truecar monthly data report november 2009

November 13th, 2009Monthly Data Report

The Truth Will Prevail

During the last month, TrueCar acquired actual sales transaction data for more than 43% of all new vehicles sold within the United States. We continue to work to grow this number aggressively. As of October 2009, this represents more than 360,000 vehicles sold nationally in October and 3.7MM year-to-date.

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.

We obtain our 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 an insurance data, and much, much more.

TrueCar believes the greater our informational accuracy, the greater benefit we provide to both dealers and consumers.

Score

TrueCar Price Flex Score

1Monthly Data Report - © 2009 TrueCar, Inc.

2009 Least Flexible Models

ModelMake

CX-9

G-Class

E-Class

5

Tribute

Mercedes-Benz

Mazda

Mercedes-Benz

Mazda

Mazda

TT

Camry

Audi

Toyota

AvengerDodge

Fj Cruiser

Viper

Toyota

Dodge

3

1

5

7

9

15

15

16

19

20

98

99

88

84

84

83

81

81

81

80

Score

2009 Most Flexible Models

ModelMake

Q5

1-Series

MKX

Entourage

G8

BMW

Audi

Lincoln

Hyundai

Pontiac

Commander

G37

Jeep

Infiniti

NavigatorLincoln

Aspen

Explorer

Chrysler

Ford

What is the TrueCar Price Flex Score?

The TrueCar Price Score measures the elasticity of trans-action price by model. The Price Flex Score calculation 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. Below 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.

Score

2010 Least Flexible Models

ModelMake

G-Class

E-Class

5

Corolla

Tribute

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

Mazda

Toyota

Mazda

Compass

PT Cruiser

Jeep

Chrysler

CamryToyota

Avenger

Tundra

Dodge

Toyota

8

6

8

11

11

14

15

16

18

19

94

98

87

84

83

83

83

82

81

81

Score

2010 Most Flexible Models

ModelMake

Q5

1-Series

MKX

Navigator

MKS

BMW

Audi

Lincoln

Lincoln

Lincoln

Edge

Yukon XL

Ford

GMC

A5Audi

Commander

Explorer

Jeep

Ford

TrueCar Price Flex Score (continued...)


2009 Least and Most Flexible Vehicles ( by Body Type )

Least Flexible ModelBody Type

Audi TT (Score: 15)

Honda Civic (Score: 22)

Nissan Titan (Score: 29)

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Score: 5)

Mazda CX-9 (Score: 1)

Coupe

Convertible

Pickup

Sedan

Sport Utility

Mazda 5 (Score: 7)

Most Flexible Model

BMW 1-Series (Score: 98)

Audi A5 (Score: 79)

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Score: 76)

Lincoln MKX (Score: 88)

Audi Q5 (Score: 99)

Hyundai Entourage (Score: 84)Van

This largest incentives list totals both available consumer and dealer incentives. The incentives are ranked by largest percent discount off MSRP. Generally, incentives are active throughout the month in which the data report is released. Though active at the time of the data reports’ release, incentives are subject to change without notice. Check for updates on the TrueCar price report for each model and with your dealer.

2010 Least and Most Flexible Vehicles ( by Body Type )

Least Flexible ModelBody Type

Mazda Miata (Score: 22)

Honda Accord (Score: 23)

Toyota Tundra (Score: 19)

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (Score: 8)

Mercedes-Benz G-Class (Score: 6)

Coupe

Convertible

Pickup

Sedan

Sport Utility

Mazda 5 (Score: 8)

Most Flexible Model

BMW 1-Series (Score: 94)

Audi A5 (Score: 82)

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (Score: 78)

Lincoln MKX (Score: 87)

Audi Q5 (Score: 98)

