Tag: ford

Pickup trucks are a staple of the automotive industry. Their utility and versatility allow consumers to haul heavy loads or tow large trailers, making them ideal for blue-collar workers. At the same time, pickup trucks offer a sleek appearance that can be aesthetically appealing. And now, we’re seeing the next evolution of the pickup truck: EVs. According to Experian’s Automotive Consumer Trends Report: Q3 2024, of the 292.1 million vehicles in operation, more than 54 million were pickup trucks. Furthermore, 17.4% of new retail registrations this quarter were pickup trucks, while pickup trucks made up 19.2% of used retail registrations. Interestingly, we’re seeing more consumer demand for EV pickup trucks. Over the last 12 months, the Ford F-150 Lightening made up 42.2% of the EV pickup truck market share, closely followed by the Tesla Cybertruck at 37.9%. Rounding out the top five were the Rivian R1T (14.2%), GMC Hummer EV (4.8%) and Chevrolet Silverado EV (0.9%). Still room for the ICE pickup Although we’re beginning to see EV pickup trucks gain some prominence, the overwhelming majority of pickups on the road are gas-powered. In fact, over the last 12 months, 14.5% of new retail pickup truck registrations were attributed to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, followed by the Ford-150 at 13.4% and the GMC Sierra 1500 (9.1%). Though, data found the preference flipped for the used side, with the Ford F-150 leading at 18.1% of retail pickup registrations and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at 13.9%, followed by the GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2%). With more consumers not only maintaining a keen interest in gasoline pickup trucks, but also moving into the EV space, the current data can be leveraged in more ways than one as professionals diversify their sales strategies while optimizing dealership inventory. To learn more about pickup truck insights, view the full Automotive Consumer Trends Report: Q3 2024 presentation or The Trade Desk Brochure.

Driven by a range of appealing factors including lower monthly payments and a wider array of models—due to the continuous rise in new vehicle inventory—leasing has reappeared as an optimal choice for consumers who are in the market for a vehicle. According to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Report: Q2 2024, leasing increased to 25.35%, up from 21.14% in Q2 2023 and 19.30% the year prior. While the average monthly payment and interest rate for a new loan modestly increased year-over-year, leasing is increasingly becoming a more attractive option for those leaning towards flexibility and affordability. For example, the average monthly payment on a leased vehicle was $148 less than a loan this quarter. What’s more, it seems consumers are leaning towards larger vehicles. For instance, the Honda CR-V (2.98%) continued to lead the top leased models in Q2 2024, and it was followed closely by the Tesla Model Y (2.61%). Rounding out the top five were the Honda Civic (2.29%), Ford F-150 (2.02%), and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (1.86%). Prime financing grows and lease payments decline across all segments When looking at risk distribution trends in Q2 2024, prime consumers accounted for nearly 70% of the total finance market—with prime coming in at 37.82%, down from 39.84% last year and super prime increasing from 28.98% to 31.59% year-over-year. Subprime also saw a slight increase, going from 13% to 13.06% during the same period. It’s notable that all risk segments experienced a decrease in average monthly payments for leased vehicles, as super prime went from $601 in Q2 2023 to $586 in Q2 2024, prime declined to $583 this quarter, from $596 last year, and subprime was at $597, from $611. With the average monthly payments declining year-over-year for majority of shoppers, it can potentially create a more competitive market and drive more consumers towards this finance option—something automotive professionals should keep a close eye on. New and used vehicle finance market overview Data in Q2 2024 found that new vehicle loan amounts increased slightly, reaching $40,927, up from $40,743 last year, and the average interest rate went from 6.78% to 6.84% year-over-year. Despite the increases, the average monthly payment for a new vehicle only experienced a $1 growth to $734 this quarter. On the used side, the average loan amount declined from $27,316 Q2 2023 to $26,248 in Q2 2024, and the average rate grew from 11.47% to 12.01% in the same time frame. Though, the average monthly payment declined to $525 this quarter, from $536 last year. As the automotive industry continues to adapt to the changing market conditions and consumer preferences, it’s important for professionals to leverage the most current data—this will allow them to effectively assist consumers by meeting their financial needs with the available options. To learn more about automotive finance trends, view the full State of the Automotive Finance Market: Q2 2024 presentation on demand.

