TrueCar’s ALG Forecasts Vehicle Sales for May 2020

In this article:

Vehicle sales show signs of positive recovery following states reopening economies

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALG, Inc., a subsidiary of TrueCar, Inc. and the industry benchmark for determining the future resale value of a vehicle, projects total new vehicle sales will reach 1,080,075 units in May 2020, down 32% from a year ago. This month’s seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total light vehicle sales is an estimated 11.8 million units. Excluding fleet sales, ALG expects U.S. retail deliveries of new cars and light trucks to be 1,008,916 units, a decrease of 21% from a year ago.

“The automotive industry is showing positive signs of a rebound and, while we are projecting a 21% decline in retail sales for May under this unprecedented environment, it’s quite encouraging,” said Eric Lyman, Chief Industry Analyst for ALG, a subsidiary of TrueCar. “Our own consumer research has shown that 72% of car shoppers state that their need for a vehicle has remained the same or increased due to the pandemic.”

“Memorial Day Weekend is traditionally a major car buying holiday. The extra weekend in May, along with the outpouring of OEM incentives in response to COVID-19, and the reopening of state economies and dealership showrooms, is helping buoy May vehicle sales.”

“Consumers are also finding comfort and convenience in the various remote shopping and purchasing options retailers are offering such as vehicle delivery, remote paperwork, and home test drives,” added Lyman.

Additional Insights: (Forecast by ALG)

  • Total retail sales for May 2020 are expected to be down 21% from a year ago.

  • Fleet sales for May 2020 are expected to be down 78% from a year ago.

  • Total SAAR is expected to decrease 32% from a year ago from 17.4 million units to 11.8 million units.

  • Used vehicle sales for May 2020 are expected to reach 2,342,597, down 34% from a year ago and up 116 % from April 2020.

  • The average interest rates on new vehicle loans is 6.31%, based on TrueCar data.

“Brands like Hyundai and Volkswagen are showing the lowest levels of declines in total retail unit sales due to their robust product lines with strong deferred payment options, low interest rates, and job loss programs. These types of offers are resonating with consumers and raising confidence in the marketplace,” Nick Woolard, Director of OEM and Affinity Partner Analytics at TrueCar.

May 2020 forecasts for the 13 largest manufacturers by volume. For additional data visit the ALG Newsroom.

Total Unit Sales

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change
(Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

17,122

30,028

8,255

-43.0%

-43.0%

107.4%

107.4%

Daimler

17,588

30,048

11,278

-41.5%

-41.5%

56.0%

56.0%

FCA

124,072

218,702

92,053

-43.3%

-43.3%

34.8%

34.8%

Ford

145,484

231,588

119,591

-37.2%

-37.2%

21.7%

21.7%

GM

190,125

261,452

137,573

-27.3%

-27.3%

38.2%

38.2%

Honda

114,850

145,532

57,751

-21.1%

-21.1%

98.9%

98.9%

Hyundai

51,961

68,434

34,774

-24.1%

-24.1%

49.4%

49.4%

Kia

43,188

60,062

31,705

-28.1%

-28.1%

36.2%

36.2%

Nissan

60,893

131,983

46,689

-53.9%

-53.9%

30.4%

30.4%

Subaru

47,380

63,972

30,620

-25.9%

-25.9%

54.7%

54.7%

Tesla

8,051

11,300

6,200

-28.8%

-28.8%

29.8%

29.8%

Toyota

170,808

222,174

85,163

-23.1%

-23.1%

100.6%

100.6%

Volkswagen Group

48,296

59,986

28,347

-19.5%

-19.5%

70.4%

70.4%

Industry

1,080,075

1,590,217

710,827

-32.1%

-32.1%

51.9%

51.9%

Retail Unit Sales

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change
(Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

16,829

29,395

7,991

-42.7%

-42.7%

110.6%

110.6%

Daimler

16,994

28,047

10,782

-39.4%

-39.4%

57.6%

57.6%

FCA

118,554

153,471

89,825

-22.8%

-22.8%

32.0%

32.0%

Ford

126,962

157,503

98,562

-19.4%

-19.4%

28.8%

28.8%

GM

168,475

207,327

125,279

-18.7%

-18.7%

34.5%

34.5%

Honda

113,942

143,716

57,380

-20.7%

-20.7%

98.6%

98.6%

Hyundai

49,214

54,724

27,105

-10.1%

-10.1%

81.6%

81.6%

Kia

40,831

48,278

28,100

-15.4%

-15.4%

45.3%

45.3%

Nissan

54,783

84,027

35,185

-34.8%

-34.8%

55.7%

55.7%

Subaru

43,717

56,647

29,242

-22.8%

-22.8%

49.5%

49.5%

Tesla

7,956

11,300

6,200

-29.6%

-29.6%

28.3%

28.3%

Toyota

165,378

194,873

78,749

-15.1%

-15.1%

110.0%

110.0%

Volkswagen Group

46,038

53,125

26,588

-13.3%

-13.3%

73.2%

73.2%

Industry

1,008,916

1,271,535

640,92

-20.7%

-20.7%

57.4%

57.4%

Fleet Unit Sales

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

YoY % Change

YoY % Change
(Daily Selling Rate)

