertising peanut butter Sentra on TV all year, we're never going to grow and we're doing a disservice to our local dealers."
Another evolution occurred when Nissan North America Chairman Jose Munoz concluded that Nissan's individual field regions needed to have more decision-making authority if the company expected to read the local market better.
"If everything is decided here in Nashville for San Francisco and Little Rock, it's not always going to be the right decision," Meunier admits. "The regional vice president has more information about his region than we do here."
Munoz increased the number of regions from five to eight to let field staffs devote more time to individual territories. That move, urged on Munoz by the Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board, addressed a long simmering frustration among many dealers that they did not have enough access to factory reps to sort out problems.
The field expansion required Nissan to hire about 10 percent more sales and marketing personnel to staff the new sales and service regions, and meant decentralizing the company's decision-making roles. Munoz began empowering the regions to decide for themselves which vehicles they wanted at dealerships, what their ad budgets should be, and how to advertise and incentivize locally.
"We want to put a lot more power into each region," Meunier says. "And that means also increasing the knowledge at the regional level."
Nissan had to step up its training efforts for regional employees and managers to duplicate many of the skill sets of the home office, giving regional staffs the tools and know-how to monitor the market, forecast sales trends, analyze production plans and correctly fill inventories. Nissan created a headquarters position to focus on regional staffing and training needs.
Meunier, who meets twice a month with each regional staff, says it is an ongoing evolution.
"You can't decentralize too quickly or you'll have anarchy," he says. "But we can see the results now. The regions are deciding what products to sell and how to advertise them and what to incentivize."
That matters, Meunier emphasizes. The Phoenix market illustrates why.Before the shift to regional management, Nissan's field organization considered Phoenix to be similar to the other cities in its Mountain region, and as a result distribution and marketing plans were aligned.
"Denver is part of the same region," Meunier points out. "But Denver and Phoenix are not at all similar in their buying habits. Denver is a big 4x4 market. It's mountainous and snowy. But Phoenix? You don't really sell 4x4s there. It's dry and it's a 2x4 market. Phoenix is a sedan market. Denver is all crossovers and SUVs and pickups."
Improved local inventory planning has helped Phoenix dealers capture a bigger share.
According to IHS Markit, Nissan's share of Phoenix registrations rose from 8.1 percent in 2012 to 9.4 percent at the end of 2016.
"We had to be there listening to our dealers, and we had to know the local market to know what vehicles to order for those dealers. Otherwise we were trying to push models that consumers didn't want, which meant discounting their value.
"And discounting our products," he goes on, tracing the vicious cycle that Nissan has been trying to break, "means dealers are making less money, the factory is making less money, and customers perceive us badly."
Customer perceptions
Throughout Nissan's drive for market share, it has kept Honda in its crosshairs. As part of then-CEO Carlos Ghosn's directive to capture 10 percent, officials also said it behooved Nissan -- Japan's No. 2 automaker -- to displace American Honda Motor Co. as the U.S. industry's No. 2 foreign automaker in sales.
But overtaking Honda and Acura in U.S. sales has been elusive, even as Nissan's market share inched forward in the past six years. Honda has also prospered. Deep-rooted customer loyalty at Honda and a broad perception of its products' quality meant that Nissan needed to do more than simply sell more cars. Nissan needed to improve its own product quality and find out how to make customers like it more.
The bottom line is that last year for the first time, Nissan surpassed both Toyota and Honda in customer satisfaction with product quality, according to J.D. Power's annual Customer Service Index. Nissan also for the first time surpassed Honda and Toyota on last year's J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index, the industry benchmark that measures customers' satisfaction with their dealership experience while buying.
"We've been working very hard with our dealers to do better," Meunier says of those results. "It was partly a matter of improving the products. And it was partly a matter of improving how we handle customers in the sales process and in the service lane."
In one case, Nissan created an online dealership analytics system that, among other things, lets a dealer compare profit center results with industry averages, or identify all of the customers within 25 miles who have not been in for service in the past 6 months.
"They've really helped us boost our service business," says John McSherry, executive manager of Central Valley Nissan in Modesto, Calif., a midsize market in the agricultural belt east of San Francisco. "The number of Nissan units in operation has grown a lot over the past few years, and Nissan has helped us capture more of them for service. It's not unusual now for me to see 100 cars coming in here before noon on a Saturday for an oil change."
Nissan also created an incentive program to reward dealers for winning and retaining service customers, hitting sales targets on basic maintenance orders such as windshield wiper replacements and new brake pads.
In the most recent quarter, McSherry's efforts in service earned him a $27,000 incentive check from the factory.
"People say you shouldn't need an incentive program to do the right thing," McSherry says. "Maybe so, but Nissan is really trying to encourage dealers to do what we ought to be doing anyway."
The product
Dave Sullivan, manager for product analysis at the automotive marketing research and product consulting firm AutoPacific, says that whatever else Nissan has accomplished or not accomplished since 2011, its position in the market is only as good as its products. And that continues to be a work in progress.
Over the past several years, Sullivan says, Nissan has landed some products that resonated well, such as the redesigned Altima that bowed in 2012, the GT-R sports car and the Murano crossover.
A few products failed to move the needle, such as the boxy Cube and the brand's foray into full-size commercial vans with the NV series.
"But they've made some inroads in a few segments," he says. "They've looked for different approaches to styling and marketing.
"One problem with their growth is that they've created a very large portfolio of models -- all the way from the Versa, the lowest priced car in the market, to the GT-R, selling for more than $100,000," he points out. "That's a lot of products to keep fresh."
Meunier counters that Nissan's diverse portfolio has helped it maintain growth momentum, even as consumer tastes changed. Six years ago, the Nissan brand was primarily a purveyor of sedans, staking its future on robust demand for the Altima and Sentra. That changed abruptly when consumers shifted in droves to crossovers. Nissan was ready with the Rogue, Meunier says. The compact crossover sold 124,543 in the U.S. in 2011. Reading the tea leaves for increased demand, Nissan put two assembly plants onto Rogue production, and then a third. Last year, Nissan sold 329,904 Rogues in the U.S. and is now preparing to introduce a second version of the nameplate, the Rogue Sport, which it expects will lift sales still higher. Last December, the Rogue was the largest-selling nameplate in the U.S. industry, outside of full-size pickups.
"If we had not been able to shift our resources to the Rogue, with the help of our dealers, we wouldn't be at our current market share level right now," Meunier says. "We'd be down to 6 percent."
Investment in product is critical to bigger share, he says.
"When the product is appealing and the value is stronger, we discount less and we all make more money," Meunier says, repeating the company's mantra of recent years.
"Nissan has invested to be a more serious player. You don't say you're going to get 10 percent market share and just go out and sell. It's about building the blocks that will enable us to get there.
"Now we're there," he says, "and we have the blocks in place to continue growing."
You can reach Lindsay Chappell at lchappell@crain.com
The Rogue Sport, top, and the Sentra are key pieces in Nissan's market share push. Photo credit: AUTOMOTIVE NEWS ILLUSTRATIONSend us a Letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.Nissan's market share strategySteps taken by Nissan North America to operate at a bigger volume
NASHVILLE -- For Nissan North America to claim a 10 percent U.S. market share, it first had to turn itself into a company that was capable of achieving a 10 percent share.- Portfolio: A more appealing Sentra, Altima; more compact crossovers, including the Rogue, sourced from 3 factories
- Organization: More sales regions with more field staff and more local authority on inventories, advertising
- Marketing: More effort to look beyond general market preferences for buyers
- Customers: Dealers encouraged to improve customer satisfaction and build service
That, says the automaker's chief U.S. sales executive, has been the real point of the audacious 6-year goal of lifting its U.S. market share to 10 percent by March 31, 2017 -- an increase of more than three points from the moment the plan was announced in June 2011.
