Is This Press Release More Evidence of an Economic Recovery?

SACRAMENTO – The California New Car Dealers Association announced January 25 that registrations of new cars and light trucks increased by 13.1 percent in California during 2010, compared with 2009. The association forecasts 2011 sales will increase by another 13.3 percent to 1,330,000 new vehicles.

The Honda Civic was the best-selling vehicle in California during 2010, followed closely by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Ford F-150 was the best-selling truck.

“We continue to see slow but steady improvement in the economy and in the new car market” said Steve Snyder, the association’s chair. “New car buyers have a wide variety of new models and increasingly efficient vehicles to choose from at great prices.”

The California Auto Outlook Fourth Quarter 2010 Market Report provides  information on the state’s new vehicle market.

(Editor’s Note: Among other points, the report indicates 2010’s increase was the first since 2005 but that new car registrations are still well below 2005’s 2.1 million.)

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