Industry Insights Report | August 2024
The Marketplace Shows
Balance and Signs of
Stability Coming into Fall
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What we’re watching
New and Used Car Inventory Coming into Fall
Model Year 2025 Launches Coupled with 2024 Sell Off Trends
Consumer Confidence as the Election Season Heats Up
Used Cars Affordability as Average Miles Continues to Increase
Industry Volatility as C-Suites Strategize Future Portfolio Offerings
Throughout the summer, the car industry showed continued signs of a more balanced marketplace. Year-over-year demand is less volatile, and there’s a healthy supply of new vehicles for sale.
New-car pricing remains stable, but trade-in values have fallen, further complicating affordability. The composition of the new-car inventory has been relatively unchanged in the last six months and skews toward higher sticker prices, reflecting the new normal.
Used-car supply is starting to stabilize, with prices down nearly 5%, offering relief to shoppers. The quality of the used-car inventory still leans older, and average odometer mileage increased 1.5% year over year as fewer late-model vehicles land on dealer lots.
New electric-vehicle demand continues to rise despite strategic changes for manufacturers; stock and interest in used EVs are up year over year while prices ease.
Overall, new and used shoppers should be encouraged by more choices, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a more robust market.
Heading into the fall selling season, we expect to see model-year 2025 inventory streaming into dealerships, replete with updated technology (2025 Toyota Sienna), evolutionary styling (hello 2025 Nissan Kicks) and maybe even a manual transmission (looking at you, 2025 Subaru BRZ). With the right tools, research, and knowledge, it’s always a good time to buy a car.
Rebecca Lindland
Sr. Director of Industry Data and Insights, Cars Commerce
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