TrueCar, Inc., an authority on new car pricing information, trends and forecasting, estimated today that the average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the U.S. was a record-high $31,854 in September 2013, up $1,572 (5.2 percent) over September 2012; and up $602 (1.9 percent) from August 2013, the previous high mark for average transaction prices.
Four automakers -- General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Volkswagen – all achieved record highs for their average transaction price in September.
"While September's sales didn't match those of the summer months, the prices buyers are paying continue at a record pace," said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for TrueCar. "A higher number of 2014 model year vehicles arriving at the dealerships with much lower incentives and the continued appetite of consumers for well-equipped vehicles helped keep transaction prices at record levels."
Manufacturer
September 2013 Transaction Price
August 2013 Transaction Price
September 2012 Transaction Price
Percent Change Sept. 2012 to Sept. 2013
Percent Change August 2013 to Sept. 2013
Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat)
$30,589
$30,317
$ 29,577
3.4%
0.9%
Ford (Ford, Lincoln)
$33,752
$33,460
$ 31,663
6.6%
0.9%
GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC)
$34,108
$33,492
$ 31,639
7.8%
1.8%
Honda (Acura, Honda)
$27,614
$27,221
$ 26,760
3.2%
1.4%
Hyundai/Kia
$22,296
$22,418
$ 23,283
-4.2%
-0.5%
Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti)
$28,731
$28,513
$ 27,877
3.1%
0.8%
Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota)
$29,270
$29,068
$ 29,014
0.9%
0.7%
Volkswagen (Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen)
$34,726
$34,317
$ 31,967
8.6%
1.2%
Industry
$31,854
$31,252
$ 30,282
5.2%
1.9%
In addition, TrueCar estimated that the average incentive for light vehicles was $2,382 in September 2013, down $14 (-0.6 percent) from September 2012; and down $120 (-4.8%) from August 2013.
Manufacturer
September 2013 Incentives
August 2013 Incentives
September 2012 Incentives
Percent Change Sept. 2012 to Sept. 2013
Percent Change August 2013 to Sept. 2013
Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat)
$ 3,020
$ 3,041
$ 3,281
-8.0%
-0.7%
Ford (Ford, Lincoln)
$ 2,878
$ 2,934
$ 2,497
15.3%
-1.9%
GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC)
$ 3,203
$ 3,552
$ 2,914
9.9%
-9.8%
Honda (Acura, Honda)
$ 1,431
$ 1,627
$ 2,467
-42.0%
-12.1%
Hyundai/Kia
$ 1,652
$ 1,718
$ 1,357
21.7%
-3.8%
Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti)
$ 2,242
$ 2,221
$ 2,419
-7.3%
0.9%
Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota)
$ 1,661
$ 1,831
$ 1,855
-10.5%
-9.3%
Volkswagen (Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen)
$ 2,530
$ 2,676
$ 2,116
19.5%
-5.5%
Industry
$ 2,382
$ 2,502
$ 2,397
-0.6%
-4.8%
TrueCar estimated the ratio of incentives to average transaction price for light vehicles was 7.5 percent in September, down from 7.9 percent in September 2012 and down from 8.0 in August 2013.
Manufacturer
September 2013 Incentives/Avg. Transaction Price
August 2013 Incentives/Avg. Transaction Price
September 2012 Incentives/ Avg. Transaction Price
Percent Change Sept. 2012 to Sept. 2013
Percent Change August 2013 to Sept. 2013
Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat)
9.9%
10.0%
11.1%
-1.2%
-0.2%
Ford (Ford, Lincoln)
8.5%
8.8%
7.9%
0.6%
-0.2%
GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC)
9.4%
10.6%
9.2%
0.2%
-1.2%
Honda (Acura, Honda)
5.2%
6.0%
9.2%
-4.0%
-0.8%
Hyundai/Kia
7.4%
7.7%
5.8%
1.6%
-0.3%
Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti)
7.8%
7.8%
8.7%
-0.9%
0.0%
Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota)
5.7%
6.3%
6.4%
-0.7%
-0.6%
Volkswagen (Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen)
7.3%
7.8%
6.6%
0.7%
-0.5%
Industry
7.5%
8.0%
7.9%
-0.4%
-0.5%