Chrysler Town & Country (Score: 85)Van

Largest Total Incentives

Top 2009 Models

1

Make / ModelRank % Discount From MSRP

Jaguar XJ Series 20%

Nissan Titan 19%

Pontiac G6 18%

Saturn Aura 17%

GMC Sierra 1500

$ Incentives

$19,000

$5,000

$3,500

$4,000

$4,000

MSRP

$94,850

$26,950

$19,995

$23,375

$25,485

2

3

4

5 16%

Greatest Discounts


1

Make

Top 2009 Makes Top 2010 Makes

Top 2009 Models Top 2010 Models

Rank % Below MSRP

Dodge 21%

Kia 18%

Saturn 17%

Hyundai 15%

Chrysler

2

3

4

5 15%

1

MakeRank % Below MSRP

Ford 11%

Lincoln 10%

Chrysler 9%

Volvo 9%

Mercedes-Benz

2

3

4

5 8%

1

Make / ModelRank % Below MSRP

Dodge Charger 23%

Dodge Ram 1500 22%

Kia Optima 19%

Hyundai Elantra 17%

Jeep Liberty

2

3

4

5 17%

1

Make / ModelRank

Ford F-150Ford F-150 14%

Ford Edge 13%

Toyota Tundra 2WD Truck 13%

Toyota Yaris 11%

Chevrolet Malibu

2

3

4

5 11%

% Below MSRP

Top 2009 Makes

% B

ELO

W M

SRP

7%

11%

15%

19%

23% DodgeKiaSaturnHyundaiChrysler

July August September October

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...)

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


ModelBody Type% Below MSRP

Dodge Charger 23%

Dodge Ram 1500 22%

Mazda RX-8 21%

Jeep Commander 21%

Dodge Grand Caravan

Pickup

Sedan

Coupe

Sport Utility

Van 21%

Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class 10%

Suzuki SX4 3%

Convertible

Wagon

ModelBody Type% Below MSRP

Ford F-150 14%

2010 Ford Edge 13%

Ford Explorer 14%

Toyota Yaris 12%

Volvo C70

Sedan

Pickup

Sport Utility

Coupe

Convertible 11%

Chrysler Town & Country 10%

Hyundai Elantra Touring 8%

Van

Wagon

Consumer Tip of the Month

Projected Best and Worst Days to Buy a Vehicle

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 November 27th (Black Friday), and the worst day to buy a car will be November 16th. Go find those competitive car dealers... and avoid the malls.

PRO

JEC

TED

AVE

RA

GE

DIS

CO

UN

T

4.5%

5.0%

5.5%

6.0%

6.5%

7.0%

7.5%

8.0%

11/16/09 11/20/09 11/24/09 11/28/09 12/02/09 12/06/09 12/10/09 12/14/09

Nov 27, 2009

Best Day to Buy a VehicleNovember 27th, 2009 (Black Friday)Average Discount: 7.5%

Worst Day to Buy a VehicleNovember 16th, 2009Average Discount: 5.2%

Top Vehicles ( by Body Type )

Top 5 Vehicles

Greatest Price Drop Month Over Month

1

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

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe FWD 4dr Man GLS -$1,457

2010 Toyota Yaris 5dr HB Man -$1,034

2010 Toyota Tundra 4WD Truck CrewMax 5.7L V8 6-Spd AT Grade -$979

2009 Lexus LS 460 4dr Sedan RWD -$732

2010 Ford Edge 4dr SEL FWD

2

3

4

5 -$653

Year / Make / Model / TrimBody Type $ Drop From Last Month

2009 Hyundai Santa Fe FWD 4dr Man GLS -$1,457

2010 Toyota Yaris 5dr HB Man -$1,034

2010 Toyota Tundra 4WD Truck CrewMax 5.7L V8 6-Spd AT Grade -$979

2010 Toyota Sienna 5dr 7-Pass Van LE FWD -$380

2010 Toyota Matrix 5dr Wagon Man FWD

Sedan

Sport Utility

Pickup

Minivan

Wagon -$280

2009 MINI Cooper Hardtop 2dr Coupe S -$200

2010 Lexus IS 250C 2dr Conv Man -$10

Coupe

Convertible


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 month over month.