"We had to grow the entire organization to be capable of selling that many cars and trucks," says Christian Meunier, senior vice president for Nissan sales, marketing and operations. "It required changes all through the company, in how we operate, in how we distribute, how our dealers perform and how we manage.
"It made us ask, "How do we get there?' You have to put in place an organization that makes it possible."
For the record, Nissan North America indeed reached a 10.2 percent market share as of Feb. 28, 2017, although market shares ebb and flow from month to month. The industry's March results, due out this week, traditionally come in a spot lower for Nissan. Early April will reveal whether Nissan has precisely hit that bold 2011 target.
It has been a workout.
Like a determined 50-year-old training for a marathon, Nissan has felt the burn. The mission has sometimes harried company managers, discombobulated retailers who recoiled from factory pressure to move the metal, and even provoked scorn from competitors and industry analysts who criticized the push as a sure path to diminished brand value.
Now, regardless of whether Nissan's March results hit the 10 percent mark, the company's U.S. management is putting the exercise into perspective.
"We had to grow the entire organization to be capable of selling that many cars and trucks" Nissan's Christian Meunier
Meunier, a Frenchman who took over U.S. sales in early 2016 after lifting Nissan's market share in Canada, said the transformation required more compelling products, more employees in the field, a more concerted effort to make customers happy and keep them happy, and a more sophisticated approach to how Nissan researches, forecasts and plans for its local markets.
Sentras to L.A.
"It takes a lot of different things to make this happen," says Rinaldi Halim, executive manager of Downey Nissan near Los Angeles. "The competition hasn't just laid down and let it happen. We've really had to get better at what we're doing."
Halim is seeing the effort firsthand. Los Angeles has been a key battleground for Nissan's market share campaign, hotly contested sale for sale by its chief rivals, Toyota and Honda, which are powerfully entrenched with strong dealer networks there.
Los Angeles offers a glimpse of how Nissan has tried to get smarter.
The market traditionally was weighted toward compact sedan sales, and in years past Nissan focused its fight there on pushing Sentra sales.
But that put the brand at a disadvantage. In 2011, the Sentra -- at one long-ago time the biggest-selling import nameplate in the U.S. industry -- was getting outsold 2 to 1 by the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. An earlier strategy to make the Sentra stand out in the market with an edgier design had fallen flat, and Nissan's local share was suffering for it. At the end of 2012, a year and a half into the national market share drive, the Nissan brand share of Los Angeles new-vehicle registrations stood at just 6.9 percent, according to IHS Markit.
Nissan planners took the Sentra back to the drawing board and in late 2012 unveiled a new generation that was a little roomier and more fuel efficient, with more content and a more dignified look that linked it to the more expensive Altima and Maxima.
Nissan's attention to the Altima's design paid off. The car has outsold the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord at times.
As it rolled out more attractive sedans, Nissan also stepped up its marketing to Hispanic consumers, a large part of Downey Nissan's customer base. The automaker diverted ad dollars to market models other than the Sentra there. It also became more aggressive with lease programs, which Halim says is critical in Los Angeles.
"We can look beyond the Sentra to sell Maximas and Muranos for $40,000, but my customers need to lease them," he says. "Nissan has responded."
The efforts are yielding market share results. The Nissan brand closed 2016 with a 7.7 percent share of L.A. registrations. This week, Halim's dealership will move to a newly constructed store down the street that triples its current outgrown 2½-acre operation.
"It's time for us to step up and make a nicer appearance for our customers," Halim says. "People expect more from us now."
Meunier sums up the company's marketing attitude toward L.A. this way: "If all we're doing there is advertising peanut butter Sentra on TV all year, we're never going to grow and we're doing a disservice to our local dealers."
Munoz: Let field staffs have say in decisions.
"If everything is decided here in Nashville for San Francisco and Little Rock, it's not always going to be the right decision," Meunier admits. "The regional vice president has more information about his region than we do here."
Munoz increased the number of regions from five to eight to let field staffs devote more time to individual territories. That move, urged on Munoz by the Nissan National Dealer Advisory Board, addressed a long simmering frustration among many dealers that they did not have enough access to factory reps to sort out problems.
The field expansion required Nissan to hire about 10 percent more sales and marketing personnel to staff the new sales and service regions, and meant decentralizing the company's decision-making roles. Munoz began empowering the regions to decide for themselves which vehicles they wanted at dealerships, what their ad budgets should be, and how to advertise and incentivize locally.
"We want to put a lot more power into each region," Meunier says. "And that means also increasing the knowledge at the regional level."
Nissan had to step up its training efforts for regional employees and managers to duplicate many of the skill sets of the home office, giving regional staffs the tools and know-how to monitor the market, forecast sales trends, analyze production plans and correctly fill inventories. Nissan created a headquarters position to focus on regional staffing and training needs.
Meunier, who meets twice a month with each regional staff, says it is an ongoing evolution.
"You can't decentralize too quickly or you'll have anarchy," he says. "But we can see the results now. The regions are deciding what products to sell and how to advertise them and what to incentivize."
That matters, Meunier emphasizes. The Phoenix market illustrates why.Before the shift to regional management, Nissan's field organization considered Phoenix to be similar to the other cities in its Mountain region, and as a result distribution and marketing plans were aligned.
"Denver is part of the same region," Meunier points out. "But Denver and Phoenix are not at all similar in their buying habits. Denver is a big 4x4 market. It's mountainous and snowy. But Phoenix? You don't really sell 4x4s there. It's dry and it's a 2x4 market. Phoenix is a sedan market. Denver is all crossovers and SUVs and pickups."
Improved local inventory planning has helped Phoenix dealers capture a bigger share.
According to IHS Markit, Nissan's share of Phoenix registrations rose from 8.1 percent in 2012 to 9.4 percent at the end of 2016.
"We had to be there listening to our dealers, and we had to know the local market to know what vehicles to order for those dealers. Otherwise we were trying to push models that consumers didn't want, which meant discounting their value.
"And discounting our products," he goes on, tracing the vicious cycle that Nissan has been trying to break, "means dealers are making less money, the factory is making less money, and customers perceive us badly."
Customer perceptions
Throughout Nissan's drive for market share, it has kept Honda in its crosshairs. As part of then-CEO Carlos Ghosn's directive to capture 10 percent, officials also said it behooved Nissan -- Japan's No. 2 automaker -- to displace American Honda Motor Co. as the U.S. industry's No. 2 foreign automaker in sales.
But overtaking Honda and Acura in U.S. sales has been elusive, even as Nissan's market share inched forward in the past six years. Honda has also prospered. Deep-rooted customer loyalty at Honda and a broad perception of its products' quality meant that Nissan needed to do more than simply sell more cars. Nissan needed to improve its own product quality and find out how to make customers like it more.
