TrueCar Forecasts New Vehicle Retail Sales Flat, Used Retail Sales Down for February 2021

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TrueCar, Inc., the most efficient and transparent way to find a car, projects total new vehicle sales will reach 1,170,856 units in February 2021, down 7.6% from a year ago when adjusted for the same number of selling days. This month’s seasonally adjusted annualized rate…

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — TrueCar, Inc., the most efficient and transparent way to find a car, projects total new vehicle sales will reach 1,170,856 units in February 2021, down 7.6% from a year ago when adjusted for the same number of selling days. This month’s seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total light vehicle sales is an estimated 15.5 million units. Excluding fleet sales, TrueCar expects U.S. retail deliveries of new cars and light trucks to be 967,545 units, a decrease of 0.4% from a year ago when adjusted for the same number of selling days. Used vehicle sales for February 2021 are expected to reach 3.5 million, down 4% from a year ago and up 12% from January 2021. 

«New vehicle retail sales are expected to be flat for February, which is a good result given the expansive and prolonged nature of the winter storms throughout many parts of the country, including southern states, which do not typically experience snow storms of this caliber. At this time, many people are thinking about basic necessities, not purchasing their next vehicle. Those consumers are likely deferring their vehicle purchasing to the end of the month or to March,» said Nick Woolard, Lead Industry Analyst at TrueCar.

«We’re seeing fleet recovery slow down significantly year-over-year. February is typically a big month for fleet sales, but the continued reduction in travel by consumer is delaying fleet recovery.  This may be a sign that manufacturers are beginning to triage the ongoing microchip shortage by further pulling back from fleet and reallocating towards retail to help limit inventory shortages,» added Woolard.

«It’s important to call out GM and Toyota, which are both up year-over-year in retail sales as a result of their strong and diversified lineups with in-demand SUVs and trucks. Toyota has doubled down on their hybrid strategy with the RAV4, Highlander, Sienna, and Venza, while GM continues to successfully produce a variety of popular trucks,» said Valeri Tompkins, Senior Vice President, OEM Solutions at TrueCar.  

Average transaction prices (ATP) are projected to be up 6.6% or $2,366 from a year ago and up 1.4% or $518 from January 2021. TrueCar projects that U.S. revenue from new vehicle sales will reach approximately $44 billion for February 2021, down 9.1% (based on a non-adjusted daily selling rate) from a year ago and up 7% from last month.

«As average transaction price continues to increase and inch closer towards the $40,000 mark, incentives continue to trend downward. Based on TrueCar data, incentives are the lowest that we have seen since at least 2017. With inventory still recovering from pandemic related production pauses and the chip shortage threatening to disrupt production again, incentives will stay low until the recovery is met,» added Tompkins.  

Additional Insights (forecast by TrueCar):

  • Total retail sales for February 2021 are expected to be down 0.4% from a year ago and down 1.9% from January 2021 when adjusted for the same number of selling days.
  • Fleet sales for February 2021 are expected to be down 31% from a year ago and up 65% from January 2021 when adjusted for the same number of selling days.
  • Average transaction price is projected to be up 6.6% or $2,366 from a year ago and up 4.5% or $518 from January 2021.
  • Total SAAR is expected to decrease 7.4% from a year ago from 16.7 million units to 15.5 million units.
  • Used vehicle sales for February 2021 are expected to reach 3.5 million, down 12% from a year ago and up 12% from January 2021.
  • The average interest rate on new vehicles is 4.4% and the average interest rate on used vehicles is 8.0%.

February 2021 forecasts for the 13 largest manufacturers by volume. For additional data, visit the TrueCar Newsroom.

