SAN FRANCISCO -

During the National Automobile Dealers Association’s convention today Manheim released its annual Used Car Market Report. The company revealed that after four straight years of declines, both new- and used-vehicle retail sales climbed in 2010.

However, wholesale supply declined for the third straight year, “presenting challenges for the nation’s automobile dealers that were often solved with the support of auctions,” according to Manheim management.

“Although the auction industry itself has not yet fully benefited from the economic and automotive recovery that is underway, auctions have contributed to the success of others. For example, it is hard to imagine how dealers would have coped with rising used-vehicle demand and restricted used-vehicle supplies without the services of the auction industry. Online searching and the ability to buy anytime, anywhere enabled dealers to profitability grow their used-vehicle operations,” explained Manheim’s Tom Webb.

Along with sections on the used-vehicle marketplace and the remarketing industry, the report also features interviews with key association leaders and chapters from all corners of the used-vehicle industry, including dealers, rental, government and commercial fleets, repossessions and the salvage industry, according to the company.

Some of the trends Manheim discovered include:

 New- and Used-Vehicle Markets

 

—After falling to a 27-year low in 2009, new-vehicle sales increased 11 percent, or by more than 1.1 million units, in 2010 to 11.6 million units. That is still the second-lowest total in 28 years.

 

 —The increase was driven by a 22-percent jump in fleet purchases, as fleets made up for a very low level of acquisitions in 2009.

 

—The consensus outlook for new-vehicle sales in 2011 is 13 million, though Webb believes there is a strong possibility that figure will be exceeded.

 

—Used-vehicle sales rose 4 percent to just under 37 million units in 2010, and the ratio of used-vehicle sales to new-vehicle sales remained well above 3-to-1.

 

—Manufacturer-certified pre-owned sales rose 7 percent to 1.6 million units. Meanwhile, sales of lower-priced units were aided by a resurgence in subprime lending.

 

Auction Activity

 

—After three years of declines, auction volumes in 2010 were estimated to be 12-percent below 2007’s level. Primary reasons for the decline in 2010 were fewer repossessions, rental program vehicles and off-lease units.

 

—Wholesale vehicle transactions were an estimated 19 million, 8.4 million of which were handled by National Auto Auction Association member auctions.

 

—Online activity in the wholesale industry continues to grow: At Manheim, online sales represent 21 percent of total used-vehicle transactions, 25 percent of salvage vehicle purchases and 33 percent of specialty and heavy Truck and equipment sales.

 

—Manheim.com currently receives nearly 900,000 visits per week, with 100,000 vehicles searchable each day via the site’s PowerSearch function.

 

Dealers

 

—Franchised and independent dealers recorded higher profits in 2010 as increased revenue, adherence to cost disciplines enacted during the recession and better inventory management continued the turnaround that began in the second half of 2009.

 

—After a record number of dealership closures the previous two years, the franchised dealership count held relatively stable in 2010.

 

—Dealers provided 3.8 million, or 45 percent, of the vehicles sold at auction in 2010, marking the first increase in dealer consignment sales since 2005.

 

—The average dealer-vehicle remarketed through auctions in 2010 sold for more than $9,000, compared with just under $8,000 in 2009 — and that’s despite having higher mileage.

 

Rental and Fleets

—The profitability of the rental industry rebounded as a result of operating-cost discipline, access to lower-cost vehicle financing and a significant drop in depreciation expense due to strong used-vehicle prices.

 

—Rental companies purchased 1.4 million vehicles in 2010, up from 1.1 million units in 2009.

In 2010, less than 30 percent of the rental industry’s purchases were program vehicles.

 

—Though government fleet purchases fell 10 percent in 2010 (to 217,000 units), commercial fleet purchases increased as fleet managers replaced high-mileage vehicles and took advantage of strong used-vehicle prices to refresh their fleets. As a result, combined purchases by commercial and government fleets increased by 16 percent (to 675,200 units).

 

—Prices for end-of-service fleet vehicles rose at auctions despite higher mileage. The average midsize fleet car sold at auction had 68,000 miles, up from 66,000 in 2009 and 64,000 in 2008, yet mileage- and seasonally adjusted prices for these cars reached an all-time high in the first half of 2010.

 

Leasing

 

—From a cyclical low point of 1.1 million units in 2009, new-vehicle lease originations rose to more than 1.7 million in 2010, an increase of more than 50 percent.

 

—This uptick will not forestall the large decline in off-lease volumes the industry will experience in 2011 and 2012.

 

—Auction values for end-of-term lease vehicles have increased substantially for lessors, a trend that should continue with reduced supply.

 

Salvage

 

—Although the salvage auction industry has seen a small reduction in volume over the last three years, the demand for salvage vehicles is strong, and prices have soared, mirroring price trends at whole car auctions.

 

—In 2010, salvage auctions generated more than $6 billion for consignors. One indicator of the value of salvage vehicles is the average price per ton paid for crushed auto bodies. This price more than doubled between March 2009 and March 2010, boosting the values of vehicles sold for scrap.

 

—The supply of vehicles remarketed through salvage auctions is likely to grow in the coming years. The combination of an aging vehicle population, increases in miles traveled and rising repair costs of newer vehicles will result in a greater number of vehicle declared a total loss or reaching the end of their useful lives.

 

The report is available online at www.manheimconsulting.com for a cost of $250.

 

Editor’s Note: To learn more about the trends and information uncovered by Manheim in its report, look for Monday’s Auto Remarketing Today, which will include a special follow-up article.