The bottom line is that last year for the first time, Nissan surpassed both Toyota and Honda in customer satisfaction with product quality, according to J.D. Power's annual Customer Service Index. Nissan also for the first time surpassed Honda and Toyota on last year's J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index, the industry benchmark that measures customers' satisfaction with their dealership experience while buying.
"We've been working very hard with our dealers to do better," Meunier says of those results. "It was partly a matter of improving the products. And it was partly a matter of improving how we handle customers in the sales process and in the service lane."
In one case, Nissan created an online dealership analytics system that, among other things, lets a dealer compare profit center results with industry averages, or identify all of the customers within 25 miles who have not been in for service in the past 6 months.
McSherry: A big business boost
Nissan also created an incentive program to reward dealers for winning and retaining service customers, hitting sales targets on basic maintenance orders such as windshield wiper replacements and new brake pads.
In the most recent quarter, McSherry's efforts in service earned him a $27,000 incentive check from the factory.
"People say you shouldn't need an incentive program to do the right thing," McSherry says. "Maybe so, but Nissan is really trying to encourage dealers to do what we ought to be doing anyway."
The product
Dave Sullivan, manager for product analysis at the automotive marketing research and product consulting firm AutoPacific, says that whatever else Nissan has accomplished or not accomplished since 2011, its position in the market is only as good as its products. And that continues to be a work in progress.
Over the past several years, Sullivan says, Nissan has landed some products that resonated well, such as the redesigned Altima that bowed in 2012, the GT-R sports car and the Murano crossover.
A few products failed to move the needle, such as the boxy Cube and the brand's foray into full-size commercial vans with the NV series.
"But they've made some inroads in a few segments," he says. "They've looked for different approaches to styling and marketing.
"One problem with their growth is that they've created a very large portfolio of models -- all the way from the Versa, the lowest priced car in the market, to the GT-R, selling for more than $100,000," he points out. "That's a lot of products to keep fresh."
Meunier counters that Nissan's diverse portfolio has helped it maintain growth momentum, even as consumer tastes changed. Six years ago, the Nissan brand was primarily a purveyor of sedans, staking its future on robust demand for the Altima and Sentra. That changed abruptly when consumers shifted in droves to crossovers. Nissan was ready with the Rogue, Meunier says. The compact crossover sold 124,543 in the U.S. in 2011. Reading the tea leaves for increased demand, Nissan put two assembly plants onto Rogue production, and then a third. Last year, Nissan sold 329,904 Rogues in the U.S. and is now preparing to introduce a second version of the nameplate, the Rogue Sport, which it expects will lift sales still higher. Last December, the Rogue was the largest-selling nameplate in the U.S. industry, outside of full-size pickups.
"If we had not been able to shift our resources to the Rogue, with the help of our dealers, we wouldn't be at our current market share level right now," Meunier says. "We'd be down to 6 percent."
Investment in product is critical to bigger share, he says.
"When the product is appealing and the value is stronger, we discount less and we all make more money," Meunier says, repeating the company's mantra of recent years.
"Nissan has invested to be a more serious player. You don't say you're going to get 10 percent market share and just go out and sell. It's about building the blocks that will enable us to get there.
"Now we're there," he says, "and we have the blocks in place to continue growing."
You can reach Lindsay Chappell at lchappell@crain.com
04-03-17, 06:27 AM
#3
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Honda/Acura
American Honda Nets New March Sales Records - Honda NewsAmerican Honda Nets New March Sales Records
Apr 3, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif.
Honda
Led by trucks with a record month and bolstered by resilient car sales, Honda Division gained 1.8 percent in March. CR-V and HR-V continued their hot streaks, both blowing double-digit holes in their own March records while Ridgeline also made a notable contribution. On the passenger car side, Fit was up 6.1 percent while Civic topped 31,000 sales. Accord posted a strong March with 26,824 new buyers.
Acura
Strong sales of Acura trucks in March continued to set the pace for the Acura brand, even as the company prepared to launch the MDX Sport Hybrid—the 3rd and newest installment of the brand’s high-performance Sport Hybrid technology—along with the Acura NSX supercar and RLX Sport Hybrid model. The new MDX is the latest salvo in the evolving Acura lineup prioritizing performance through both powertrain and design. And on April 11, a refreshed and significantly enhanced 2018 TLX will be revealed in New York, bringing the Acura Precision Concept-inspired design language to the sedan lineup.
- American Honda trucks have best-ever March sales. rising 8.4 percent
- Honda Division trucks also set new March record with a 12.6 percent gain
- Honda CR-V sails past previous March best with a 23 percent increase
- Honda HR-V continues record pace, gaining 19.6 percent for the month
- Acura MDX sales rise 1.3 percent in March ahead of new Sport Hybrid model launch
Honda
Led by trucks with a record month and bolstered by resilient car sales, Honda Division gained 1.8 percent in March. CR-V and HR-V continued their hot streaks, both blowing double-digit holes in their own March records while Ridgeline also made a notable contribution. On the passenger car side, Fit was up 6.1 percent while Civic topped 31,000 sales. Accord posted a strong March with 26,824 new buyers.
- Honda trucks had best ever March sales, gaining 12.6 percent on sales of 61,975
- CR-V led truck gains with a March record of 32,872 vehicles, up 23 percent
- HR-V set a new March record, rising 19.6 percent on sales of 7,653
- Ridgeline sales surpassed 3,700 units in March
- With another strong month of nearly 32,000 in sales, Civic was easily the best-selling passenger car in America on a retail basis in the first quarter of 2017
Acura
Strong sales of Acura trucks in March continued to set the pace for the Acura brand, even as the company prepared to launch the MDX Sport Hybrid—the 3rd and newest installment of the brand’s high-performance Sport Hybrid technology—along with the Acura NSX supercar and RLX Sport Hybrid model. The new MDX is the latest salvo in the evolving Acura lineup prioritizing performance through both powertrain and design. And on April 11, a refreshed and significantly enhanced 2018 TLX will be revealed in New York, bringing the Acura Precision Concept-inspired design language to the sedan lineup.
- MDX sales totaled 4,141 units in March, up 1.3 percent over 2016
04-03-17, 06:32 AM
#4
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Nissan
http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/u...2017-u-s-sales
Nissan Group reports March 2017 U.S. sales
- Add to Basket
- Share
- Download
March 2017March 2016% ChangeNissan Group Total sales (units)168,832163,559+3.2Nissan Division sales150,566149,784+0.5Infiniti sales*18,26613,775+32.6
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan Group today announced U.S. sales in March 2017 set an all-time record at 168,832 units, an increase of 3 percent over the prior year.Nissan highlights:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nissan Group today announced U.S. sales in March 2017 set an all-time record at 168,832 units, an increase of 3 percent over the prior year.Nissan highlights:
- Nissan Division finished March with 150,566 sales, up 1 percent and also the best month on record.
- Overall sales of Nissan crossovers, trucks and SUVs set an all-time record, up 26 percent.
- Sales of the Rogue compact crossover set a March record at 39,512, up 43 percent.
- Sales of the Pathfinder SUV had an all-time record month at 10,442, up 20 percent.
- Nissan TITAN sales climbed to 5,539, up 335 percent.
- Nissan Armada finished the month up 215 percent, with 3,094 sales.
