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Nissan, Toyota reign in August car sales
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Posted on Oct 03 2008
Sales of Nissan and Toyota brand vehicles dominated the automotive market in the CNMI during August yet the statistics for the month showed nearly a 10-percent decline in car sales compared to August of last year among each of Saipan’s major dealerships, according to newly released statistics from the Commonwealth Auto Dealer’s Association.
Vehicle sales are a key indicator of economic health in the CNMI, CADA president Matthew Deets noted in a Friday interview, and for car dealers, August was a slow month.
“Overall the economy is still stagnant,” he said. “On a positive note, at least it’s not getting worse.”
Deets attributed some of the Nissan sales at Joeten Motors to the newly released Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicle’s popularity on Saipan. And while car sales have been slow, he said the local economic turmoil has prompted a jump in the sale of parts and services for older cars.
“We’re seeing people trying to maintain their cars so they’ll run longer and they don’t have to buy another one,” he said, adding that the closure of some auto mechanic shops on the island has also given his dealership a larger share of the parts market.
According to CADA’s monthly report, the Microl Corp.’s dealership sold 20 Toyotas in August, just two sales shy of its total for the same month last year. Meanwhile, Joeten Motors moved 13 Nissan vehicles last month, a 160-percent jump over the five it sold in August 2007.
Joeten Motors sold the highest number of cars in August, 21, with the Microl Corp. trailing slightly at 20 sales. Triple “J” Motors sold six cars.
Car sales for the entire market are down 9.62 percent compared to August of last year. The 47 vehicles sold in August represent slightly fewer sales than the 52 cars dealerships moved in August 2007. The bulk of the vehicles sold last month consisted of cars and sport utility vehicles. Dealerships sold 25 cars, 4 trucks, 1 van and 17 SUVs.
In 2008 to date, the automotive market has seen only modest gains over last year, with sales increasing by 1.01 percent.
