J.D. Power Predicts Strong March, Sees Production Trouble Ahead


J.D. Power sees a strong March in its crystal ball, powered by real-time transaction data of 8,600 retail franchises throughout the United States. However growth is expected to be much more sedate than the 27 percent jump in February.
In its March forecast, J.D. Power expects total light-vehicle sales for March to come in at 1,205,200 units, 9 percent higher than in March 2010. Fleet sales in March are expected to decrease to 213,000 units, “based on the expectations that Japanese manufacturers will reduce fleet sales and channel that volume to the retail market, due to concerns about inventory shortages.” J.D. Power projects the March SAAR at 12.7 million units. They keep their forecast for total vehicle sales at 13 million units, up 13 percent from 2010.
Power sees near-term production to be impacted by parts shortages caused by the earthquake and tsunami crisis in Japan. “With the uncertainty remaining high about the full extent of the parts supply situation, North American production could be impacted in the weeks to come,” said Jeff Schuster, executive director of global forecasting at J.D. Power. “However, our 2011 production forecast remains at 12.9 million units, as we expect any lost volume would be made up later in the year.”
J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Sales and SAAR Comparisons
March 20111February 2011March 2010New-vehicle retail sales991,900 unitsLatest Car Reviews
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- Chuck Norton And guys are having wide spread issues with the 10 speed transmission with the HP numbers out of the factory......
- Zerofoo "Hyundais just got better and better during the 1990s, though, and memories of those shoddy Excels faded."Never. A friend had an early 90s Hyundai Excel as his college beater. One day he decided that the last tank of gas he bought was worth more than the car. He drove it to empty and then he and his fraternity brothers pushed it into the woods and left it there.
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- Ribbedroof In Oklahoma, no less!
- Ribbedroof Have one in the shop for minor front collision repairs right now,I've seen more of these in the comments than in the 30 years I've been in collision repair.
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I haven't seen any comments regarding the possible upside of this -- but, it seems to me that a supply shortage would -- decrease supply -- and likely increase prices. what better chance do our home boys have to reduce incentive payments, reduce fleet sales, sop up extra inventory, etc? There has to be some pent up demand, used car prices are pretty decent as well as interest rates, so the net effect on the consumer may be moderated. I'm sure that there are financial costs to be borne but -- the idea that with less inventory that the dealers could actually get more money per sale sounds favorable to me. But what do I know -- not being a car expert.