Apr. 4, 2011 (PR Newswire) --
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
- March 2011 retail new vehicle unit sales increased 19% versus March 2010
- First quarter 2011 retail new vehicle unit sales increased 23% versus the first quarter of 2010
AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America's largest automotive retailer, today announced that its retail new vehicle unit sales in March 2011, as reported to the applicable automotive manufacturers, totaled 22,246, an increase of 19% as compared to March 2010. Retail new vehicle unit sales in March 2011 for AutoNation's operating segments were as follows:
- 6,320 for Domestic, up 21% versus March 2010,
- 12,194 for Import, up 19% versus March 2010, and
- 3,732 for Premium Luxury, up 13% versus March 2010.
For the first quarter of 2011, AutoNation's retail new vehicle unit sales, as reported to the applicable automotive manufacturers, totaled 54,198, an increase of 23% compared to the first quarter of 2010.
Japan Earthquake Impact
"We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the victims of the earthquake in Japan," said Mike Jackson, AutoNation's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Commenting on the earthquake's impact on the auto industry, Mr. Jackson said, "Based on current information from the manufacturers, we expect production disruptions will significantly impact product availability from Japanese auto manufacturers in the second and third quarters of 2011. However, we believe that the auto retail market and underlying consumer demand will continue to recover throughout 2011. Our planning assumption for 2011 industry new unit sales remains 12.8 million units, and we believe that we will manage through these production shortfalls."
While 52% of AutoNation's total new unit sales in 2010 were produced by Japanese manufacturers, approximately two-thirds of those units are assembled in North America.
Mr.