Edmunds.com Forecasts January Auto Sales: 2011 Jumps Off to a Steady Start

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This month's new car sales (including fleet sales) are expected to be approximately 816,000 units, a 17.3 percent increase from January 2010 but a 28.4 percent decrease from December 2010, according to Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. Retail sales are expected to be approximately 661,000 units, down from approximately 947,000 last month.

“January’s sales figures continue a trend of steady, sustainable growth for the auto industry”

Edmunds.com analysts predict that January's Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (SAAR) will be 12.57 million, up from 12.48 in December 2010. SAAR for retail sales is about 10.2 million, down slightly from last month.

Average automaker incentives in the U.S. are estimated to be $2,516 per vehicle sold in January 2011, down $22, or 0.9 percent, from December 2010, but up $163, or 6.9 percent, from January 2010.

“January’s sales figures continue a trend of steady, sustainable growth for the auto industry,” said Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell. “What’s even more encouraging is that this month’s figures were less dependent on fleet sales than last year. That means 2011 is already seeing a more robust retail market supported by individual consumers.”

January 2011 had 24 selling days, the same as last January 2010. The chart below sets forth month-over-month comparisons:

	Change from January 2010	Change from December 2010 (Unadjusted for less selling days)
Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram)	31.6%	-25.6%
Ford (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury)	12.8%	-30.9%
GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saturn)	11.1%	-27.4%
Honda (Acura, Honda)	21.3%	-36.9%
Nissan (Infiniti, Nissan)	15.0%	-23.2%
Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota)	18.8%	-33.8%
Industry Total	17.3%	-28.4%

“January is typically the worst sales month of the calendar year, so this is an impressive jumping off point for 2011,” added Caldwell. “Because this year’s January baseline is so much higher than the last two years, carmakers can be reasonably optimistic that this growth can continue.”

The combined monthly U.S. market share for Chrysler, Ford and General Motors (GM) domestic nameplates is estimated to be 44.8 percent in January 2011, down from 45.6 percent in January 2010, and the same as December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts Chrysler will sell 74,300 units in January 2011, up 31.6 percent compared to January 2010 but down 25.6 percent from December 2010. This would result in a new car market share of 9.1 percent for Chrysler in January 2010, up from 8.1 percent in January 2010 and up from 8.8 percent as in December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts Ford will sell 129,000 units in January 2011, up 12.8 percent compared to January 2010 but down 30.9 percent from December 2010. This would result in a new car market share of 15.8 percent of new car sales in January 2011 for Ford, down from 16.5 percent in January 2010 and down from 16.4 percent in December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts GM will sell 162,600 units in January 2011, up 11.1 percent compared to January 2010 but down 27.4 percent from December 2010. GM's market share is expected to be 19.9 percent of new vehicle sales in January 2011, down from 21.0 percent in January 2010 but up from 19.7 percent in December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts Honda will sell 81,800 units in January 2011, up 21.3 percent from January 2010 but down 36.9 percent from December 2010. Honda’s market share is expected to be 10.0 percent in January 2011, up from 9.7 percent in January 2010 but down from 11.4 percent in December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts Nissan will sell 71,900 units in January 2011, up 15.0 percent from January 2010 but down 23.2 percent from December 2010. Nissan's market share is expected to be 8.8 percent in January 2011, down from 9.0 percent in January 2010 but up from 8.2 percent in December 2010.

Edmunds.com predicts Toyota will sell 117,400 units in January 2011, up 18.8 percent from January 2010 but down 33.8 percent from December 2010. Toyota's market share is expected to be 14.4 percent in January 2011, up from 14.2 percent in January 2010 but down from 15.6 percent in December 2010.

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. CarSpace is the most established automotive social networking Web site. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.