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Customer LoginsFive car brands that excelled in 2013 and why
US car dealers delivered 15,600,199 new cars and light trucks in 2013, up 8% from 2012. This is the fourth consecutive year-over-year increase and follows three years of double-digit growth from 2010 through 2012 as the industry climbed out of the 2009-10 recession. Of the 38 makes now on the market, 29 enjoyed year-over-year increases in 2013, eight saw declines and one (Tesla) could not be compared to 2012 since it had no sales at all last year.
The five makes with the largest increases (excluding exotics) were Maserati, Jaguar, Subaru, Ram and Cadillac (see chart below). A look behind the numbers shows that these marques owe their successes almost entirely to the launches of compelling all-new or redesigned products.
Maserati- The redesigned 2014 Quattroporte hit showrooms in August, and total 2013 Quattroporte deliveries tripled
- Maserati introduced the all-new Ghibli midsize premium sedan in October, offering the Maserati mystique at an "affordable" price for the first time in many years. Maserati dealers delivered 424 Ghiblis in the fourth quarter, all incremental versus a year ago
- Embodying Jaguar's DNA of styling and performance, the F-Type roadster has brought 2,250 incremental sales to Jaguar since its introduction in May. The launch of the F-Type coupe this June will bring still more customers to the brand.
- XF deliveries climbed 43% thanks to an adjustment in its powertrain offerings. In the first 10 months of 2012, 100% of XFs were equipped with a V8 engine; the 2013 addition of both four-and six-cylinder powertrains to the XF has shifted the mix dramatically, with over half now coming with a V6 and a third with a four-cylinder engine. Also, more than half of the six-cylinder XFs are now equipped with AWD versus zero a year ago; a similar shift in powertrains has occurred in smaller volumes with the XJ
- The Forester, XV Crosstrek and BR-Z propelled Subaru to another outstanding year (Subaru is the only brand in the US industry to record a year-over-year sales gain in every year from 2007 through 2013); all these models were either introduced or redesigned in 2012 or 2013
- The Legacy, Impreza and Forester have all been "right-sized" with their most recent redesigns, putting them at the centers of their respective segments in contrast to past years when they lacked some size and/or functionality of competitors
- Subaru does not compete in any of the large vehicle segments (car or light truck), shielding them from the gradual declines in those categories
- The Ram 1500 Pickup was launched in November 2012, making 2013 its first full year on the market; the 2500/3500 came to market this past August. Total 2013 Ram pickup sales climbed over 60,000 (21%) during a year when Chevrolet, GMC and Toyota all launched redesigned full-size pickups
- Ram also sold 3,220 large Promaster Vans this year versus none a year ago
- Cadillac expanded its lineup to three competitive cars in 2012 (for the first time in decades) with the launch of the XTS in June and ATS in September; 2013 was the first full year for both these models and also the year in which Cadillac introduced the larger midsize CTS
- With the Escalade and SRX, Cadillac now offers five competitive products in the ultra-competitive premium market dominated by BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz
Other makes with double-digit improvements in 2013 include (listed in descending order based on their year-over-year sales gains): Porsche, Land Rover, Buick, Dodge, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Ford and Nissan.
Tom Libby is manager, loyalty practice and industry analysis, IHS Automotive
Posted 16 January 2014