Edmunds Predicts April Record for Industry Sales
The vehicle information site said this week that April sales are on pace to eclipse the April 2005 sales record of more than 1.5 million units. It also believes the industry is on pace to shatter last year’s 17.5 million-unit sales record.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com said this week the industry should sell 1,514,855 new cars and trucks in April for an estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 17.5 million.
The projected sales represent a 4.8% decrease from March 2016, but a 4.3% increase from April 2015. The vehicle information site noted that this month’s sales are poised to eclipse the April 2005 sales record of 1,500,648 new car and truck. It also said that, based on the current sales pace, 2016 should shatter last year’s full-year record of 17.5 million sales.
“Even though Q1 ended with a relatively lackluster March, the industry still as strong as ever, and this month’s sales will only reinforce that strength,” said Edmunds.com Director of Industry Analysis Jessica Caldwell. “Considering that April is typically the calm before the storm of summer sales, there’s every reason to believe that 2016 will be a year for the history books.”
Edmunds.com estimates that retail SAAR will come in at 14.4 million units in April, with fleet transactions accounting for 18.4 percent of total sales. An estimated 3.3 million used cars will be sold in April, for a SAAR of 38.2 million (compared to 3.6 million – or a SAAR of 37.1 million – used car sales in March).
For more, visit Edmunds.com’s Industry Center at www.edmunds.com/industry-center.
More F&I

Sell Value, Build Trust
In this video, Trent White explains why selling on value, not fear, builds lasting customer trust, reduces cancellations, and drives long-term success.
Read More →
F&I Sales Give Dealers First-Half Lift
Product business shored up total profits to avoid an overall revenue tanking as product penetrations held steady, StoneEagle reported.
Read More →
Targeted Training Drives Results
Today’s technology, instead of threatening F&I managers, can actually make them better, according to an industry veteran who’s watched market setbacks roil the unprepared.
Read More →
Double the Change, Double the Chance
When an F&I manager gets a customer refusal, it’s a wise move to tweak more than one thing in the product offering.
Read More →
Just Do It
F&I managers need training, but instead of resisting application or expecting perfection, they should improve by simply acting on what they learn.
Read More →
Dealer Lender Preferences Revealed
When lenders provide consistent, fast service, their overall satisfaction scores with dealers greatly improve, according to JD Power research.
Read More →
Leading with Purpose
In this video, Trent White explains how understanding your people’s 'why' is a key leadership responsibility of F&I professionals and how that mindset drives dealership engagement, trust and performance.
Read More →
Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products
The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.
Read More →
Trust Is Personal
Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.
Read More →
Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results
Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.
Read More →