February 2023 auto sales are expected to advance mildly from the month-prior level, but not nearly enough movement to identify any change to current demand dynamics
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Feb. 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With US light vehicle sales volume for the month projected at 1.1 million units, we expect February 2023 to represent year-over-year (y/y) growth of 5%, the seventh consecutive month of y/y volume improvement. The tally would also be up more than 6% compared to January volumes. February 2023 U.S. auto sales are estimated to translate to an estimated sales pace of 14.4 million units (seasonally adjusted annual rate: SAAR), a marked decline from the month-prior figure, although the underlying sales rate, as represented by the daily selling rate metric, should advance mildly.
Auto demand levels so far this year have sustained the trends converging in the market at the end of 2022
"Auto demand levels so far this year have sustained the trends converging in the market at the end of 2022," said Chris Hopson, principal analyst at S&P Global Mobility. "Perhaps notably, fleet sales as a portion of total monthly volume have escalated over the past few months. While this could be an additional signal that auto consumers continue to face an uncertain purchase environment, fleet improvements are not unexpected, as auto production and inventory levels continues to advance."
Regarding the auto production environment, "While demand destruction concerns remain pervasive, production levels are well underway, which should improve vehicle availability by mid-2023," said Joe Langley, associate director of research and analysis for S&P Global Mobility's North American Light Vehicle Forecasting & Analysis team. "Greatly improved vehicle availability may in turn stimulate demand as incentive levels are expected to increase."
The S&P Global Mobility auto outlook for 2023 continues to carry a countercyclical narrative: We expect production levels will continue to improve even as economic conditions are worsening through the early stages of the year. Together with improving production volumes, reports of sustained retail orders, recovering vehicle inventory, and more fleet demand we should see improvements even with worries of an economic recession. S&P Global Mobility forecasts calendar-year 2023 sales volume of 14.8 million units, a 7% increase from the 2022 tally.
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U.S. Light Vehicle Sales
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Feb 23 (Est)
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Jan 23
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Feb 22
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Total Light Vehicle
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Units, NSA
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1,098,000
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1,033,000
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1,045,624
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In millions, SAAR
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14.4
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15.7
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13.7
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Light Truck
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In millions, SAAR
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11.5
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12.6
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10.9
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Passenger Car
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In millions, SAAR
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2.9
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3.1
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2.8
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Source: S&P Global Mobility (Est), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
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Sustained development of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales remains a constant assumption for 2023. The Tesla and Ford price adjustments should continue to boost the monthly BEV share to record levels, as reports reflect that the downward price movement for its products has boosted demand. BEV share in February is estimated to reach 8.0%, continuing the momentum realized in January. Whether these pricing adjustments will be matched by the likes of Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen and become a BEV price war, the reaction of other auto companies will determine whether the gains in the BEV mix level will be a blip or a tipping point in the electrification progress of the market.
About S&P Global Mobility
At S&P Global Mobility, we provide invaluable insights derived from unmatched automotive data, enabling our customers to anticipate change and make decisions with conviction. Our expertise helps them to optimize their businesses, reach the right consumers, and shape the future of mobility. We open the door to automotive innovation, revealing the buying patterns of today and helping customers plan for the emerging technologies of tomorrow.
S&P Global Mobility is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI). S&P Global is the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity, and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help many of the world's leading organizations navigate the economic landscape so they can plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/mobility.
Media Contact:
Michelle Culver
S&P Global Mobility
248.728.7496 or 248.342.6211
Michelle.culver@spglobal.com
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SOURCE S&P Global Mobility
