International Nameplate Automobile Dealers Announce Monthly Sales

November Sales Rate Best Since August 2009 

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 2, 2011 The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released November 2011 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents America's approximately 10,000 international nameplate franchises whose brands accounted for 54.6 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States last month.

Thanks in part to a black Friday surge, overall sales, including domestic brands and unadjusted for business days, were up 13.9 percent from November 2010 and 10.4 percent year to date. The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for light vehicle sales in November was estimated by AutoData Corp. at 13.63 million units, up from 12.28 million units in November 2010.

Hyundai's sales were up 21.8 percent; Kia was up 39.1 percent; Nissan was up 21.5 percent; and Mercedes Benz had its best November ever with sales of 27,841 units, up 42.6 percent from a year ago. Toyota, well on its way to recovery from March's earthquake and tsunami, was up 6.7 percent and picked up a point in market share. Honda continues to struggle, now with supply issues caused by flooding in Thailand, and saw sales fall 6.2 percent from November 2010.

Overall, international brand sales were up 12.2 percent from November 2010 and 6.7 percent year to date. Domestic automakers were up 16.1 percent and 14.9 percent for the year. In November consumer confidence reached its highest level since July of this year, and unemployment fell 8.6 percent with 120,000 new jobs added.

"Bolstered by falling unemployment rates and attractive deals, consumers who had been deferring automotive purchases returned to dealerships in droves last month," said AIADA President Cody Lusk. "Dealers are optimistic that last month's numbers bode well for 2012."

International brands sold 542,324 units in November, down from 554,369 in October and 547,156 in September. Asian nameplates accounted for 43.8 percent of the overall market, down from 44 percent in October. European nameplates had a 10.8 percent share, up from 10.3 percent in October. Domestic brands finished November with 45.5 percent of the market, down from 45.7 in October and 48.1 in September.

Read AIADA's complete coverage of November's international nameplate auto sales here.

Web Site: http://www.aiada.org