As vehicle inventory continues to restore post-pandemic, data through the third quarter of 2023 showed new vehicle registrations are on the rise again—a positive sign that the market is leveling out. According to Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report: Q3 2023, new vehicle registrations increased 12.7% year-over-year, reaching 11.5 million. On the used side, registrations declined to 29.3 million through Q3 2023, a 2% decrease from 29.9 million last year. Digging a bit deeper, CUVs/SUVs were the most registered new vehicle segment at 56.9%, up from 56.2% compared to last year. Pickup trucks declined from 18.6% to 17.4% year-over-year and sedans went from 17.1% to 16.8% in the same time frame. While knowing what types of vehicles consumers are interested in is beneficial for automotive professionals, breaking down the most sought-after models will paint a fuller picture as they assist shoppers in finding a vehicle that fits their needs. For instance, despite new pickup truck registrations declining year-over-year, the Ford F-150 made up the highest share of new vehicle registrations through Q3 2023—reaching 3%. The Tesla Model Y and Toyota RAV4 were not far behind, both coming in at 2.5% this quarter. They were followed by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Honda CR-V tying at 2.3%. ICE vehicles continue to grow Taking a deeper dive into the fuel type share, ICE vehicles continue to grow year-over-year, even with electric vehicles (EVs) making headway into the market. Experian Automotive’s Vehicles in Operation (VIO) data as of Q3 2023 shows ICE vehicle registrations grew to 265.7 million, up from 264.5 million last year, while hybrid vehicles increased to 8.0 million, from 6.9 million in the same time frame. Meanwhile, EVs went from 2.0 million last year to 3.0 million this year and diesel saw a slight uptick from 9.6 million to 9.9 million in the same period. Leveraging different data points and staying up to date on vehicle registration trends can better prepare professionals as the market remains ever-changing and consumer preference continues to shift. To learn more about vehicle market trends, view the full Automotive Market Trends Report: Q3 2023 presentation on demand.

Pickup trucks have long been a staple of the automotive industry, and the data show this is still the case—even seeing some growth in the third quarter of 2022. Experian’s Automotive Consumer Trends Report: Q3 2022 took a deeper dive into pickup trucks and found they accounted for 20.4% of new retail vehicle registrations, increasing from 16% in Q3 2021 and surpassing sedans (16.5%) and SUVs (11.4%). The growth in pickup truck popularity is partially due to their functionality and towing capabilities, among other features that smaller vehicles may not offer. As more consumers continue to be drawn to pickup trucks, it’s important for automotive professionals to not oversimplify by grouping potential shoppers together, but instead, dive into the data to understand the current trends, such as who is buying and the type of truck segments they may be interested in. Breaking down pickup truck registration trends by generation When looking at who is in the market for a pickup truck, data shows Gen X made up the largest percentage of buyers in Q3 2022, comprising 34.6%, with Baby Boomers coming in at 28.3%, and Millennials not too far behind at 25.2% this quarter. Knowing who is making up majority of the pickup truck registrations and the types of trucks they are looking for goes hand-in-hand when automotive professionals are searching for ways to market strategically and ensure they are reaching the right audience. For instance, in Q3 2022, 43.1% of Gen X buyers opted for a full-size luxury truck, such as the Rivian R1T, while 35.7% preferred a full-size truck, such as the Ford F-150, and 32.9% bought a midsize truck, such as the Toyota Tacoma. By comparison, 20.4% of Baby Boomers bought a full-size luxury truck in Q3 2022, 27% chose a full-size truck, and 30.7% opted for a midsize truck. Data shows Millennials preferred a full-size luxury truck over any other type—coming in at 30.6%, while 26% opted for a full-size truck, and 23.3% bought a midsize truck. As consumer preference continues to shift throughout the automotive industry, analyzing and leveraging data will allow professionals to properly assist consumers when looking for a vehicle that fits their needs, as well as stay up-to-date on the current trends. To learn more about pickup trucks and other consumer trends, watch the entire Automotive Consumer Trends Report: Q3 2022 webinar.