According to the most recent estimates, automotive sales in the United States reached a record high in 2016. General Motors alone reported 17.5 million sales this past year with a 10% sales increase in December alone. While Ford Motor Co. had a tougher December, with only a 0.3% sales gain, the company is still reporting an impressive 17.8 million sales last year. And although FCA (the owner of Chrysler) reported a 10% drop in the last month of the year, the so-called “Big Three” sold at rates near or even better than the strong numbers posted at the end of 2015.
In short, 2016 was a great year for the American auto industry, auto lead generation services, and dealerships around the country.
The reasons for this are numerous. Steady job growth and lower gas prices have helped the industry, as has growing consumer confidence. Both GM and Ford are predicting that 2017 will bring record sales again. And although car loan interest rates increased from 4.13% to 4.25% from 2014 to 2016, it appears that consumers are still buying more cars than ever.
Dealers are using more incentives to increase their sales rates, and it appears that those incentives are working. Dealers looking to thrive in 2017 should plan to combine those incentives with better auto lead generation tools. Consumer confidence is at an all-time high, which means that automotive leads should be easier to obtain. The current state of the economy may become more uncertain over the next few years, so it’s important to generate more leads for car loans throughout 2017.
In addition, subprime auto leads are entering the conversation more frequently. Although job outlook is currently positive, subprime auto loans can provide reliable transportation for those who can’t secure a car through other means due to lack of employment or other financial situations. It’s important to target these customers in order to drum up interest and leads for car loans throughout the year, especially for dealers who sell used vehicles.
If you want to reach your own record high for sales in 2017, you need a reliable system for generating auto sales leads. As the original destination for auto finance lead generation, we can help you zero in on consumers who need a loan to get a new or used car. With help from our system, you’ll be able to follow up with those customers and get them in the vehicle they need. For more information on how our program can help you generate those vital auto sales leads, contact us today!
