Dealer Insight Newsletter January 2012

Volume III Issue No. VI January 2012

Edmunds Dealer Newsletter

2011 Year in Review:
You Haven't Seen this Movie Before
Article by Aaron Lewis

At Edmunds.com we have a soft spot for a good Hollywood story. We can't help it, really. Our Santa Monica headquarters, after all, is located just a few miles from the heart of Tinseltown. It's a place where everyone has a pilot to screen or a script to pitch.

We mention all this because when you think about it, the auto industry in 2011 played out like a classic Hollywood screenplay.

Car sales demonstrated growing momentum during the last few months, with sales exceeding a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 13 million. November sales showed particular strength with a SAAR of 13.6 million. Does this mean 2011 will close out on a high note for the auto industry?

With explosive U.S.-market sales virtually demanding the company find a way to get more cars into customers' hands, Hyundai Motor America isn't ready to commit to a second assembly plant in the United States, president and CEO John Krafcik told reporters at the company's technical center near Ann Arbor, Mich., last week.

Even in the complex, expensive and highly political world of emissions testing and certification, rumors are a bitch. And in California - where various government agencies bring to bear the world's toughest vehicle emissions regulations on the most dense car enthusiast population anywhere - it pays to investigate rumors.

Looking for a bargain? We've got 10. The following cars are our TMV� Deals of the Month, and they represent the best values we've found in the marketplace. (Visit our Learn More About TMV page for more info about TMV.) Some of these cars offer great deals with regard to leasing.

Looking for a bargain? We've got 10. The following trucks, minivans and SUVs are our TMV� Deals of the Month, and they represent the best values we've found in the marketplace. (Visit our Learn More About TMV page for more info about TMV.)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing a rule that would standardize keyless ignition systems, citing a NASA study following consumer complaints about runaway Toyotas, among other safety-related concerns.

The proposal says it will "reduce the risk that drivers will misuse these new systems" and "reduce crashes, injuries and deaths resulting from a driver's inability to shut down a moving vehicle." The proposed rule was published Monday in the Federal Register.

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Media Highlights by

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black First Drive

Show Highlights by

2011 Tokyo Auto Show

IL Track Tested: 2012 Porsche 911 vs. 2012 Audi R8
Blog by Inside Line

Edmunds.com Comments on Finalists for 2012 North American Car & Truck of the Year
Article by Edmunds.com

This afternoon, the jury for the North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) announced the finalists for its prestigious awards: the 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat in the car category and the 2012 BMW X3, 2012 Honda CR-V and the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque in the truck category.

For a complete look into the top twenty sales and market share by make and manufacturer, an excel spreadsheet data file is available for download.

Lowest Days to Turn by Manufacturer is the average number of days vehicles were in dealer inventory before they were sold during the months indicated.

What are your customers saying about you?

Edmunds.com Dealer Ratings and Reviews. Check out what is being said about you in the market place.

Do You Disagree with True Market Value^® (TMV^®) Prices Reported on Edmunds.com?

If you think our numbers do not accurately reflect transactions in your area, you can help us refine our prices by providing sales data from your dealership. For more information about including your sales transaction data in our calculations, email us at dataacquisition@edmunds.com.