04-03-17, 06:43 AM
#5
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Gm
http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/n...3-gmsales.html
DETROIT — General Motors (NYSE: GM), which grew its retail sales faster than any other full-line automaker in 2016, outpaced the industry once again in March. The company also gained retail share in the first quarter of 2017.“The economy is strong and we see more growth ahead for our brands,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations. “More people are working, consumer confidence is at a 16-year high, fuel prices are low and Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac have a wave of new crossovers to compete in the industry’s biggest and hottest segments.”
Downloads
DETROIT — General Motors (NYSE: GM), which grew its retail sales faster than any other full-line automaker in 2016, outpaced the industry once again in March. The company also gained retail share in the first quarter of 2017.“The economy is strong and we see more growth ahead for our brands,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations. “More people are working, consumer confidence is at a 16-year high, fuel prices are low and Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac have a wave of new crossovers to compete in the industry’s biggest and hottest segments.”
- At Buick, crossovers are expected to account for more than 75 percent of retail deliveries in 2017, up from 66 percent in 2016, driven by the Encore, Envision and Enclave.
- GMC, which has the highest average transaction prices (ATPs) of any non-luxury brand, will launch the all-new 2018 Terrain in late summer, complementing the redesigned Acadia that went on sale in late summer 2016.
- Cadillac will benefit from a full year of production of the new XT5 crossover, which is now the second best-selling vehicle in its segment.
Highlights (vs. 2016)
First Quarter Overview- GM’s retail sales were 546,838 units, up 1.9 percent, and retail market share was up 0.2 percentage points to an estimated 16.8 percent. The gains were primarily driven by crossovers, which were up 21 percent. Truck deliveries were up half a percentage point.
- Chevrolet increased its first quarter retail share by an estimated 0.1 percentage point, as did GMC.
- Commercial deliveries were up 4 percent, and daily rental deliveries were down 8 percent, or about 6,000 units. Total fleet sales were down 3 percent.
- Total sales were 689,521 units, up 1 percent, and market share was up an estimated 0.3 percentage points to an estimated 16.7 percent.
- Average transaction prices were approximately $34,000, in line with last year’s first quarter.
- Retail sales were 203,113 units, up 5 percent, and market share was up 0.6 percentage points to an estimated 16.1 percent.
- Chevrolet’s estimated retail market share increased 0.4 percentage points and Buick was up 0.3 percentage points.
- Total sales were 256,224 units, up 2 percent, and market share was up an estimated 0.4 percentage points to 15.9 percent.
- Commercial deliveries were up 3 percent driven by a 67 percent increase in Malibu deliveries and strong pickup and large van sales. Daily rental sales down 18 percent, or more than 5,100 units. Fleet sales were down 9 percent.
Brand Highlights (vs. 2016)
Chevrolet Crossovers- On a retail basis in March, the Trax was up 51 percent, the Equinox was up 26 percent and the Traverse was up 24 percent.
- For the quarter, Trax retail sales were up 54 percent, the Equinox was up 16 percent and the Traverse was up 7 percent.
- Bolt EV sales in the quarter were 3,092 units, with limited availability. The days to turn is exceptionally low at 14 days.
- Chevrolet had its best first quarter truck sales since 2008, up 6 percent. Key drivers were the Suburban, up 26 percent; the Tahoe, up 11 percent; and strong full-size van sales to small business customers and fleets. Silverado sales were essentially equal to a year ago.
- Chevrolet retail truck sales in the first quarter were up 2 percent, with the Tahoe up 9 percent, the Colorado up 7 percent and the Suburban up 5 percent. Silverado sales were essentially equal to a year ago.
- The Tahoe and Suburban had their best March total sales since 2008, and their best first quarter total and retail sales since 2008. The Colorado had its best first quarter retail sales since 2005.
- Retail deliveries were very strong in March, up 9 percent. The drivers were the Cruze, up 63 percent; the Sonic, up 14 percent; the Spark, up 50 percent; the Volt, up 15 percent; and the Camaro, up 2 percent.
- During the quarter, retail car deliveries were down 11 percent, reflecting industry-wide changes in customer demand. However, Cruze retail sales were up 22 percent during the quarter; the Spark was up 37 percent; and the Volt was up 39 percent.
- The Volt had its best first quarter total and retail sales ever.
- Buick had its best March retail sales since 2005, with sales up 22 percent.
- The LaCrosse was up 60 percent on a retail basis in March, the Encore was up 17 percent and Regal was up 7 percent.
- On a total sales basis, it was Buick’s best March since 2006, with deliveries up 15 percent.
- First quarter retail deliveries were the highest since 2004, driven by a 29 percent increase in crossover sales.
- The Encore has posted seven consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains, and it had its best-ever March and first quarter sales.
- The Envision had its best month since launch.
- Total GMC sales were up 12 percent in March, driven by a 47 percent increase in crossover deliveries. The Acadia, which was redesigned last year, was up 84 percent and the Terrain was up 14 percent.
- The Yukon XL was up 17 percent.
- March was the highest-ever month for Denali models, at 29 percent of GMC retail sales.
- Total GMC sales for the first quarter were the best since 2000, with deliveries up 10 percent.
- First quarter retail deliveries were up 4 percent, with the Acadia up 30 percent and Sierra HD models up 22 percent.
- Cadillac XT5 retail sales in March were 22 percent higher than the outgoing SRX, and ATPs were about 9 percent higher.
- Cadillac’s ATPs continue to be in the upper echelon of luxury brands at more than $54,000.
Full-year Guidance
- We believe strong car-buying fundamentals are reflected in the retail component of the light vehicle SAAR (seasonally-adjusted annual rate), which was 14 million in March, up 0.3 million versus a year ago. The retail SAAR for the first quarter was 14.3 million, up 0.1 million.
- Ten all-new or recently redesigned crossovers are expected to drive GM’s sales and share higher in 2017.
- GM’s deliveries to daily rental companies are expected to decline for the third year in a row.
- The company expects inventory in the second quarter to be lower than the first quarter, in a range around 90 days’ supply. The decline reflects strong sales, lower car production and strategic, launch-related growth in truck and crossover stocks.
- The company expects to end 2017 at essentially the same inventory levels as 2016 on a days’ supply basis, but with fewer cars and more trucks and crossovers in stock.
- As expected, incentives were down sharply from February 2017, according to J.D Power PIN estimates. Spending as a percentage of average transaction price (ATP) declined from approximately 14.9 percent to about 13.5 percent.
- The launches of new crossovers and adjustments to passenger car inventories will help moderate incentive spending going forward.
04-03-17, 06:45 AM
#6
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Ford
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...-in-march.html
Ford F-Series Sales Grow 10 Percent in March; Company's Overall U.S. Sales Down 7 Percent
Click here for the full PDF
DEARBORN, Mich., April 3, 2017 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported its March 2017 sales results. Click here or visit media.ford.com to view the news release. Ford will begin its monthly sales call at 10 a.m. ET this morning when Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the results and related market trends. He will be joined by Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, and Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s chief economist.
DEARBORN, Mich., April 3, 2017 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported its March 2017 sales results. Click here or visit media.ford.com to view the news release. Ford will begin its monthly sales call at 10 a.m. ET this morning when Erich Merkle, Ford U.S. sales analyst, will host a conference call for the investment community and news media to discuss the results and related market trends. He will be joined by Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, and Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s chief economist.
