The report provides a comprehensive look at the automotive industry from a number of different angles and includes insights from key industry players such as NADA Chairman Wes Lutz, National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA)
President David Andrews, influential Cox Automotive clients, and a number of Cox Automotive executives, including:
- Mark O'Neil, chief operating officer
- Dale Pollak, executive vice president and founder of vAuto
- Grace Huang, president, Inventory Solutions
- Keith Jezek, president, Retail Solutions
- Greta Crowley, vice president – Marketing, Media Solutions
- Mike Burgiss, vice president, Digital Retailing
Data highlights from the 2018 Used Car Market Report & Outlook include:
REMARKETING INDUSTRY
National Auto Auction Association (NAAA)-member sales approached 10 million in 2017; the same level is expected in 2018.
Wholesale prices rose 6 percent in 2017, according to the Manheim Index. At the extremes, wholesale pickup truck prices rose 9.8 percent and compact car prices declined 3 percent. The Manheim Index is expected to rise 3 percent for 2018.
DEALERS
U.S. new-vehicle sales in 2017 came in at 17.1 million units, the fourth-best year in history. With a forecast of 16.7 million, 2018 would be the 10th best in history.
Franchised dealers set another new record of certified pre-owned sales at 2.644 million, the seventh consecutive increase with 2018 promising to be the eighth.
RENTAL
Total rental car industry revenue reached a record $28.63 billion.
The number of vehicles purchased by rental companies declined 12 percent to 1.59 million in 2017.
LEASING
New retail consumer lease originations fell 3 percent in 2017; 28.7 percent of new vehicles were leased.
Leases are expected to account for approximately 25 percent of 2018 new-vehicle sales.
The average lease payment is approaching $500 month, up from $400 in 2014.
3.6 million off-lease vehicles returned to market in 2017; 3.9 million are expected to come back in 2018.
REPOSSESSIONS
The dollar amount of auto loans outstanding stands at a record $1.22 trillion.
Auto loan originations set a record of $569 billion in 2017.
FLEET
New vehicle purchases by commercial and government fleets dipped 9.9 percent, ending a seven-year growth streak.
Commercial fleet sales rose 1.4 percent; government purchases dropped 6.4 percent.