Throughout the course of 2023, we began to see new vehicle average transaction prices finally begin to dip somewhat following years of increases, and that trend is expected to continue throughout 2024 as well. Though prices are only expected to decline slightly – not move in any major way – this is still good news for consumers, as inventory continues to improve and incentives are making a comeback among strong sales. Last month, however, both the Ford and Lincoln brands remained essentially flat month-over-month in terms of average transaction pricing, and thus, that was also the case with Ford Motor Company as a whole, according to new data from Cox Automotive.
In February, Ford Motor Company ATP finished the month at $53,918, which is a mere 0.4 percent higher than January, when it came in at $53,718. This figure was also 3.3 percent lower than February 2023, when the Ford Motor Company ATP was $55,758. As for the overall market, it largely followed suit, as average transaction pricing for new vehicles finished February at $47,279, which is a nominal 0.1 percent higher than January’s $47,244, as well as 2.2 percent less than the $48,316 it was in February 2023.
Regardless, the downward pressure on new vehicle pricing continues as inventory keeps rising, all while automakers introduce more incentives in an effort to spur sales – in fact, incentives in February were 5.7 percent higher than January. At the beginning of February, new vehicle inventory levels in the U.S. stood at 2.61 million units, which is 50 percent more than February 2023, though a strong seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 15.8 million units in sales has that particular figure on track for its best annual result since 2019.
“While everyone may applaud that prices are coming down, even marginally for the moment, affordability is still challenging the market,” said Erin Keating, executive analyst for Cox Automotive. “Most shoppers have not seen their incomes increase as quickly as vehicle prices, so affording a new vehicle remains difficult. We should also note that despite rising inventory, which is good for consumers, the levels are muted, not alarming.”
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