04-03-17, 07:36 AM
#7
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Fca
http://media.fcanorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=18224&mid=FCA US Reports March 2017 U.S. Sales
In March, fleet sales of 43,992 units were down 15 percent year over year as FCA US continues its strategy of reducing its sales to the daily rental segment. Fleet sales represented 23 percent of total FCA US sales in March. FCA US retail sales of 146,262 units were down 1 percent for the month, and represented 77 percent of total March sales.
Dodge brand and Ram Truck brand sales increased year over year in March. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent, led by the 100 percent increase in Dodge Journey crossover sales. Ram Truck brand sales were up 6 percent in March as the Ram pickup and Ram ProMaster van each posted year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee – the Jeep brand’s volume leader in March – were up 22 percent compared with the same month in 2016. Sales of the Fiat 500 and the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan increased year over year as well in the month.
Dodge Brand
Four Dodge brand vehicles posted year-over-year sales increases in March, led by the Dodge Journey crossover’s 100 percent sales gain. Sales of the Dodge Challenger were up 17 percent in March. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – the Dodge brand’s new ultimate performance halo car – will be unveiled this month during the 2017 New York International Auto Show week. The Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and the Dodge Viper also turned in year-over-year sales gains for the month. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
Ram Truck Brand
Ram pickup truck sales increased 6 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. In addition, sales of the Ram ProMaster van were up 24 percent for the month. Ram Truck brand sales, which include the pickup, ProMaster and ProMaster City, were up 6 percent in March. The brand last month unveiled a new exterior color shade for its luxurious and capable Laramie Longhorn line of pickup trucks. RV Match Walnut Brown will serve as the model’s new two-tone contrast color, replacing White Gold. The Ram Laramie Longhorn is the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Luxury Truck of Texas.
FIAT Brand
Sales of the Fiat 500 increased 12 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. Fiat 124 Spider sales were up 39 percent compared with the previous month of February. Experts at Cars.com consider the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider best in its segment, naming it the “Best New Convertible” of 2017.
Jeep® Brand
The Jeep Grand Cherokee – the brand’s volume leader for the month – recorded a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase in March for its best sales month this year. The all-new 2017 Jeep Compass – the most capable compact SUV ever with the most advanced 4x4 systems in its class – began shipping to Jeep dealerships in March. The new Compass expands the Jeep brand’s global reach with an unmatched combination of attributes that includes legendary and best-in-class 4x4 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics, open-air freedom, and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings.
Chrysler Brand
Sales of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica – the most awarded minivan of 2016 and 2017 – were up in its third month of year-over-year comparisons, and increased 3 percent compared with sales in the previous month of February. March also was the Pacifica’s best sales month so far this year. The Pacifica continues to earn a plethora of awards and accolades in 2017, landing on Kelley Blue Book’s list of the “12 Best Family Cars of 2017” in the best minivans category, and “2017 North American Utility of the Year.”
Alfa Romeo Brand
Alfa Romeo brand sales of 555 units were up 1,191 percent compared with the same month a year ago.
Maserati Brand1
Maserati brand sales of 1,312 units were up 32 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
- Dodge brand sales up 10 percent; four Dodge brand vehicles post sales gains
- Ram Truck brand sales up 6 percent; Ram pickup sales increase 6 percent year over year
- Jeep® Grand Cherokee sales increase 22 percent compared with same month a year ago
- Fiat 500 sales up 12 percent for the month
In March, fleet sales of 43,992 units were down 15 percent year over year as FCA US continues its strategy of reducing its sales to the daily rental segment. Fleet sales represented 23 percent of total FCA US sales in March. FCA US retail sales of 146,262 units were down 1 percent for the month, and represented 77 percent of total March sales.
Dodge brand and Ram Truck brand sales increased year over year in March. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent, led by the 100 percent increase in Dodge Journey crossover sales. Ram Truck brand sales were up 6 percent in March as the Ram pickup and Ram ProMaster van each posted year-over-year sales gains. Sales of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee – the Jeep brand’s volume leader in March – were up 22 percent compared with the same month in 2016. Sales of the Fiat 500 and the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan increased year over year as well in the month.
Dodge Brand
Four Dodge brand vehicles posted year-over-year sales increases in March, led by the Dodge Journey crossover’s 100 percent sales gain. Sales of the Dodge Challenger were up 17 percent in March. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon – the Dodge brand’s new ultimate performance halo car – will be unveiled this month during the 2017 New York International Auto Show week. The Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and the Dodge Viper also turned in year-over-year sales gains for the month. Dodge brand sales were up 10 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
Ram Truck Brand
Ram pickup truck sales increased 6 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. In addition, sales of the Ram ProMaster van were up 24 percent for the month. Ram Truck brand sales, which include the pickup, ProMaster and ProMaster City, were up 6 percent in March. The brand last month unveiled a new exterior color shade for its luxurious and capable Laramie Longhorn line of pickup trucks. RV Match Walnut Brown will serve as the model’s new two-tone contrast color, replacing White Gold. The Ram Laramie Longhorn is the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Luxury Truck of Texas.
FIAT Brand
Sales of the Fiat 500 increased 12 percent in March, compared with the same month a year ago. Fiat 124 Spider sales were up 39 percent compared with the previous month of February. Experts at Cars.com consider the all-new 2017 Fiat 124 Spider best in its segment, naming it the “Best New Convertible” of 2017.
Jeep® Brand
The Jeep Grand Cherokee – the brand’s volume leader for the month – recorded a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase in March for its best sales month this year. The all-new 2017 Jeep Compass – the most capable compact SUV ever with the most advanced 4x4 systems in its class – began shipping to Jeep dealerships in March. The new Compass expands the Jeep brand’s global reach with an unmatched combination of attributes that includes legendary and best-in-class 4x4 off-road capability, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics, open-air freedom, and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology offerings.
Chrysler Brand
Sales of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica – the most awarded minivan of 2016 and 2017 – were up in its third month of year-over-year comparisons, and increased 3 percent compared with sales in the previous month of February. March also was the Pacifica’s best sales month so far this year. The Pacifica continues to earn a plethora of awards and accolades in 2017, landing on Kelley Blue Book’s list of the “12 Best Family Cars of 2017” in the best minivans category, and “2017 North American Utility of the Year.”
Alfa Romeo Brand
Alfa Romeo brand sales of 555 units were up 1,191 percent compared with the same month a year ago.
Maserati Brand1
Maserati brand sales of 1,312 units were up 32 percent compared with the same month in 2016.
Trending Topics
04-03-17, 07:44 AM
#8
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Mazda
https://insidemazda.mazdausa.com/pre...ch-2017-sales/
Mazda Sales Increase 4.9 Percent in March
Fourth-Generation MX-5 Miata Records Best-Ever Sales Month
April 3, 2017
IRVINE, Calif. (April 3, 2017) – Mazda North American Operations today reported March U.S. sales of 24,549 vehicles, representing an increase of 4.9 percent versus March of last year. With an equal amount of selling days in 2017 as in 2016, year-to-date sales through March are up 6.8 percent versus last year, with 69,071 vehicles sold.
Key March sales notes:
Key March sales notes:
- The Mazda MX-5 posted its best March since 2008 with 1,345 vehicles sold. Combined MX-5 RF and soft top sales are up 23.4 percent year-over-year, representing the fourth-generation MX-5’s best-ever sales month since going on sale in June 2015.
