Incentive Spending Roughly Flat, Says Edmunds.com Report

Incentive Spending Roughly Flat, Says Edmunds.com Report

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Incentive spending by automakers remain roughly flat in November, as manufactured tried to stick their plans for less incentive spending to boost profit margins. Yet, the plan may prove to contribute to softer vehicle sales, being reported by manufacturers throughout Monday.

"Even with the year-end sell-down upon us, the domestic automakers have stayed committed to the value pricing strategy that limits their investment in incentives,” said Jesse Toprak, executive director of Industry Analysis for Edmunds.com.

"Chrysler and Ford are spending far less per vehicle than they were this time last year. GM is spending even less than them, though it not matching its remarkably low incentive average of last November,” Toprak added. “As usual, the domestics are keeping a close eye on each others’ moves in order to maximize profit margins while maintaining competitiveness."

Edmunds.com estimated Monday that the industry's aggregate incentive spending in November totaled approximately $2.77 billion, up a tad 3.75 percent from October. That puts the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. at $2,309 per vehicle sold in November 2007, up $135, or 6.2 percent, from October 2007, and up $21, or 0.9 percent, from November 2006.

Chrysler, Ford and General Motors spent an aggregate of $1.89 billion, or 68.5 percent of the total; Japanese manufacturers spent $527 million, or 19.1 percent; European manufacturers spent $235 million, or 8.5 percent; and Korean manufacturers spent $108 million, or 3.9 percent.

Combined incentives spending for domestic manufacturers averaged $3,188 per vehicle sold in November 2007, up from $3,104 in October 2007. From October to November, European automakers increased incentives spending by $442 to $2,415 per vehicle sold; Japanese automakers increased incentives spending by $147 to $1,162 per vehicle sold; and Korean automakers increased incentives spending by $484 to $2,017 per vehicle sold.

Among vehicle segments, large trucks had the highest average incentives, $3,885 per vehicle sold, followed by large SUVs at $3,616. Compact cars had the lowest average incentives per vehicle sold, $946, followed by sport cars at $1,232. Analysis of incentives expenditures as a percentage of average sticker price for each segment shows large cars averaged the highest, 12.5 percent, followed by large trucks at 12.2 percent of sticker price. Luxury sports cars averaged the lowest, 3.8 percent, followed by sports cars at 4.2 percent of sticker price.

Edmunds.com’s analysis shows the minivan segment experienced a 38-percent drop in incentives compared to last year – the biggest decline of all segments. Last year, the minivan segment was the most heavily incentivized while the ones on dealer lots today are relatively new models that are enjoying sustained launch buzz. However, this segment has been weakening in recent months, so higher incentives may be in store.

Comparing all brands, in November Mini spent the least – virtually nothing – followed by Scion at $118 per vehicle sold. At the other end of the spectrum, Cadillac spent the most, $6,200, followed by Saab at $5,940 per vehicle sold. Relative to their vehicle prices, Saab and Mercury spent the most, 17.6 percent and 16.1 percent of sticker price, respectively, while Mini spent virtually nothing and Scion spent just 0.7 percent.

Edmunds.com's monthly True Cost of Incentives (TCI) report takes into account all automakers' various U.S. incentives programs, including subvented interest rates and lease programs, as well as cash rebates to consumers and dealers. To ensure the greatest possible accuracy, Edmunds.com bases its calculations on sales volume, including the mix of vehicle makes and models for each month, as well as on the proportion of vehicles for which each type of incentive was used.

Source: Edmunds.com

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.