Edmunds: New-Vehicle Sales Record in Reach
Edmunds.com is forecasting the sale of 1,629,011 new cars and trucks in December. If realized, the prediction puts the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) at 17.7 million, an 18.5% increase from the same time last year.
Edmunds.com is forecasting the sale of 1,629,011 new cars and trucks in December. If realized, the prediction puts the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) at 17.7 million, an 18.5% increase from the same time last year.
Based on this forecast, Edmunds.com is projecting a new annual record of 17,480,294 new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. market in 2016, a 0.03% increase from last year’s record.
“While December sales are tracking to finish lower than they did last year, dealers and automakers are hustling to squeeze out just enough units to set an annual record,” said Jeremy Acevedo, Edmunds.com senior analyst. “It’s safe to say that the final week of the year will decide whether 2016 will make automotive history. It’s shaping up to be a true photo finish.”
This final week, the firm noted, is traditionally the single busiest week of the year. This year, the firm projects that new car sales during the final week of December will be 72% higher than the averages seen during the previous three weeks of the month.
By Edmunds’ estimates, retail SAAR will come in at 15 million in December, with fleet transactions accounting for 15.2% of total sales. On the used-car front, 2.6 million used cars will be sold in December, for a SAAR of 38.2 million. The firm also believes GM, Toyota and Ford will be the top-selling brands with market share of 18.4%, 14.5% and 14.3%, respectively, according to Edmunds.
More Operations

Used EVs Strengthen Overall Electric Vehicle Market
The latest sales data point to several reasons for the divergent trends in new and used EVs that can factor into fleet cycling decisions.
Read More →
The Data-Driven Haul: 5 Ways AI is Leveling the Playing Field in Auto Transport
Large and small transport fleets are becoming more competitive as predictive analytics and real-time data inform the logistics decision chain.
Read More →
How to Speak the Same Language on Fleet Safety
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
2026 CAR Awards Celebrate Industry Excellence
CAR’s annual Fleet Remarketing Awards opened a reimagined 2026 conference designed to bridge the worlds of fleet management and automotive remarketing.
Read More →
The Predictive Pivot: How AI and Data Are Redefining Auto Logistics in 2026
AI is no longer a luxury but the baseline for profitability in 2026. Auto haulers that adopt these tools now will quickly outpace those using manual workflows and taking a wait-and-see approach.
Read More →
The Predictive Pivot: How AI and Data Are Redefining Auto Logistics in 2026
AI is no longer a luxury but the baseline for profitability in 2026. Auto haulers that adopt these tools now will quickly outpace those that use manual workflows or take a wait-and-see approach.
Read More →
CAR 2026 Recap Part 2: Closing the Gap Between Data & Remarketing Value
The second half of CAR 2026 examined how fleets can translate lifecycle strategy, vehicle data, and market shifts into higher real-world results.
Read More →
CAR2026 in Two Words: Velocity, Value (Part 1)
The 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing convened with a mandate to involve a new constituency — fleet managers — and an updated mission to demonstrate unrealized value in de-fleeted vehicles.
Read More →
CAR 2026: Get the Wall Street Update on the Key Players in Remarketing
From a Wall Street analyst's take on remarketing's key players to whether fleets need their own version of Carfax, CAR 2026's afternoon roundtables will answer key operational and industry questions.
Read More →
CAR 2026 Session to Uncover the Missing Data That's Costing Fleets at Disposal
Work trucks lose value at remarketing, not because they aren't worth more, but because the data to prove it rarely makes it to the auction.
Read More →