In May, average wholesale values fell relative to April, though they remain up on a year-over-year basis largely because of the price strength of trucks, according to ADESA.
by Staff
June 15, 2016
Compact pickups like the Chevrolet Colorado increased 14.6% in wholesale value compared to last May. Photo courtesy of GM.
2 min to read
Compact pickups like the Chevrolet Colorado increased 14.6% in wholesale value compared to last May. Photo courtesy of GM.
In May, average wholesale values fell relative to April, though they remain up on a year-over-year basis largely because of the price strength of trucks, according to the latest Kontos Kommentary from ADESA Chief Economist Tom Kontos.
According to ADESA Analytical Services’ monthly analysis of Wholesale Used Vehicle Prices by Vehicle Model Class, wholesale used vehicle prices in May averaged $10,709 — down 1.4% compared to April and up 2.4% relative to May 2015.
Ad Loading...
Average prices for most vehicle model class segments were down on a month-over-month basis, including many of the truck segments, according to ADESA.
Average wholesale prices for used vehicles remarketed by manufacturers were up 2.5% month-over-month but down 2.8% year-over-year, according to ADESA. Prices for fleet/lease consignors were down 0.6% sequentially and down 0.8% annually. Dealer consignors registered a 1.9% decrease versus April but a 2.3% increase relative to May 2015.
Data from NADA showed a 0.5% year-over-year decrease in retail used vehicle sales by franchised dealers and a 1.2% increase for independent dealers in May, while both were up significantly up month over month.
Average Prices ($/Unit)
Latest Month Versus:
May-16
Apr-16
May-15
Prior Month
Prior Year
Total All Vehicles
$10,709
$10,866
$10,454
-1.4%
2.4%
Total Cars
$8,950
$9,044
$9,103
-1.0%
-1.7%
Compact Car
$6,825
$7,003
$7,058
-2.6%
-3.3%
Midsize Car
$8,035
$8,127
$7,927
-1.1%
1.4%
Fullsize Car
$7,851
$7,860
$7,861
-0.1%
-0.1%
Luxury Car
$13,750
$13,828
$13,993
-0.6%
-1.7%
Sporty Car
$14,238
$14,415
$13,892
-1.2%
2.5%
Total Trucks
$12,658
$12,819
$11,967
-1.3%
5.8%
Mini Van
$7,925
$8,582
$7,584
-7.7%
4.5%
Fullsize Van
$13,327
$13,457
$12,749
-1.0%
4.5%
Compact SUV/CUV
$10,841
$11,033
$10,823
-1.7%
0.2%
Midsize SUV/CUV
$11,471
$11,619
$10,502
-1.3%
9.2%
Fullsize SUV/CUV
$13,504
$13,221
$12,368
2.1%
9.2%
Luxury SUV/CUV
$19,183
$19,121
$18,844
0.3%
1.8%
Compact Pickup
$9,282
$8,674
$8,101
7.0%
14.6%
Fullsize Pickup
$15,813
$15,903
$14,584
-0.6%
8.4%
This Kontos Kommentary analysis is based on nearly six million annual sales transactions from more than 150 of the largest U.S. wholesale auto auctions, including those of ADESA as well as other auction companies. ADESA Analytical Services segregates these transactions to study trends by vehicle model class.
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.
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.
The enhanced technology allows rental car operations, dealerships, and auctions to compare a vehicle’s condition at pickup and drop-off within the same rental or loaner record.
A panel at the 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing will examine how resale value is created across the vehicle lifecycle and which traditional remarketing practices still deliver ROI.
Smart operational and spec'ing decisions can dramatically improve both the total cost of ownership during use and the resale value when it's time to remarket day cabs.
How can vehicle-sourced performance data change the way fleets assess condition, time de-fleets, and set remarketing expectations? A seminar at the 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing (CAR) has answers.
