Low Incentives Spending Suggests Big First Quarter for Automakers, Says Edmunds.com
Low Incentives Spending Suggests Big First Quarter for Automakers, Says Edmunds.com
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — March 1, 2012 — February's incentives spending on new car sales increased month-over-month but still came in at the lowest of any February since 2003, according to an analysis of Edmunds.com's True Cost of Incentives® (TCISM). Edmunds.com reports that the average TCISM per vehicle in February was $2,193, up 2.4 percent over January, but down 14.5 percent from February of last year.
"The decreased incentives spending across the industry so far in 2012 really underscores the healthy performance we've been seeing at dealerships nationwide," says Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell. "Car manufacturers know that consumers who deferred purchases in 2011 are still coming back to the market and by stepping back the discounts, they stand to pocket bigger profits. The first quarter of 2012 is shaping up quite well for automakers."
| Manufacturer | 12-Feb | 12-Jan | 11-Feb | Feb 2012 vs. Jan 2012 | Feb 2012 vs Feb 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler | $2,426 | $2,447 | $3,191 | -0.9% | -24.0% |
| Ford | $2,827 | $2,788 | $2,778 | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| GM | $3,257 | $3,171 | $3,845 | 2.7% | -15.3% |
| Honda | $1,080 | $1,060 | $1,504 | 1.9% | -28.2% |
| Nissan | $2,717 | $2,417 | $2,797 | 12.4% | -2.9% |
| Toyota | $1,431 | $1,426 | $2,112 | 0.4% | -32.2% |
| Industry | $2,193 | $2,141 | $2,566 | 2.4% | -14.5% |
Of the top six automakers, only Ford Motor Co. increased its incentives spending year over year in February. Ford's incentives spend climbed 1.8 percent in February to $2,827. Toyota, meanwhile, boasted the biggest year-over-year drop in spending, cutting incentives by nearly one-third to $1,431 per vehicle.
Car buyers looking for the best bargains in February would have been wise to check out the deals from Lincoln and Chevrolet. These two automotive brands offered the biggest discounts off their average MSRPs last month, at 11.0 percent and 10.6, respectively. Shoppers can always find the vehicles with the most compelling deals on Edmunds.com's True Market Value® Deals of the Month page at http://www.edmunds.com/deals-of-month.html .
Edmunds.com's monthly True Cost of Incentives® (TCISM) report takes into account all automakers' various U.S. incentives programs, including subvented interest rates and lease programs, as well as cash rebates to consumers and dealers. To ensure the greatest possible accuracy, Edmunds.com bases its calculations on sales volume, including the mix of vehicle makes and models for each month, as well as on the proportion of vehicles for which each type of incentive was used.
About Edmunds (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)
Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its acclaimed mobile site, Edmunds.com Android App and five-star Edmunds iPhone and iPad apps make car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web's most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds 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.