Total Unit Sales

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

23,839

27,476

19,740

-13.2%

-6.0%

20.8%

20.8%

Daimler

17,416

26,088

25,268

-33.2%

-27.7%

-31.1%

-31.1%

Ford

158,869

189,561

142,577

-16.2%

-9.2%

11.4%

11.4%

GM

214,265

238,448

201,954

-10.1%

-2.7%

6.1%

6.1%

Honda

100,884

120,006

92,225

-15.9%

-8.9%

9.4%

9.4%

Hyundai

42,436

54,600

46,208

-22.3%

-15.8%

-8.2%

-8.2%

Kia

44,569

52,177

44,965

-14.6%

-7.5%

-0.9%

-0.9%

Nissan

86,810

99,253

71,081

-12.5%

-5.2%

22.1%

22.1%

Stellantis

142,459

183,926

134,406

-22.5%

-16.1%

6.0%

6.0%

Subaru

46,158

51,695

46,400

-10.7%

-3.3%

-0.5%

-0.5%

Tesla

21,981

20,450

24,700

7.5%

16.4%

-11.0%

-11.0%

Toyota

177,461

195,407

167,936

-9.2%

-1.6%

5.7%

5.7%

Volkswagen Group

44,351

50,390

44,953

-12.0%

-4.7%

-1.3%

-1.3%

Industry

1,170,856

1,373,324

1,109,578

-14.7%

-7.6%

5.5%

5.5%

Retail Unit Sales

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

22,861

24,271

19,407

-5.8%

2.0%

17.8%

17.8%

Daimler

17,101

24,513

24,751

-30.2%

-24.4%

-30.9%

-30.9%

Ford

111,916

120,607

116,069

-7.2%

0.5%

-3.6%

-3.6%

GM

164,432

169,235

175,007

-2.8%

5.3%

-6.0%

-6.0%

Honda

100,282

118,802

91,837

-15.6%

-8.6%

9.2%

9.2%

Hyundai

39,248

42,863

43,554

-8.4%

-0.8%

-9.9%

-9.9%

Kia

41,225

45,983

43,292

-10.3%

-2.9%

-4.8%

-4.8%

Nissan

58,715

68,093

58,548

-13.8%

-6.6%

0.3%

0.3%

Stellantis

112,778

117,974

111,096

-4.4%

3.6%

1.5%

1.5%

Subaru

43,604

48,655

44,670

-10.4%

-2.9%

-2.4%

-2.4%

Tesla

21,969

20,450

24,692

7.4%

16.4%

-11.0%

-11.0%

Toyota

155,138

160,981

148,143

-3.6%

4.4%

4.7%

4.7%

Volkswagen Group

42,855

45,272

44,298

-5.3%

2.5%

-3.3%

-3.3%

Industry

967,545

1,052,254

986,522

-8.1%

-0.4%

-1.9%

-1.9%

Fleet Unit Sales

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change
(Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

978

3,205

333

-69.5%

-67.0%

193.8%

193.8%

Daimler

315

1,575

517

-80.0%

-78.3%

-39.0%

-39.0%

Ford

46,953

68,954

26,508

-31.9%

-26.2%

77.1%

77.1%

GM

49,833

69,213

26,947

-28.0%

-22.0%

84.9%

84.9%

Honda

602

1,204

388

-50.0%

-45.8%

55.2%

55.2%

Hyundai

3,187

11,737

2,654

-72.8%

-70.6%

20.1%

20.1%

Kia

3,345

6,194

1,673

-46.0%

-41.5%

100.0%

100.0%

Nissan

28,094

31,160

12,533

-9.8%

-2.3%

124.2%

124.2%

Stellantis

29,681

65,952

23,310

-55.0%

-51.2%

27.3%

27.3%

Subaru

2,554

3,040

1,730

-16.0%

-9.0%

47.6%

47.6%

Tesla

12

8

42.5%

42.5%

Toyota

22,323

34,426

19,793

-35.2%

-29.8%

12.8%

12.8%

Volkswagen Group

1,495

5,118

655

-70.8%

-68.3%

128.2%

128.2%

Industry

203,311

321,070

123,056

-36.7%

-31.4%

65.2%

65.2%

Fleet Penetration

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YoY % Change

MoM % Change

BMW

4.1%

11.7%

1.7%

-64.8%

143.3%

Daimler

1.8%

6.0%

2.0%

-70.0%

-11.6%

Ford

29.6%

36.4%

18.6%

-18.8%

59.0%

GM

23.3%

29.0%

13.3%

-19.9%

74.3%

Honda

0.6%

1.0%

0.4%

-40.5%

41.8%

Hyundai

7.5%

21.5%

5.7%

-65.1%

30.8%

Kia

7.5%

11.9%

3.7%

-36.8%

101.7%

Nissan

32.4%

31.4%

17.6%

3.1%

83.5%

Stellantis

20.8%

35.9%

17.3%

-41.9%

20.1%

Subaru

5.5%

5.9%

3.7%

-5.9%

48.4%

Tesla

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

60.1%

Toyota

12.6%

17.6%

11.8%

-28.6%

6.7%

Volkswagen Group

3.4%

10.2%

1.5%

-66.8%

131.4%

Industry

17.4%

23.4%

11.1%

-25.7%

56.6%

Total Market Share

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

BMW

2.0%

2.0%

1.8%

Daimler

1.5%

1.9%

2.3%

Ford

13.6%

13.8%

12.8%

GM

18.3%

17.4%

18.2%

Honda

8.6%

8.7%

8.3%

Hyundai

3.6%

4.0%

4.2%

Kia

3.8%

3.8%

4.1%

Nissan

7.4%

7.2%

6.4%

Stellantis

12.2%

13.4%

12.1%

Subaru

3.9%

3.8%

4.2%

Tesla

1.9%

1.5%

2.2%

Toyota

15.2%

14.2%

15.1%

Volkswagen Group

3.8%

3.7%

4.1%

Retail Market Share

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

BMW

2.4%

2.3%

2.0%

Daimler

1.8%

2.3%

2.5%

Ford

11.6%

11.5%

11.8%

GM

17.0%

16.1%

17.7%

Honda

10.4%

11.3%

9.3%

Hyundai

4.1%

4.1%

4.4%

Kia

4.3%

4.4%

4.4%

Nissan

6.1%

6.5%

5.9%

Stellantis

11.7%

11.2%

11.3%

Subaru

4.5%

4.6%

4.5%

Tesla

2.3%

1.9%

2.5%

Toyota

16.0%

15.3%

15.0%

Volkswagen Group

4.4%

4.3%

4.5%

Average Transaction Price (ATP)

