California New-Car Sales Up 23 Percent in First Half

SACRAMENTO – The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) announced that registrations of new cars and light trucks in California continue to outpace national numbers. California’s franchised new-car dealers saw an increase in second-quarter sales of nearly 44,000 units over the first quarter of this year. Though sales are forecasted to slow during the second half of this year, the market improved 23 percent during the first half of 2010 versus 2009.

“We have seen the bottom and folks are returning to the showroom” said Tom Hoffman, CNCDA chairman and owner of Puente Hills Chevrolet. “We expect slow but steady growth over the next couple of years.”

The California Auto Outlook Second Quarter 2010 Market Report provides comprehensive information on the state’s new vehicle market with charts and graphs. The report includes: a segment watch, including the top five models in each segment; a market perspective, comparing California nationally; brand scoreboards; a regional recap and more. The complete report can be accessed on CNCDA’s website at www.cncda.org.