true trends by_truecar_april-2010 v2

April 15th, 2010

by

Automotive intelligence covering new car prices, best car deals and more.

The Truth Will Prevail

TrueCar obtains data directly from car dealers, respected dealer management system (DMS) providers, and well-known data aggregators within the automotive space.

We also acquire vehicle configuration data, customer and dealer incentives data, financing and loan data, vehicle registration and insurance data, and much, much more. TrueCar is insatiable about data with our goal to find 100% of all purchase transactions, even if that means finding the same transaction multiple times from multiple sources within the car-buying ecosystem.

Our data is among the most timely and comprehensive in the industry, as we are able to process most car sales within a week of the actual sales date, and have a substantial fraction on the site within 48 hours of the actual sale. TrueCar believes the greater our informational accuracy, the greater benefit we provide to both dealers and consumers.

Score

TrueCar Price Flex Score

1

Least Flexible 2010 Models

ModelMake Score

Most Flexible 2010 Models

ModelMake

Least and Most Flexible 2010 Vehicles ( by Body Type )

Least Flexible ModelBody Type Most Flexible Model

What is the TrueCar Price Flex Score?

The TrueCar Price Flex Score measures the elasticity of transaction price by model. The Price Flex Score calcula-tion dynamically incorporates the factors that effect price variance including the model’s transaction price range, current inventory and sales data. A vehicle experiencing extremely low inventory and a small range of transaction prices will have a low Price Flex Score. Don’t expect much of a discount from the TrueCar average transaction price on a vehicle with a low Price Flex Score. If a vehicle has a high Price Flex Score, however, you have the potential to strike

a deal significantly below (or above, if you’re not careful!) the TrueCar average transaction price. Here are the 2009 and 2010 models with the highest and the lowest Price Flex Scores. We also show the models with the highest and lowest Price Flex Score within each vehicle category. The scores range from 1 to 100. A score of 1 corresponds to the lowest Price Flex Score and indicates a very small -if any- negotiation power. A score of 100 indicates the highest Price Flex Score, meaning there is a big range of transaction prices for that model.

April 15th, 2010 - TrueTrends™ by TrueCar™ - © 2010 TrueCar, Inc.

Chevrolet

GMC

Audi

Cadillac

GMC

Chevrolet

Ford

Ford

Buick

Toyota

BMW Z4 (Score: 6)

Audi A5 (Score: 2)

Ford Explorer Sport Trac (Score: 3)

Cadillac DTS (Score: 2)

GMC Acadia (Score: 1)

Honda Odyssey (Score: 16)

Subaru Outback (Score: 24)

Convertible

Coupe

Pickup

Sedan

Sport Utility

Van

Wagon

Volvo C70 (Score: 91)

Honda Accord Coupe (Score: 98)

Toyota Tacoma (Score: 93)

Hyundai Elantra (Score: 100)

Mazda Tribute (Score: 100)

Mazda MAZDA5 (Score: 88)

Hyundai Elantra Touring (Score: 99)

Chrysler

Hyundai

Mazda

Acura

Honda

Hyundai

Honda

Hyundai

Cadillac

Honda

PT Cruiser Classic

Elantra

Tribute

ZDX

Insight

Elantra Touring

Accord Coupe

Accent

CTS Wagon

Accord Sedan

Suburban

Acadia

A5

DTS

Terrain

Equinox

Taurus

Explorer Sport Trac

Lucerne

Avalon

1

1

2

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

100

100

100

99

99

99

98

98

97

97

Greatest Discounts

1

Make

Top Discounts: 2009 Makes Top Discounts: 2010 Makes

Top Discounts: 2009 Models Top Discounts: 2010 Models

Rank % Below MSRP

2

3

4

5

1

MakeRank % Below MSRP

2

3

4

5

1

Make / ModelRank % Below MSRP

2

3

4

5

1

Make / ModelRank

2

3

4

5

2

% Below MSRP


Mazda

HUMMER

Kia

Chevrolet

Hyundai

Nissan Titan

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Aveo

HUMMER H3

Chevrolet Cobalt

Hyundai Sonata

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Commander

Chevrolet Malibu

29%

27%

25%

24%

23%

20%

19%

19%

18%

17%

Ford

Hyundai

Chrysler

Chevrolet

Mercury

14%

11%

11%

11%

11%

23%

22%

19%

18%

16%

Makes with Greatest Discounts on 2010 Vehicles

% B

ELO

W M

SRP

5%

7%

9%

11%

15%

13%

Ford ChryslerHyundaiJeepMercury

November December January February

How Do I Use This?

