Which City Claimed the Title of Fastest-Growing New Car Market?

Published: September 22, 2011Challan Jarrett

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Atlanta is the hottest U.S. market for new car buyers, reports Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. An Edmunds.com analysis of automotive registration data reveals that new retail car registrations in the Atlanta metropolitan area were 24 percent higher in the first half of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.

The analysis also shows that Atlanta’s registration figures are consistent with online shopping activity by visitors to Edmunds.com. The number of online users in Atlanta considering a new car on Edmunds.com has climbed 14 percent year-to-date over the same period last year.

Phoenix was next on the list, recording a 23 percent increase in new car registrations year over year. Sacramento, Salt Lake City and Birmingham, each with a 22 percent increase, round out the top five new car hot spots. Nationally, new retail car registrations have climbed 14 percent this year.

Fastest-Growing New Car Markets (January-July)

RANK^#	MARKET	New Car Registrations 2010⁺	New Car Registrations 2011⁺	% Change
1	ATLANTA	78,555	97,691	24%
2	PHOENIX	63,455	78,119	23%
3	SACRAMENTO	36,942	45,230	22%
4	SALT LAKE CITY	28,897	35,376	22%
5	BIRMINGHAM	26,276	32,003	22%
6	CHARLOTTE	40,221	48,887	22%
7	CLEVELAND	78,985	95,035	20%
8	LAS VEGAS	24,287	28,817	19%
9	PORTLAND (OR)	33,220	39,331	18%
10	LOS ANGELES	252,372	298,500	18%
	TOTAL U.S.	4,866,688	5,524,840	14%

# – Rankings based on top 50 U.S. markets only

+ – Data represents new retail car registrations from January to July in each year

In a newly published update of her 2011 automotive sales forecast, Edmunds.com chief economist Lacey Plache says that early-year momentum in new-vehicle sales nationwide was slowed by disruptions triggered by the Japanese earthquake and other economic headwinds that have hurt consumer confidence.

“Some consumers who deferred purchases earlier this summer are responding to improving vehicle supply and more competitive prices,” said Plache. “But declining economic conditions are keeping other consumers away from dealer lots and will continue to do so at least through the end of the year.”

Edmunds.com also analyzed the slowest-growing new car markets, and while none of the top 50 U.S. markets have regressed in 2011, Detroit has shown the least growth compared to 2010, at just two percent. New York (+3%), Boston (+4%), Miami (+5%) and Providence (+7%) rounded out the bottom five.

Slowest-Growing New Car Markets (January-July)

RANK^#	MARKET	New Car Registrations 2010⁺	New Car Registrations 2011⁺	% Change
1	DETROIT	138,882	141,495	2%
2	NEW YORK	450,685	465,636	3%
3	BOSTON	140,507	145,511	4%
4	MIAMI	102,225	107,706	5%
5	PROVIDENCE	28,573	30,697	7%
6	W. PALM BEACH	48,469	52,264	8%
7	NORFOLK, VA	28,697	30,997	8%
8	ALBANY	33,962	36,853	9%
9	PHILADELPHIA	157,687	171,311	9%
10	WASHINGTON, DC	122,103	133,267	9%

# – Rankings based on top 50 U.S. markets only

+ – Data represents new retail car registrations from January to July in each year

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)
Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone atwww.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web’s highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.