The Truth About New Car Sales 2009
By Arthur Medina

The recession that now grips Puerto Rico can overtly be seen by the sales figures for the last five years, and more specifically, this past year’s latest figures.  Five years ago (2006), the industry sold some 140,000 units.  This year (2009), the industry projects some 80,000 units to be sold with 76,311 units having actually been sold.  This figure constitutes a 15.8% drop in sales or a 14,371 shortfall from the previous year.  This trend has continued for the last 5 years running and when or where it will stop is anyone’s guess.  This year’s total sales are approximately 43% lower than 5 years ago.  In 2006, new auto sales reached 117,838 units, or 16.1% less than the prior year.  In 2007, new auto sales reached 102,580 or 12.9% less than 2006.  In 2008, 90,682 units were sold or 15.8% less than the previous year.  In 2009, 76,311 units were sold or a 15.8% drop as reported by the automobile industry sales statistics annual report.

Each manufacturer is represented in the report with the most popular to least brands coming from Toyota to Maserati.  Here is a breakdown of the name brands and number of units sold;

Toyota sales reflect compact cars, medium size cars, SUVs and trucks.  Some of their sales break down as follows:

Big truck sales were dominated by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler with 8,643 units sold in 2009.

The industry does not track used car sales and it’s an area that could further denote the recessive economy that Puerto Rico currently faces.  The above figures were not complete for the last quarter of last year (a slight change can be expected). View Graphic