The greatest percent below MSRP helps identify the biggest consumer discounts of the month. Below, TrueCar ranks 2009 and 2010 vehicles with average transaction prices that comprise the greatest percent off the make or model’s average MSRP.

Greatest Discounts (continued...)

3

Top 2009 Models ( by Body Type ) Top 2010 Models ( by Body Type )

ModelBody Type% Below MSRP ModelBody Type

% Below MSRP


Best Day of the Month to Buy a Car

Nissan Titan

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Chevrolet Cobalt

HUMMER H3

Chevrolet Express Cargo Van

Chevrolet Corvette

Nissan cube

Chevrolet Cobalt

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Ford Focus

Ford Ranger

Ford Mustang

Toyota Sienna

Hyundai Elantra Touring

Pickup

Convertible

Sedan

Sport Utility

Van

Coupe

Wagon

Sedan

Sport Utility

Coupe

Pickup

Convertible

Van

Wagon

29%

27%

25%

23%

18%

17%

8%

20%

19%

17%

17%

11%

11%

10%

Consumer Tip of the Month

Our projections for the best and worst day to buy a new vehicle are rooted in an analysis of historical sales as well as short term forecasts. Our projections, over the next 31 days, suggest that the best day to buy a car will be on April 26th, the last Monday of the month. The worst day to buy a car will likely be on Sunday, May 2nd.

PRO

JEC

TED

AVE

RA

GE

DIS

CO

UN

T

4.5%

5.0%

5.5%

6.0%

6.5%

7.0%

Best Day to Buy a VehicleApril 26th, 2010Average Discount: 6.56%

Worst Day to Buy a VehicleMay 2nd, 2010Average Discount: 5.38%

4/17/10 4/21/10 4/25/10 4/29/10 5/03/10 5/07/10 5/11/10 5/15/10

Apr 26, 2010

May 2, 2010

Top Vehicles ( by Body Type )

Top Vehicles (overall)

Greatest Price Drop Month Over Month

4

1

Year / Make / Model / TrimRank $ Drop From Last Month

2

3

4

5

Year / Make / Model / TrimBody Type

For each body type, TrueCar tracks the average transaction price for each trim and lists vehicles with the greatest drop in price month over month.

TrueCar also ranks the trims with the overall greatest drop in price from March 5th to April 9th, 2010.

$ Drop From Last Month


Largest Total Incentives for April

Sedan

Sport Utility

Pickup

Convertible

Minivan

Wagon

Coupe

2010 BMW 5 Series 4dr 528i xDrive AWD

2010 Lexus LX 570 4WD 4dr

2010 Nissan Titan 4WD Crew Cab LWB SE

2011 Volvo C70 2dr Conv Auto

2010 Honda Odyssey 5dr EX-L w/RES

2010 Subaru Impreza Wagon 5dr Auto i

2010 MINI Cooper Clubman

2010 BMW 5 Series 4dr Sedan 528i xDrive AWD

2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan 5.5L V8 4MATIC

2010 Lexus LX 570 4WD 4dr

2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4WD 4dr SC

2010 BMW X5 AWD 4dr 48i

-$1,471

-$1,469

-$934

-$902

-$719

$1,471

$934

$567

$515

$449

$288

$182

This table shows the highest incentive for each brand. Generally, incentives are active throughout the month in which TrueTrends by TrueCar is released. Though active at the time of the report’s release, incentives are subject to change without notice. Check for updates on the TrueCar price report for each model and with your dealer.

Models with Largest Total Incentives

1

Make / ModelRank Customer Cash Rebate Dealer Cash

2

3

4

5

2010 BMW M6

2010 Infiniti M45

2010 Nissan Titan

2010 Volvo XC70

2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

$0

$0

$5,000

$0

$4,000

$12,500

$6,000

$0

$5,000

$0

5

2009 Vehicles: Shortest Days in Inventory 2009 Vehicles: Longest Days in Inventory

1

Make / ModelRank Days in Inventory

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1


Shortest to Longest ( by Body Type )

Industry Wide Average Days in Inventory for March: 51 Days

Shortest and Longest Days in Inventory

1

7


2

3

4

5

6

2010 Vehicles: Shortest Days in Inventory 2010 Vehicles: Longest Days in Inventory

1


2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1


March’s Shortest and Longest Days in Inventory

TrueCar ranks the vehicles that spend, on average, the shortest and longest days on the lot before they sell. We rank by both overall shortest / longest days in inventory and by category. Vehicles that spend little time in inventory are in high demand, while vehicles that spend an extended time in inventory are in low demand.