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YOY

MOM

BMW

$59,919

$57,587

$57,922

4.0%

3.4%

Daimler

$62,806

$61,188

$62,387

2.6%

0.7%

Ford

$44,925

$42,465

$43,535

5.8%

3.2%

GM

$42,797

$39,979

$42,045

7.0%

1.8%

Honda

$31,166

$29,398

$31,059

6.0%

0.3%

Hyundai

$31,037

$29,279

$31,073

6.0%

-0.1%

Kia

$28,796

$25,988

$28,233

10.8%

2.0%

Nissan

$30,087

$28,470

$29,304

5.7%

2.7%

Stellantis

$43,903

$40,100

$42,713

9.5%

2.8%

Subaru

$30,701

$30,007

$30,616

2.3%

0.3%

Toyota

$35,135

$33,429

$34,890

5.1%

0.7%

Volkswagen Group

$43,870

$40,286

$43,358

8.9%

1.2%

Industry

$38,075

$35,709

$37,558

6.6%

1.4%

Incentive Spending

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YOY

MOM

BMW

$4,497

$5,821

$5,177

-22.8%

-13.1%

Daimler

$3,740

$6,246

$4,438

-40.1%

-15.7%

Ford

$3,472

$4,918

$4,441

-29.4%

-21.8%

GM

$4,710

$5,688

$4,944

-17.2%

-4.7%

Honda

$2,290

$2,559

$2,363

-10.5%

-3.1%

Hyundai

$2,205

$3,078

$2,558

-28.4%

-13.8%

Kia

$2,825

$3,686

$2,999

-23.4%

-5.8%

Nissan

$3,543

$4,749

$4,510

-25.4%

-21.4%

Stellantis

$4,186

$5,093

$4,642

-17.8%

-9.8%

Subaru

$1,401

$1,244

$1,505

12.6%

-6.9%

Toyota

$2,363

$2,649

$2,616

-10.8%

-9.7%

Volkswagen Group

$3,113

$4,435

$4,153

-29.8%

-25.1%

Industry

$3,356

$4,177

$3,787

-19.7%

-11.4%

Incentives as a Percentage of Average Transaction Price (ATP)

Manufacturer

Feb 2021 Forecast

Feb 2020 Actual

Jan 2021 Actual

YOY

MOM

BMW

7.5%

10.1%

8.9%

-25.8%

-16.0%

Daimler

6.0%

10.2%

7.1%

-41.7%

-16.3%

Ford

7.7%

11.6%

10.2%

-33.3%

-24.3%

GM

11.0%

14.2%

11.8%

-22.6%

-6.4%

Honda

7.3%

8.7%

7.6%

-15.6%

-3.4%

Hyundai

7.1%

10.5%

8.2%

-32.4%

-13.7%

Kia

9.8%

14.2%

10.6%

-30.8%

-7.6%

Nissan

11.8%

16.7%

15.4%

-29.4%

-23.5%

Stellantis

9.5%

12.7%

10.9%

-24.9%

-12.3%

Subaru

4.6%

4.1%

4.9%

10.0%

-7.2%

Toyota

6.7%

7.9%

7.5%

-15.1%

-10.3%

Volkswagen Group

7.1%

11.0%

9.6%

-35.5%

-25.9%

Industry

8.8%

11.7%

10.1%

-24.6%

-12.6%

(Note: This forecast is based solely on TrueCar, Inc.’s analysis of industry sales trends and conditions and is not a projection of TrueCar, Inc.’s operations.)

About TrueCar

TrueCar is a leading automotive digital marketplace that enables car buyers to connect to our nationwide network of Certified Dealers. We are building the industry’s most personalized and efficient car buying experience as we seek to bring more of the purchasing process online. Consumers who visit our marketplace will find a suite of vehicle discovery tools, price ratings, and market context on new and used cars – all with a clear view of what’s a great deal. When they are ready, TrueCar will enable them to connect with a local Certified Dealer who shares in our belief that truth, transparency, and fairness are the foundation of a great car buying experience. As part of our marketplace, TrueCar powers car-buying programs for over 250 leading brands, including AARP, Sam’s Club, and American Express. Nearly half of all new-car buyers engage with TrueCar powered sites, where they buy smarter and drive happier. TrueCar is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with offices in Austin, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information, please visit www.truecar.com, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter. TrueCar media line: +1-844-469-8442 (US toll-free) | Email: pr@truecar.com 

TrueCar PR Contacts:
Shadee Malekafzali
shadee@truecar.com 
424.258.8694

Tanya Kohan
tkohan@truecar.com 
714.425.6319

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truecar-forecasts-new-vehicle-retail-sales-flat-used-retail-sales-down-for-february-2021-301233522.html

SOURCE TrueCar, Inc.