FCA Wins, Volkswagen Loses in Average New Car Price During September

by Aaron Cole

Updated: December 31st, 2020 Published: October 1st, 2015

fca wins volkswagen loses in average new car price during september

The average transaction price for a new car edged up slightly August to September from $33,563 to $33,730, researchers at Kelley Blue Book said Thursday.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles posted the largest gain over the same month last year, as the automaker increased its average transaction price 4.1 percent to $34,809. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen was the only major automaker to post a loss in the report, losing 1.6 percent from August to September this year, and 0.1 percent from September 2014.

Ford, General Motors and Kia/Hyundai all posted gains over 3 percent, year-over-year. Overall, the industry average for new car transaction prices rose 2 percent from September 2014 to September 2015. Toyota was the other automaker to fall below the industry average for gains. Its average transaction price increased by only 0.6 percent.

Nearly all segments of luxury cars fell over the past year, according to KBB. The average transaction price for an entry-level luxury car dipped 2.1 percent to $39,626 from September 2014, and the average transaction price for a luxury mid-size SUV dropped by nearly 4 percent to $52,228. The only luxury car segment that didn’t fall were luxury compact crossovers.

The average transaction price for a full-size pickup increased by more than 6 percent to $46,046 in September (further proving they can charge whatever they want for those things). The other big gainer for average transaction price was minivans, which increased by nearly 5 percent to $33,150.

The average price paid for a new electric car in September was $35,269, down 2.1 percent from last year. A new hybrid, on average, cost $25,462 in September, which was down 1.1 percent from last year.

According to Akshay Anand, an analyst for Kelley Blue Book, Volvo’s XC90 was the biggest gainer in the industry, by far.

“Volvo’s XC90 transaction prices have jumped an astonishing 41 percent year-over-year, which is by far the best mark for any vehicle, regardless of brand,” Anand in a statement.

#AverageTransactionPrice #FiatChryslerAutomobiles #KelleyBlueBook #Sales #Toyota #Volkswagen

Aaron Cole

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9 of 15 comments

Deanst on Oct 01, 2015

Not sure about the math on this one - how is everyone except VW and Toyota above the industry average? Were prices at smaller manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes down dramatically?

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Scoutdude on Oct 01, 2015

The telling thing on VW prices will be Oct and beyond, the scandal broke too late in Sep to have as big of an impact as it could in Oct. Truck prices up 6% hmm, must be because Ford is piling the discounts on the Aluminum F150, because it is "selling so poorly". It certainly can't be because buyers are flocking to the higher trim levels of the F150, Ford is being really stingy with any discounts on them and that allows GM and Chrysler to be less generous with their discounts.

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- See 6 previous
- Kyree on Oct 01, 2015
  
  I think you're spot on with both analyses. It's amazing how much pickups cost these days. Indeed, an F-150 with the options I'd want would be nearer to $52K.
  
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- Deanst on Oct 01, 2015
  
  @Kyree GM admitted in a presentation today that 14% of industry sales represent 60% of industry profits - the 14% is luxury vehicles and pickups.
  
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- Bball40dtw on Oct 01, 2015
  
  Best F-Series September since 2006. The new F150 must be selling like crap...
  
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- Highdesertcat on Oct 01, 2015
  
  @bball40dtw In my region, Southcentral NM and West TX, they've quit advertising aluminum F150s because there is a waiting line for them. Selling like crap, indeed. More like diarrhea.
  
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- Bball40dtw on Oct 01, 2015
  
  @highdesertcat Bwahahaha.
  
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- Lorenzo on Oct 01, 2015
  
  @bball40dtw The delays in getting the aluminum F150s to market just depleted the stock, new and used, on dealer lots, and now Ford is reaping the benefit of higher transaction prices and profit margins. Fortunately, it's not a situation they could deliberately repeat.
  
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- Highdesertcat on Oct 01, 2015
  
  Lorenzo, I think you re right. But the bottom line is what matters. And Ford clinched it. Higher transaction prices. Greater profit margins. I'm not a Ford fan, but regardless of the reasons, Ford has a hot product in the aluminum F150. If they prudently reduce supply, they will continue to reap the benefits of higher demand. Enough of a threat to get GM to tout their trucks are tough as steel, as if anyone with half a brain would let that affect their buying decision if they wanted an aluminum body. And in 2017 or 2018 when GM can secure enough aluminum alloy to make their truck bodies from aluminum, what is GM going to say? We copied the F150? Most buyers would acknowledge GM as a copy cat since Ford was the first to use aluminum. Aluminum alloy is one way to get closer to CAFE standards by reducing total vehicle weight. The new metallurgy and alloys are truly amazing. Light, dense and strong. I wonder what a Carbon Fiber or Kevlar body would save in weight?
  
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