Kia Borrego

Kia Rio

Infiniti G37

Hyundai Santa Fe

Toyota Venza

Nissan cube

Chevrolet Silverado 2

Kia Rondo

GMC Sierra 2500

Kia Sportage

Mercedes-Benz GL550

Mercedes-Benz GL350

Audi Q5

Hyundai Tucson

Chevrolet Equinox

GMC Terrain

Lexus GX 460

Toyota 4Runner

Lexus LX 570

GMC Yukon XL Denali

Hyundai Sonata

Ford Mustang

BMW 535i

Ford Transit Connect

Kia Forte

Jeep Compass

Ford F-250

BMW 528i

Cadillac DTS

Dodge Avenger

Chevrolet Cobalt

Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet HHR

Chevrolet Aveo

Honda Civic

Volkswagen Jetta

Honda Accord

Volkswagen Eos

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Aveo S

Van

Sport Utility

Coupe

Sedan

Pickup

Hatchback

Convertible

53

58

60

60

60

62

90

107

108

129

134

141

150

153

161

163

163

9

10

11

12

13

13

14

14

15

15

131

98

97

90

88

87

85

83

82

82

378

336

320

316

308

290

290

285

284

282

Model Year Share shows the percentage share of 2009 model year vehicles sold within the last month versus vehicles of any other model year sold. Generally, the higher the model year share value, the higher the discount a consumer can expect to receive on that given model. It also reflects that dealers are more likely to cut deals on a 2009 model in order to make room for a 2010. At this time of year, consumers should look for a model year share of 10% or greater to get the high-est possible discounts.

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

6

Model Year Share

Highest Percentage of 2009 Vehicles SoldLowest Percentage of 2009 Vehicles Sold

Make Rank % of Sales

1 1

MakeRank % of Sales


smart

Saab

Pontiac

Saturn

Suzuki

HUMMER

Kia

Infiniti

Porsche

GMC

Mazda

Audi

Ford

Mercury

Toyota

Buick

Jeep

Acura

Lexus

Subaru

0.6%

0.6%

0.8%

0.9%

1.1%

1.2%

1.2%

1.3%

1.4%

1.5%

73.3%

37.9%

32.1%

26.6%

16.8%

13.6%

10.4%

10.1%

10.1%

8.6%

2

3

4

5

Highest Percentage of 2011 Vehicles Sold

1

MakeRank % of Sales

Kia

Hyundai

Volvo

Infiniti

Toyota

34%

29%

10%

6%

5%

Between 2009, 2010, and 2011 vehicles, the 2010 market share is 93% of total sales.

93% 2010 VEHICLES

20094%

201093%

20113%

Although still early in the year, 2011 model year vehicles started showing up in decent numbers within the last few weeks and already make up 3% of total vehicle sales.

April 15th, 2010 - TrueTrends™ by TrueCar™ - © 2010 TrueCar, Inc. 7

Appendix

About Us

TrueCar is the authority in new-car pricing. We show car buyers and car dealers how much people actually paid for a particular car in a specific local area. With TrueCar pricing, both new car buyers and new car dealers can know at any time what is considered a good or great price on a new car. Consumers no longer need to walk into a dealership partially informed and fully suspicious – using TrueCar they walk in knowing the price of a fair deal. Dealers benefit by TrueCar’s real-time, unbiased information about

Contact Us

TrueCar Inc.225 Santa Monica Blvd, 6th FloorSanta Monica, CA 90401(800) [email protected]

Visit us at www.truecar.com

marketplace pricing, helping them price cars for increased sales, and ultimately gaining market share over other dealers. Our innovative new car pricing service is offered free of charge on our website at www.truecar.com, on our mobile site at mobile.truecar.com, and via syndication of our tools and pricing data to leading automotive research sites throughout the web.

Disclaimer

This report and the information contained herein is for your noncommercial, personal use on an “as-is, as available” basis and may be used by you for informational purposes only. TrueCar makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this report and the results of the use of such information, including but not limited to implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. The information contained in this report may

include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Neither TrueCar nor any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or their respective partners, officers, directors, employees, or agents shall be held liable for any damages, whether direct, incidental, indirect, special, or consequential, including without limitation lost revenues or lost profits, arising from or in connection with your use or reliance on the information presented in this report.

true trends by_truecar_april-2010 v2

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