Car Dealership Guy Podcast

New Car Sales Surge, Dealership M&A Market Heats Up, Nissan’s Troubles Escalate | The Weekly

Nov 30, 2024

The podcast dives into the booming SUV market and how new vehicle sales are on the rise. It discusses the heating merger and acquisition landscape for dealerships, despite a dip in profitability. Attention turns to Nissan, with insiders warning the company has a mere 12 to 14 months to turn things around. Finally, there's buzz around Ram's upcoming midsize pickup, hinting at exciting design plans and its potential impact on the market. It's a whirlwind of auto industry insights!

05:51

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Quick takeaways

The SUV market has reached a record 58% share, highlighting the challenge of maintaining affordability amid rising vehicle prices.

U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to increase significantly, driven by robust inventory and consumer confidence, despite potential tariff impacts.

Deep dives

Record SUV Market Share Amid Affordability Challenges

The SUV market has achieved a historic milestone, capturing 58% of vehicle sales, while smaller car sales plummet to just 19%. Despite this success, the significant rise in SUV prices, which have increased by 44% over the past two decades, poses a challenge for manufacturers as they strive to keep prices accessible for families. As noted by industry experts, producing desirable larger vehicles at affordable rates is increasingly difficult. This situation underscores the tension between consumer demand for SUVs and the need for manufacturers to maintain affordability in a tightly stretched market.

Surging SUV Market and Shift in Dealership Dynamics

4min

Nissan's Urgent Turnaround and Ram's Midsize Pickup Plans

2min

Welcome to The Weekly, your go-to roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week.

This week's top stories:

1. SUV market share sets record but prices remain constrained

2. U.S. new vehicle sales ramp up as year winds down

3. Dealer M&A heats up in Q3 despite profitability slide

4. 2 unnamed Nissan execs. say the company has “12-14 months to survive”

5. Ram CEO teases new mid-size pickup, details coming in 2025

Have a tip for our editorial team? Send us your scoop at insights@cardealershipguy.org.