- Mazda CX-9 roared to an impressive March, recording 2,550 sales. With a 2079.5-percent YOY increase, this represents CX-9’s best March since 2013.
- Sales of the outgoing 2016.5 CX-5 recorded a modest 5.5-percent decline with 8,470 vehicles sold. The all-new 2017 CX-5 began arriving at dealerships nationwide during the last week in March.
- Total sales of Mazda‘s CX crossover SUV line, including the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, were up 13.3 percent YOY with 12,271 vehicles sold in the month of March. When making purchase decisions regarding crossover SUVs, a majority of Mazda customers continue to choose the AWD option, with 62.2 percent of CX-line vehicles sold in March being equipped with predictive i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive.
04-03-17, 07:46 AM
#9
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Toyota
http://pressroom.toyota.com/releases...2017+sales.htm
Toyota Motor North America Reports March 2017 Sales
- Toyota division set March and first quarter sales record in light trucks
- Toyota division SUVs up over 15 percent
- Lexus division light trucks, Total NX sales set new March best ever
April 03, 2017March 2017 Sales Chart
PLANO, Texas (April 3, 2017) – Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) Inc., today reported its U.S. March 2017 sales of 215,224 units, a decrease of 2.1 percent from March 2016 on a volume basis. With the same number of selling days in March 2017 compared to March 2016, sales were down 2.1 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis.
Toyota division posted March 2017 sales of 187,289 units, down 1.2 percent on a volume and DSR basis.
“The industry might see its first dip below a 17 million SAAR since June 2016, although it will likely be nearly flat to last March,” said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager, Toyota division. “The Toyota division set a new light truck record for the month and quarter as we saw SUV sales sizzle with a best-ever March for RAV4, Highlander, and 4Runner, all up double digits.”
Lexus posted sales of 27,935 units, down 7.5 percent on a volume and DSR basis.
“In March, luxury utility vehicles continued to move off dealer lots,” said Jeff Bracken, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “NX posted sales up 24 percent, and GX rose by 31 percent as our dealers met customer’s needs with better inventory during our Command Performance Sales Event.”
March 2017 Highlights:
- Camry posts sales of 35,648 units
- Corolla records sales of over 30,000 units
- TMNA, Toyota, and Lexus divisions all post new March record for light truck sales
- RAV4 sales rise 10.3 percent; a best-ever March and first quarter
- Highlander up 20.8 percent; a best-ever March and first quarter
- 4Runner up 25.5 percent; posts best-ever March and first quarter
- Tacoma sales of 16,728
- Lexus luxury utility vehicles up 9.5 percent for the month
- NX up 24 percent for the month, sets new best ever March
- RX posts sales of 9,445 units
- GX gains 31 percent in March, up 5.7 percent in first quarter
- LX up almost 21 percent for the month
04-03-17, 09:39 AM
#10
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Kia
http://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/...s-march-sales6
IRVINE, Calif., April 3, 2017 – Kia Motors America today announced March sales of 49,429 units, led by the Forte family of compact cars with 10,289 units sold. The month also saw sales of the all-new Niro** climb to 2,704 units in the crossover’s 2nd full month of availability.
04-03-17, 09:44 AM
#11
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Bmw
http://www.bmwusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=2918&mid=BMW Group U.S. Reports March 2017 Sales
- Kenn Sparks
- Eric Valtos
- BMW brand sales increase 3.3 percent
- MINI brand sales increase 4.7 percent
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 3, 2017… Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 3.3 percent in March for a total of 31,015 compared to 30,033 vehicles sold in March, 2016. Year-to-date, the BMW brand is up 1.5 percent in the U.S. on sales of 71,682 vehicles compared to 70,613 sold in the first three months of 2016.
Notable vehicle sales in March include the BMW 7 Series which increased 10.0 percent to 935 cars, the BMW X3 which increased 42.9 percent to 6,395 vehicles, and the BMW X5 which increased 35.4 percent to 4,896 vehicles.
“With the arrival of Spring, thoughts naturally turn to new cars and March gave us a nice boost as our Sports Activity Vehicles, the X3 and X5 in particular, continue to drive the growing demand,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “Our new BMW 5 Series is just breaking into what is a difficult market for sedans but orders are solid and with two more variants on their way, we are optimistic for the months ahead.”
BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 36,002 vehicles, an increase of 3.5 percent from the 34,795 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group sales are up 0.6 percent on sales of 81,933 vehicles in the first three months of 2017 compared to 81,452 in the same period in 2016.
MINI Brand Sales
For March, MINI USA reported 4,987 automobiles sold, an increase of 4.7 percent from the 4,762 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 10,251 automobiles sold, a decrease of 5.4 percent from 10,839 automobiles sold in the first three months of 2016.
Attached Files
Notable vehicle sales in March include the BMW 7 Series which increased 10.0 percent to 935 cars, the BMW X3 which increased 42.9 percent to 6,395 vehicles, and the BMW X5 which increased 35.4 percent to 4,896 vehicles.
“With the arrival of Spring, thoughts naturally turn to new cars and March gave us a nice boost as our Sports Activity Vehicles, the X3 and X5 in particular, continue to drive the growing demand,” said Bernhard Kuhnt, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “Our new BMW 5 Series is just breaking into what is a difficult market for sedans but orders are solid and with two more variants on their way, we are optimistic for the months ahead.”
BMW Group Sales
In total, the BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 36,002 vehicles, an increase of 3.5 percent from the 34,795 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group sales are up 0.6 percent on sales of 81,933 vehicles in the first three months of 2017 compared to 81,452 in the same period in 2016.
MINI Brand Sales
For March, MINI USA reported 4,987 automobiles sold, an increase of 4.7 percent from the 4,762 sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, MINI USA reported a total of 10,251 automobiles sold, a decrease of 5.4 percent from 10,839 automobiles sold in the first three months of 2016.
Attached Files
04-03-17, 09:50 AM
#12
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Mitsubishi
http://media.mitsubishicars.com/rele...rch-2017-sales
Mitsubishi Motors Surpasses 100,000 Sales in FY16 with Strong March 2017 Sales /
April 03, 2017 — CYPRESS, Calif.
In just 4 years, Mitsubishi's volume growth has increased 75 percent and sales per dealer/per month have almost doubled in that same time period.
"Eclipsing 100,000 fiscal-year sales is a very important milestone for Mitsubishi and truly signals growth with our brand and the strengthening of our dealer body," said Don Swearingen, executive vice president and COO, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. "And the future looks even brighter. Mitsubishi's solid CUV lineup of Outlander and Outlander Sport gets even stronger with the recently announced Eclipse Cross slated to hit dealerships in early 2018."
Total 2017 calendar-year sales are up 15.6 percent compared to last year at this time with 29,147 units sold.
For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
April 03, 2017 — CYPRESS, Calif.
- Mitsubishi exceeds 100,000 FY16 sales for the first time since 2007
- Fourth consecutive fiscal year of sales growth
- Outlander posts best March sales ever; Outlander March sales increase 96.4 percent over last year
- Mirage G4 post its best sales month ever
- Total March 2017 sales up 6.2 percent over March 2016
In just 4 years, Mitsubishi's volume growth has increased 75 percent and sales per dealer/per month have almost doubled in that same time period.
