U.S. LV Inventory Still Too Low

U.S. new-car dealers could be forgiven for wondering if their empty lots ever again will be filled with enough vehicles to meet consumer demand.

Related document: Ward’s U.S. Light Vehicle Inventory by Group August 2011

Hyundai’s Accent and Elantra tied for lowest in industry with eight days’ supply.

Despite the addition of nearly 35,000 light vehicles to the inventory count in August, the month-end days’ supply of 49 remained way too low, barely ahead of the 48 days’ posted in July and well under the 52 days’ tallied a year ago.

While the Detroit 3 are in relatively good shape with 62 days’ supply in August vs. 57 days’ a year earlier, Asia/Pacific brands held only a 35 days’ supply vs. prior-month’s 34 days’ and year-ago’s 49 days’.

Among the inventory-starved Japanese auto makers, only American Honda, with unit-stock up 19.4%, and low-volume Mitsubishi, up 10.4%, had measurably more inventory on dealer lots at the end of August compared with the prior month. Both were well below year-earlier figures.

All European makes had fewer vehicles in stock on Aug. 31 compared with July, but slower sales nudged the overall days’ supply for those brands to 43 from 41.

Hyundai Accent and Elantra, at eight days’, and Nissan, at nine, had the fewest cars in stock in August.

Overall, there were 58 light vehicles with less than a 30 days’ supply on Aug. 31, compared with 56 the prior month.

[email protected]