International Automobile Dealers Announce Monthly Sales

Cash for Clunkers Boosts Sales in July

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released July 2009 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents over 11,000 international nameplate franchises, which so far this year account for 55.4 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States. Overall sales, including domestics and unadjusted for business days, were down 12.2 percent compared to July 2008 and 32.1 percent year to date.

The government's popular Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as Cash for Clunkers, is credited with driving sales through July, resulting in the best numbers in 11 months. The industry's seasonally adjusted sales rate, or SAAR, spiked from a predicted 9 million sales last month to 11.2 million in July. "Sales may still be down 12 percent from a year ago, but they're up 16 percent from June 2009," said AIADA President Cody Lusk. "Cash for Clunkers is a stimulus plan that works. Dealers now look to Congress to keep the momentum going by allocating additional funds to the program." Without additional funds Cash for Clunkers, which was intended to run until November 1, could soon be suspended.

According to numbers from Autodata Corp., international brands sold 562,988 in July, up from 469,713 vehicles in June, but down from 650,887 in July 2008. Asian brands accounted for 48.7 percent of the market, up from 45.8 percent in June 2009, and Europeans had a 7.8 percent share, down from 8.8. Domestic brands finished the month with 43.6 percent of the market.

July's improved auto sales are all the more remarkable when the country's consumer confidence index is taken into consideration. Confidence dropped from 49.3 in June to 46.6 in July. But the temptation of Cash for Clunkers vouchers still managed to draw consumers to dealerships. Seven brands -- Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mercury, Subaru, VW, and Volvo -- actually increased sales over July 2008. Subaru led the pack with a 34.2 percent increase.

For more information on automobile sales data, and to view a full report on July automobile sales, click here: http://www.aiada.org/newsroom/newsDetails.asp?id=57396&cmd=article

About AIADA: Established in 1970, AIADA is and continues to be the only association whose sole purpose is to represent America's 11,000 international nameplate automobile franchises.