MoM % Change

MoM % Change (Daily Selling Rate)

BMW

293

633

264

-53.7%

-53.7%

11.1%

11.1%

Daimler

594

2,001

496

-70.3%

-70.3%

19.8%

19.8%

FCA

5,518

65,231

2,228

-91.5%

-91.5%

147.7%

147.7%

Ford

18,521

74,085

21,029

-75.0%

-75.0%

-11.9%

-11.9%

GM

21,650

54,125

12,294

-60.0%

-60.0%

76.1%

76.1%

Honda

908

1,816

371

-50.0%

-50.0%

144.6%

144.6%

Hyundai

2,747

13,710

7,669

-80.0%

-80.0%

-64.2%

-64.2%

Kia

2,357

11,784

3,605

-80.0%

-80.0%

-34.6%

-34.6%

Nissan

6,110

47,956

11,504

-87.3%

-87.3%

-46.9%

-46.9%

Subaru

3,662

7,325

1,378

-50.0%

-50.0%

165.7%

165.7%

Tesla

95

-

-

Toyota

5,430

27,301

6,414

-80.1%

-80.1%

-15.3%

-15.3%

Volkswagen Group

2,258

6,861

1,759

-67.1%

-67.1%

28.4%

28.4%

Industry

71,159

318,682

69,904

-77.7%

-77.7%

1.8%

1.8%

Fleet Penetration

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

YoY % Change

MoM % Change

BMW

1.7%

2.1%

3.2%

-18.8%

-46.5%

Daimler

3.4%

6.7%

4.4%

-49.3%

-23.2%

FCA

4.4%

29.8%

2.4%

-85.1%

83.8%

Ford

12.7%

32.0%

17.6%

-60.2%

-27.6%

GM

11.4%

20.7%

8.9%

-45.0%

27.4%

Honda

0.8%

1.2%

0.6%

-36.6%

23.0%

Hyundai

5.3%

20.0%

22.1%

-73.6%

-76.0%

Kia

5.5%

19.6%

11.4%

-72.2%

-52.0%

Nissan

10.0%

36.3%

24.6%

-72.4%

-59.3%

Subaru

7.7%

11.5%

4.5%

-32.5%

71.7%

Tesla

1.2%

0.0%

0.0%

Toyota

3.2%

12.3%

7.5%

-74.1%

-57.8%

Volkswagen Group

4.7%

11.4%

6.2%

-59.1%

-24.7%

Industry

6.6%

20.0%

9.8%

-67.1%

-33.0%

Total Market Share

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

BMW

1.6%

1.9%

1.2%

Daimler

1.6%

1.9%

1.6%

FCA

11.5%

13.8%

13.0%

Ford

13.5%

14.6%

16.8%

GM

17.6%

16.4%

19.4%

Honda

10.6%

9.2%

8.1%

Hyundai

4.8%

4.3%

4.9%

Kia

4.0%

3.8%

4.5%

Nissan

5.6%

8.3%

6.6%

Subaru

4.4%

4.0%

4.3%

Tesla

0.7%

0.7%

0.9%

Toyota

15.8%

14.0%

12.0%

Volkswagen Group

4.5%

3.8%

4.0%

Retail Market Share

Manufacturer

May 2020 Forecast

May 2019 Actual

Apr 2020 Actual

BMW

1.7%

2.3%

1.2%

Daimler

1.7%

2.2%

1.7%

FCA

11.8%

12.1%

14.0%

Ford

12.6%

12.4%

15.4%

GM

16.7%

16.3%

19.5%

Honda

11.3%

11.3%

9.0%

Hyundai

4.9%

4.3%

4.2%

Kia

4.0%

3.8%

4.4%

Nissan

5.4%

6.6%

5.5%

Subaru

4.3%

4.5%

4.6%

Tesla

0.8%

0.9%

1.0%

Toyota

16.4%

15.3%

12.3%

Volkswagen Group

4.6%

4.2%

4.1%

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

About ALG

Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, ALG is an industry authority on automotive residual value projections in both the United States and Canada. By analyzing nearly 2,500 vehicle trims each year to assess residual value, ALG provides auto industry and financial services clients with market industry insights, residual value forecasts, consulting and vehicle portfolio management and risk services. ALG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TrueCar, Inc., a digital automotive marketplace that provides comprehensive pricing transparency about what other people paid for their cars. ALG has been publishing residual values for all cars, trucks and SUVs in the U.S. for over 55 years and in Canada since 1981.

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 and ALG PR Contact:
Shadee Malekafzali
shadee@truecar.com
424.258.8694

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