International Automobile Dealers Announce Monthly Sales

August Sees First Sales Gain in 21 Months

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released August 2009 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents over 11,000 international nameplate franchises, which so far this year account for 56.1 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States. Overall sales, including domestics and unadjusted for business days, were up one percent compared to August 2008 but down 27.9 percent for the year-to-date.

The government's popular Car Allowance Rebate System, better known as Cash for Clunkers, is credited with driving sales through August, resulting in the first month-to-month increase since October 2007. Though a post-Clunkers lull in sales is expected, the industry's seasonally adjusted sales rate, or SAAR, spiked from a predicted 11.2 million in July to 14.1 million in August. That is the highest rate since May 2008. "These improved numbers are exactly what dealers hoped for from August. Cash for clunkers was an unparalleled success," said Wisconsin auto dealer and AIADA Chairman Russ Darrow. "The focus now is on speeding Clunkers reimbursements to dealers. Cash flow is the lifeblood of small businesses, and dealers need those funds to pay our own employees."

According to numbers from Autodata Corp., international brands sold 747,689 vehicles in August, up from 562,988 in July and 683,328 in August 2008. Asian brands accounted for 52.3 percent of the market, up from 48.7 percent in July 2009, and Europeans had a 6.9 percent share, down from 7.8 in July. Domestic brands finished the month with 40.8 percent of the market, down from 43.6 in July.

Cash for Clunkers may have done more for the economy than draw consumers to dealerships. Consumer confidence saw a jump from 47.4 percent in July to 54.1 percent in August. In total, 16 brands - 13 of which were international nameplates - actually increased sales over August 2008. Kia led the pack with a 60.4 percent increase from a year earlier.

For more information on automobile sales data, and to view a full report on August automobile sales, click here: http://www.aiada.org/newsroom/newsDetails.asp?id=57398&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.