"Eclipsing 100,000 fiscal-year sales is a very important milestone for Mitsubishi and truly signals growth with our brand and the strengthening of our dealer body," said Don Swearingen, executive vice president and COO, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. "And the future looks even brighter. Mitsubishi's solid CUV lineup of Outlander and Outlander Sport gets even stronger with the recently announced Eclipse Cross slated to hit dealerships in early 2018."
Total 2017 calendar-year sales are up 15.6 percent compared to last year at this time with 29,147 units sold.
For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
Last edited by GS69; 04-03-17 at 10:09 AM.
04-03-17, 11:11 AM
#13
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Subaru
http://media.subaru.com/pressrelease...rd-march-sales
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. REPORTS RECORD MARCH SALES
- Record March - monthly sales increase 11.3 percent over March 2016
- 64 consecutive months of yearly month-over-month growth
- Best March ever for Outback, Forester and WRX/WRX STI
- 37 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Outbacks sold
- 44 consecutive months of more than 10,000 Foresters sold
Cherry Hill, N.J. - Subaru of America, Inc. today reported 54,871 vehicle sales for March 2017, an 11.3 percent increase over March 2016, and the best March in the history of the company. The automaker also reported year-to-date sales of 144,250 vehicles, a 9 percent gain over the same period in 2016.
March marked the 37th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Outback, Forester and WRX/WRX STI sales were notably strong as each model achieved its best March ever. Impreza sales for March 2017 increased 47.4 percent over the same month in 2016.
“We are pleased with our start to 2017,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We have a busy year ahead of us with the launch of the all-new 2018 Crosstrek this summer and the 3-row SUV debuting later in the year. We are confident of setting another record in 2017 for Subaru in the U.S.”
“We are appreciative our retailers could deliver a best-ever March not only for Outback and Forester, but for the WRX/WRX STI as well,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales for Subaru of America. “Also, the all-new Impreza continues to impress and we expect it will continue to build on its positive momentum.”
Earlier in March, the 2017 Outback was named “Best Wagon” in the “2017 Best Cars for Families” list by U.S. News & World Report. Winners have the best combination of positive reviews from professional car critics, safety ratings, space, and available tech features. In addition, the 2017 Impreza was one of 12 vehicles to earn the Autotrader “2017 Must Test Drive Award.” Autotrader's editorial experts choose the winners of the annual Must Test Drive Awards based on a diverse set of criteria.
March marked the 37th consecutive month of 40,000+ vehicle sales for the company. Outback, Forester and WRX/WRX STI sales were notably strong as each model achieved its best March ever. Impreza sales for March 2017 increased 47.4 percent over the same month in 2016.
“We are pleased with our start to 2017,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “We have a busy year ahead of us with the launch of the all-new 2018 Crosstrek this summer and the 3-row SUV debuting later in the year. We are confident of setting another record in 2017 for Subaru in the U.S.”
“We are appreciative our retailers could deliver a best-ever March not only for Outback and Forester, but for the WRX/WRX STI as well,” said Jeff Walters, senior vice president of sales for Subaru of America. “Also, the all-new Impreza continues to impress and we expect it will continue to build on its positive momentum.”
Earlier in March, the 2017 Outback was named “Best Wagon” in the “2017 Best Cars for Families” list by U.S. News & World Report. Winners have the best combination of positive reviews from professional car critics, safety ratings, space, and available tech features. In addition, the 2017 Impreza was one of 12 vehicles to earn the Autotrader “2017 Must Test Drive Award.” Autotrader's editorial experts choose the winners of the annual Must Test Drive Awards based on a diverse set of criteria.
04-03-17, 11:15 AM
#14
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Mb
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/merced...171300181.html
Mercedes-Benz Closes out Record First Quarter with 79,141 Units, up 4.5%
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercedes-Benz today reported record first quarter year-to-date volume at 79,141 units, up 4.5% from 2016. March sales of 29,092 increased 3.3% from the same month last year. Adding 2,871 units for Vans and 389 units for smart, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) achieved a grand total of 32,352 vehicles for the month, up 2.0% from a year ago. Year-to-date, MBUSA also achieved a record close of 87,635 units, up 3.9%.
“We’re pleased about our record-breaking first quarter for Mercedes-Benz in 2017,” said Dietmar Exler, president and CEO of MBUSA. “We look forward to strong momentum with a number of AMG product launches in the coming summer months as we celebrate AMG’s 50th anniversary.”
Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in March included the C-Class, GLE and E-Class (including the CLS) model lines. The C-Class took the lead at 8,021, followed by the GLE sales of 4,919. The E-Class rounded out the top three with 4,690 units sold.
Mercedes-AMG high-performance models sold 3,195 units in March, with a total of 8,339 units sold year-to-date (up 44.6%).
Separately, Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) models recorded sales of 9,907 vehicles in March, an increase of 5.6% when compared to the same month last year (9,390).
04-03-17, 11:21 AM
#15
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Jaguar
http://media.jaguarlandrover.com/en-us/news/2017/04/jaguar-land-rover-reports-us-sales-march-2017
JAGUAR LAND ROVER REPORTS US SALES FOR MARCH 2017
3 April 2017Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported March 2017 U.S. sales.
3 April 2017Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported March 2017 U.S. sales.
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to MoreShare to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to LinkedIn
- Best Ever Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales month
- Jaguar sales increase 132 percent for the brand’s best sales month since 2003
- Jaguar XE and F-PACE each have their best sales month since going on sale in 2016
- Best March sales ever for Jaguar F-TYPE
- Second Best Ever Land Rover U.S. March Sales Month despite the runout of the outgoing Land Rover LR4 model.
- Range Rover Evoque has its best sales month eve
(MAHWAH, NJ) – April 3, 2017 -- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC today reported March 2017 U.S. sales: Jaguar sales were 4,953 units, a 132 percent increase from 2,133 units in March 2016; Land Rover sales reached 7,965 units, down 9 percent from record March sales of 8,733 units in 2016; Jaguar Land Rover March U.S. sales for both brands hit 12,918 units, a 19 percent increase from 10,866 units in March 2016; making it the best ever Jaguar Land Rover sales month. Year to date, Jaguar Land Rover is up 21 percent in the United States.
“We are proud that both Jaguar and Land Rover finished our fiscal year on a high note in March, establishing record-breaking U.S. sales numbers for the company as a whole, as well as Range Rover Evoque, F-PACE and XE,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “Jaguar has maintained its 2016 sales momentum and Land Rover is set for growth this year as we launch the new Discovery and Range Rover Velar.”
For the full year 2016, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales were up 24 percent to 105,104 units sold, compared to 85,048 units sold in 2015. With this performance, 2016 becomes the new U.S. high water mark for Jaguar and Land Rover brands’ combined sales, surpassing previous high of 102,191 sales achieved in 2002.
U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS
Land Rover
For the month of March, Land Rover sales hit 7,965 units sold, the second best ever March retail month for the brand (March 2016 holds the record for best sales month ever), despite the runout of the Land Rover LR4. The new Discovery seven-passenger SUV goes on sale this spring.
For the month of March, the Range Rover Sport was the volume leader hitting 2,251 units sold.
Range Rover hit 1,991 sales, up 11 percent. The Range Rover Evoque set an all-time monthly sales record with 1,818 units sold, an increase of 111 percent versus 862 in 2016.
