2001 Area Vehicle Sales Close to 2000 Record

2001 Area Vehicle Sales Close to 2000 Record

A Strong Year!

All things considered, Washington area franchised dealers had a very healthy 2001. The final numbers show total new vehicle sales of 308,744, just a 2.7 percent decline from record breaking 2000 sales of 317,435, according to Washington market figures compiled by R. L. Polk.

Once again, it was a good news, bad news year for import and domestic brands:

àImport light trucks again represented the largest segment increase in the Washington market in 2001, with sales up 10.2 percent, to 49,542. That follows a 34.1 percent sales surge in 2000 and a whopping 40 percent increase in 1999.

àImport car sales climbed a modest 1.2 percent to 119,612 in 2001, following a 10.9 percent increase in 2000.

àDomestic car sales took the biggest hit last year, with a 16.7 percent decline, to 61,813, after a 2.2 percent increase in 2000.

à Domestic light-duty truck sales declined only 2.9 percent, to 77,777, versus a very healthy 9.0 percent increase in 2000.

àThe percentage of import cars sold in the Washington area continues to climb now an eye-opening 65.9 percent, up from 61.4 percent in 2000 and 59.5 percent in 1999.

That compares with national car sales of 51.5 percent import brands according to Automotive News.

àWhen it comes to car versus truck sales, Washingtonians buck the national average now about evenly split between cars and trucks. Final sales for 2001 were 181,425 cars and 127,319 light trucks, for a 59/41 percent split, respectively.

àThe best unit sales months in 2001 were March, June and August, with sales of 28,471, 28,221 and 27,893, respectively. February and December were the lowest sales months at 21,341 and 22,880, respectively.

The 2001 WANADA Area Report from R.L. Polk is enclosed with this issue of the Bulletin.