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

Monthly Data Report - © 2009 TrueCar, Inc.

1

Make / ModelRank Days in Inventory

Acura MDX 18

Toyota Highlander 20

Nissan Murano 22

GMC Yukon XL Denali 23

Toyota Venza

2

3

4

5 24

Nissan Cube 25

Toyota Highlander Hybrid 29

Mazda 5 29

Toyota RAV4

6

7

8

9 32

Honda CR-V10 33

1


Saab 9-3 303

Honda Pilot 290

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 285

Cadillac STS 278

Ford Mustang

2

3

4

5 269

Mazda 6 250

Saturn Aura 234

Chevrolet Corvette 232

Mazda RX-8

6

7

8

9 231

Lincoln MKS10 212

Shortest to Longest ( by Body Type )Industry Wide Average Days to Turn for October: 48 Days

Shortest and Longest Days in Inventory 1

9


Sport Utility 35

Wagon 38

Hatchback 46

Sedan 49

Van

2

3

4

5 50

Coupe 606

Pickup 67

Sport Utility Pickup

7

8 69

Convertible 88

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

1


BMW M3 3

BMW X5 3

Toyota Highlander 4

Toyota Highlander Hybrid 5

Nissan Murano

2

3

4

5 5

BMW 328I xDrive 5

Mini Clubman 6

Mini Cooper 6

Toyota FJ Cruiser

6

7

8

9 6

BMW 335I10 7

1


Jaguar XF 63

Lincoln MKZ 58

Lincoln MKX 47

Kia Forte 43

Mazda 3

2

3

4

5 41

Chevrolet Malibu 40

Honda Insight 40

Hyundai Sonata 40

Ford Mustang

6

7

8

9 39

Ford Explorer Sport Trac10 38

August’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 both by overall shortest/longest days in inventory as well as 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.

6

Percent Industry Share of Model Year Vehicles

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. Gen-erally, 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 the year, consumers should look for models with a 2009 model year share of 50% or greater.

Monthly Data Report - © 2009 TrueCar, Inc.

Model Year Share

Lowest Percentage of 2009 Vehicles Sold

1

Make / ModelRank % of Sales

Toyota Corolla 0.5%

Chevy Equinox 1.3%

BMW 5-Series 1.5%

Mercedes E-Class 1.7%

Mazda 3

2

3

4

5 1.8%

Infiniti QX56 1.9%

Ford Expedition EL 2.2%

Nissan Armada 2.4%

Toyota Tundra 2WD Truck

6

7

8

9 2.8%

Toyota Yaris10 3.0%

7

Highest Percentage of 2009 Vehicles Sold

1

Make / ModelRank

Cadillac DTS

Chevrolet Cobalt

Nissan Altima

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Nissan 370Z

2

3

4

5

Nissan Murano

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Audi TT

Mitsubishi Galant

6

7

8

9Mitsubishi Eclipse10

% of Sales

98.6%

97.6%

97.4%

97.3%

97.3%

96.2%

94.5%

94.1%

94.1%93.9%

54%2010 Vehicles

46%2009 Vehicles

Between 2009 and 2010 vehicles, 2010 shares 54% of total sales.

Monthly Data Report - © 2009 TrueCar, Inc. 8

Appendix

About Us

TrueCar (www.truecar.com) is the authority in new-car pricing. It aggregates multiple data sources to show car buyers and dealers how much people actually paid for a particular car in their geographic area. It is offered online, free of charge - so anyone can know at any time what is considered a good or great price. Consumers no longer walk into the dealership only partially informed and fully suspicious: they walk in knowing exactly the price of a fair deal. Dealers gain 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 know how to price their cars to sell more and gain market share from other dealers. Led by a highly experienced team from the automotive and technology industries, TrueCar is based in Santa Monica, California.

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.

truecar monthly data report november 2009

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