The 2017 Land Rover model line-up features five models: The all-new Discovery, which replaces the LR4, features a radical new design language for the full-size, optional seven passenger SUV and all-new levels of refinement, passenger technology and driver assistance options. The Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque continue steadfast, both powered by 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engines. The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport model lines expand for 2017 each with a new model. Replacing the limited edition HST model in the Range Rover Sport line-up, the Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic features a 380-hp supercharged V6 engine, dynamic body trim appointments and black trim finishes. Within the full-size Range Rover line-up, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations has introduced the SVAutobiography Dynamic. Based off of the long wheelbase SVAutobiography, the SVAutobiography Dynamic offers a driver focused experience through a standard wheelbase, suspension and chassis tuning and a lowered ride height. Both Range Rover model lines feature five powertrain options – a 340-hp supercharged V6, a 380-hp supercharged V6, a 510-hp supercharged V8, a 550-hp supercharged V8 and a new 254-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel.
Jaguar
For the month of March, Jaguar sales were 4,953 units, a 132 percent increase from 2,133 units in March 2016; making it the best Jaguar sales month since 2003.
The Jaguar F- PACE and XE set a new record for monthly sales. The Jaguar F-PACE hit 2,187 units sold, making it the brand’s volume leader for the month, and the XE hit 1,336 units sold. The Jaguar F-TYPE had its best March ever with 492 sales.
Jaguar launched 2 new entry luxury vehicles in 2016: the 2017 XE compact luxury sedan, starting at $34,900(1), and the 2017 F-PACE compact luxury SUV, starting at $40,990.(1) Competitively priced within their respective segments, these 2 new models appeal to an all-new segment of buyers for the brand. The XE is available with 2 gasoline engines, a 240-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and a 340-hp supercharged V6. The F-PACE is available with the same 340-hp supercharged V6, as well as a 380-hp supercharged V6 in the ‘S’ model. Both vehicles are available with a 180-hp turbocharged diesel engine, which returns 42mpg highway(2) on Jaguar XE models and 33mpg highway(2) on F-PACE models.
The Jaguar XF is now offered with 3 available powertrains, two supercharged V6 powertrains producing 340- and 380-hp and a 180-hp turbocharged four-cylinder diesel offering an EPA certified 42mpg highway.2 The 2017 Jaguar XJ retains its position within the Jaguar line-up as the pinnacle in luxury for the brand. It continues to be available with three powertrain options – a 340-hp supercharged V6, a 470-hp supercharged V8 and a 550-hp supercharged V8 – is offered in both standard and long wheelbase lengths in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. For 2017, the Jaguar F-TYPE offers buyers with an all-new derivative in the F-TYPE SVR. Powered by the brand’s proven supercharged V8 engine, the F-TYPE SVR has been further enhanced to offer 575-hp and 516-lb. ft. of torque enabling a top speed of 200mph(4),(5) and a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds.(4)
All new Jaguar models come standard with Jaguar EliteCare, an ownership package with class-leading five-years or 60,000-mile warranty, complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage, roadside assistance and Jaguar InControl®Protect & Remote™.(3)
“We are proud that both Jaguar and Land Rover finished our fiscal year on a high note in March, establishing record-breaking U.S. sales numbers for the company as a whole, as well as Range Rover Evoque, F-PACE and XE,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC. “Jaguar has maintained its 2016 sales momentum and Land Rover is set for growth this year as we launch the new Discovery and Range Rover Velar.”
For the full year 2016, Jaguar Land Rover U.S. sales were up 24 percent to 105,104 units sold, compared to 85,048 units sold in 2015. With this performance, 2016 becomes the new U.S. high water mark for Jaguar and Land Rover brands’ combined sales, surpassing previous high of 102,191 sales achieved in 2002.
U.S. BRAND HIGHLIGHTS
Land Rover
For the month of March, Land Rover sales hit 7,965 units sold, the second best ever March retail month for the brand (March 2016 holds the record for best sales month ever), despite the runout of the Land Rover LR4. The new Discovery seven-passenger SUV goes on sale this spring.
For the month of March, the Range Rover Sport was the volume leader hitting 2,251 units sold.
Range Rover hit 1,991 sales, up 11 percent. The Range Rover Evoque set an all-time monthly sales record with 1,818 units sold, an increase of 111 percent versus 862 in 2016.
The 2017 Land Rover model line-up features five models: The all-new Discovery, which replaces the LR4, features a radical new design language for the full-size, optional seven passenger SUV and all-new levels of refinement, passenger technology and driver assistance options. The Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque continue steadfast, both powered by 240-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engines. The Range Rover and Range Rover Sport model lines expand for 2017 each with a new model. Replacing the limited edition HST model in the Range Rover Sport line-up, the Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic features a 380-hp supercharged V6 engine, dynamic body trim appointments and black trim finishes. Within the full-size Range Rover line-up, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations has introduced the SVAutobiography Dynamic. Based off of the long wheelbase SVAutobiography, the SVAutobiography Dynamic offers a driver focused experience through a standard wheelbase, suspension and chassis tuning and a lowered ride height. Both Range Rover model lines feature five powertrain options – a 340-hp supercharged V6, a 380-hp supercharged V6, a 510-hp supercharged V8, a 550-hp supercharged V8 and a new 254-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel.
Jaguar
For the month of March, Jaguar sales were 4,953 units, a 132 percent increase from 2,133 units in March 2016; making it the best Jaguar sales month since 2003.
The Jaguar F- PACE and XE set a new record for monthly sales. The Jaguar F-PACE hit 2,187 units sold, making it the brand’s volume leader for the month, and the XE hit 1,336 units sold. The Jaguar F-TYPE had its best March ever with 492 sales.
Jaguar launched 2 new entry luxury vehicles in 2016: the 2017 XE compact luxury sedan, starting at $34,900(1), and the 2017 F-PACE compact luxury SUV, starting at $40,990.(1) Competitively priced within their respective segments, these 2 new models appeal to an all-new segment of buyers for the brand. The XE is available with 2 gasoline engines, a 240-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and a 340-hp supercharged V6. The F-PACE is available with the same 340-hp supercharged V6, as well as a 380-hp supercharged V6 in the ‘S’ model. Both vehicles are available with a 180-hp turbocharged diesel engine, which returns 42mpg highway(2) on Jaguar XE models and 33mpg highway(2) on F-PACE models.
The Jaguar XF is now offered with 3 available powertrains, two supercharged V6 powertrains producing 340- and 380-hp and a 180-hp turbocharged four-cylinder diesel offering an EPA certified 42mpg highway.2 The 2017 Jaguar XJ retains its position within the Jaguar line-up as the pinnacle in luxury for the brand. It continues to be available with three powertrain options – a 340-hp supercharged V6, a 470-hp supercharged V8 and a 550-hp supercharged V8 – is offered in both standard and long wheelbase lengths in both rear- and all-wheel drive configurations. For 2017, the Jaguar F-TYPE offers buyers with an all-new derivative in the F-TYPE SVR. Powered by the brand’s proven supercharged V8 engine, the F-TYPE SVR has been further enhanced to offer 575-hp and 516-lb. ft. of torque enabling a top speed of 200mph(4),(5) and a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds.(4)
All new Jaguar models come standard with Jaguar EliteCare, an ownership package with class-leading five-years or 60,000-mile warranty, complimentary scheduled maintenance coverage, roadside assistance and Jaguar InControl®Protect & Remote™.(3)