From Calif New Car Dealers Assn
February 14,2014
The California new vehicle market continued its steady recovery from the recessionary low point in sales that occurred in 2009. New light vehicle registrations in the state increased 9.0 percent in the Fourth Quarter of 2013 versus a year earlier. The percentage improvement slipped from recent quarters, but registrations still reached 422,313 units in the Fourth Quarter of last year, about 35,000 units higher than the Fourth Quarter of 2012. Total registrations in 2013 exceeded 1.71 million units, up 11.9 percent from 2012 and 65 percent from 2009!
Auto Outlook is predicting that registrations in 2014 will approach 1.8 million units, a 5.2 percent increase from 2013. Other key trends in the state market:
Among the top 15 selling brands, Subaru, Dodge, Mazda, Lexus, Chevrolet, Nissan, Ford, and BMW had the biggest percentage increases last year. New registrations for each of the eight brands increased by more than 15 percent (see page 4).
Detroit Three registrations increased 17.4 percent in 2013 and market share increased 1.3 points. Korean brands had a small decline and market share fell by 0.9 of a point. Japanese brands steadily increased by 12.7%.
Hybrid vehicle market share (excluding plug ins) increased to 6.8 per- cent last year, well above the 2012 level. Electric vehicle market share was 1.3 percent.
Used vehicle registrations fell 6.1 percent. Three year old or newer vehicles were up 12.9 percent, as supply shortages are easing.
Among other interesting stats Toyota Prius remains the top selling car; California improvement exceed the US increase in sales by 11.9% to 7.2%.
Also new car registrations were up 11.9% compared to a 6.1% decline for used vehicles.