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California’s New Car Dealers Lead the Nation in Selling Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs)

Economic Impact Report: 2018

CNCDA Brings Back Annual Convention For First Time In 10 Years

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California Electric Vehicle Sales Up in 2017 but Gas Powered Vehicles Still Primary Consumer Choice

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California green vehicle market continues to experience increases year over year, particularly in the electric vehicle space where sales increased more than 30 percent in 2017 from 2016, making up 2.5 percent of total new vehicle sales for the year. However, according to the California Green Vehicle Report, this is only a drop in the bucket as the new vehicle market is still overwhelmingly controlled by gasoline powered vehicles, which made up more than 83 percent of total new car registrations for 2017.

“While an increase in green vehicle sales is positive for California and our environmental goals, the reality is consumers still largely prefer gasoline powered vehicles. Issues like convenience, affordability, range and choice are all significant factors when consumers make decisions about vehicle purchases,” said California New Car Dealers Association Chairperson, Taz Harvey of Dublin Mazda. “These numbers demonstrate that consumers have not yet made the mass shift to green vehicles and until some of these issues are addressed, they will continue to choose what is affordable and meets their day to day transportation needs.”

Additionally, brand share in the alternative powertrain market is heavily dominated by Toyota, making up nearly 32 percent of green vehicle sales in 2017, followed by Chevrolet, Tesla, Ford and Lexus rounding out the top five selling brands in California for hybrid, plug in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. However, as manufacturers continue to increase the vehicle options they have to offer consumers in the green vehicle market space, we expect to see further fluctuations in in brand shares in alterative powertrain vehicle sales.

The California Green Vehicle Report provides comprehensive information on the state’s green vehicle market. The report includes a segment watch, including top 20 best-selling alternative powertrain vehicles; best sellers in market segments including hybrid, plug in hybrid, electric and fuel cell; market trends by powertrain type and brand shares in alternative powertrain market. The complete report can be accessed on CNCDA’s website at: www.cncda.org

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California Green Vehicle Report is produced for CNCDA by Auto Outlook, Inc., an independent research company specializing in the analysis of statewide and regional automotive markets. When reporting these auto industry trends please acknowledge the Data Source: IHS Markit.

California Vehicle Sales Close Out 2017 with an Increase in Non-Luxury SUV Sales and a Decline in Small Car Sales

Contact: Jenny Dudikoff
916-441-2599

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California new vehicle market continues to change, with a shift to non-luxury SUV sales from small car sales. According to the California Auto Outlook Fourth Quarter 2017, market share for the two primary segments saw more than a 12 percent combined change from 2012 to 2017, with non-luxury SUV sales increasing from 19 percent to 26 percent and small car sales decreasing from 31 percent to 25 percent over the five year period.

“As larger, more family friendly vehicles continue to make a comeback, the change we’re seeing in various market segments is directly related to consumer choice, convenience and affordability. Trends show that consumer demand for luxury and compact SUVs continues to increase, resulting in manufacturers producing more vehicle choices in this space to meet the needs of buyers. This is clearly reflected in the market share segment shifts we’ve seen over the past five years,” said California New Car Dealers Association Chairperson, Taz Harvey of Dublin Mazda.

Additionally, we also see changes in the electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle market place in the Golden State. Total market share for electric, plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles has reached 9.4 percent of new car registrations statewide. Underneath this broad improvement, since 2013 electric vehicle market share is up 1.3 percent with plug-in hybrids increasing another one percent, while hybrid market share has dropped 2.3 percent. While the 31,637 increase in EV sales during the last four years is impressive, the Ford F Series outsold all EV’s combined in 2017, with more than 55,000 new light vehicle registrations.

2017 maintained a trend of higher light truck sales, lower car sales and varying regional markets throughout the state. Overall, Northern California truck sales were up 9.4 percent, with car sales down 6.4 percent from 2016 and sales in Southern California mimicked this trend with light truck sales up 7.7 percent and car sales down 11.8 percent from the previous year.

2017 closed out with more 2 million new vehicles sold statewide, for the third year in a row. It is expected that the market will continue to exceed this benchmark in 2018.

The California Auto Outlook Fourth Quarter 2017 Market Report provides comprehensive information on the state’s new vehicle market. The report includes: a segment watch, including the top five models in each segment; a market perspective, comparing California nationally; brand scoreboards; a five-year sales trend comparison and more. The complete report can be accessed on CNCDA’s website at: www.cncda.org

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California Auto Outlook, is produced for CNCDA by Auto Outlook, Inc., an independent research company specializing in the analysis of statewide and regional automotive markets. When reporting these auto industry trends please acknowledge the Data Source: IHS Markit.

Tracking the California hybrid and electric vehicle market: 2018 Q1

Auto Outlook: 2017 Quarter 4

Economic Impact Report: 2017

Northern California and San Francisco Bay Vehicle Sales Continue to Outpace the Rest of the State

Contact: Jenny Dudikoff
916-441-2599

California car sales estimated to remain steady through the end of the year

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California new vehicle market continues to vary as new motor vehicle sales continue to go up in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay, outpacing the rest of the state through the third quarter of 2017. The two regions have enjoyed a combined 3 percent increase over 2017’s third quarter. And, while Southern California experiences a slight decline in vehicle sales including in LA, Orange and San Diego Counties, the state overall is expected to stay on track to remain above 2 million in annual new car sales in 2017.

According to the California Auto Outlook Third Quarter 2017, the plug in hybrid and the electric vehicle markets continue to see an increase in sales, totaling close to 70,000 registrations year to date, making up 4.5 percent of total new car registrations in California. In contrast, hybrid registrations, excluding plug ins, continue to see a decline in sales making up 4.5 percent of the market, down from 6.8 percent market share just four years ago.

“New car sales remain an important engine for California’s continued economic growth even as sales begin to peak in some markets throughout the state,“ said California New Car Dealers Association Chairperson, Cheryl Bedford of Sunset Auto Center in Lompoc. “While plug in and electric vehicle sales continue to increase, the growth is at a pace far below what’s needed to meet the California ZEV mandate for 2025. We encourage policymakers to take a hard look at how to further incentivize the sales of alternatively powered vehicles or risk missing our targets seven years from now.”

Additionally, as noted last quarter, for the first time in more than a decade, light truck sales exceeded car sales statewide. The same is true for the third quarter of 2017. Light truck sales currently make up more than 50 percent of the new light vehicle registrations year to date, an increase of 4.7 percent from last year at this time.

The California Auto Outlook Third Quarter 2017 Market Report provides comprehensive information on the state’s new vehicle market with charts and graphs. The report includes: a segment watch, including the top five models in each segment; a market perspective, comparing California nationally; brand scoreboards; a five-year sales trend comparison and more. The complete report can be accessed on CNCDA’s website at: www.cncda.org

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California Auto Outlook, is produced for CNCDA by Auto Outlook, Inc., an independent research company specializing in the analysis of statewide and regional automotive markets. When reporting these auto industry trends please acknowledge the Data Source: IHS Markit.

Auto Outlook: 2017 Quarter 3

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