FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Cox and LMC put Days' Supply of Inventory Below 1 Million Vehicles

Cox Automotive and LMC report new-vehicle inventories shrank to just over 915,000 in September and predict further shrinkage as production issues and supply shortages linger.

October 19, 2021
Cox and LMC put Days' Supply of Inventory Below 1 Million Vehicles

New-vehicle inventories shrank to just over 915,000 in September.

Credit:

Thecargossip.com

1 min to read


New-vehicle inventories in the U.S. fell to their lowest point since 1985 at less than 1 million vehicles, according to estimates from industry data giant Cox Automotive and analysis firm LMC Automotive.

After applying the sales rate from the previous month, Cox puts available inventory in the U.S. at 915,089, or about a 30-day supply. LMC Automotive Analyst Bill Rinna reports that’s the lowest new-vehicle inventory level in decades. In comparison, the industry had 1,432,300 vehicles in inventory in the wake of the 2009 Cash for Clunkers program, finds the Automotive News Research & Data Center.

Ad Loading...

Cox executive analyst Michelle Krebs reported the day’s supply figure stabilized in recent months as sales rates slowed. But ongoing production and supply issues mean new-vehicle inventory will contract further before it recovers.

Among the automakers that report sales and inventory monthly, only Toyota Motor North America and Mazda North America maintained their days’ supply levels from the previous month.

Subaru has the tightest supply among reporting automakers and Ford was the only automaker with over a month’s supply.

 

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Showroom

Green road sign that says California Ave
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 21, 2026

California Sees Quarterly Gains

California’s new-vehicle market saw a boost in hybrids in the third quarter and its first overall quarterly market gain of the year.

Read More →
Silver Subaru STI parked in lot.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 14, 2026

New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put

Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

Read More →
White electric vehicle parked at charging station.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 12, 2026

EV Buyer Consideration Shifts

What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Door handle in interior of new-looking vehicle
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own

A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.

Read More →
Interior of BMW ix3 electric SUV with hilly landscape seen through windshield
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 28, 2026

Slow to Robo

Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.

Read More →
Photo of red SUV parked outside a car dealership after dark
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 9, 2026

Dealers a Little Down

A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Silver car driving down road with graphic that says “Europe Plugs In”
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•September 9, 2026

European EV Sales Skyrocket

The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.

Read More →
Mitsubishi shadow line-up
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 25, 2026

Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan

The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.

Read More →
A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•July 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →