The latest data released by the Commonwealth Auto Dealers Association showed that the island’s three car dealers — Joeten Motors, Microl Corp. and Triple “J” Motors — have sold a total of 209 used cars from January to August 2010. The dealers sold a total of 413 brand new cars for the eight-month period.
The CADA reports show that Joeten Motors topped the sales of used cars, selling 77 from January to August which represents 36.8 of the percent market share. Triple “J” Motors came in second, with a total of 68 used cars sold and claiming 32.5 percent of the market share. Microl Corp. sold 64 used cars for the same period, representing 30.6 percent of the market share.
Last month, the three car dealers sold 39 used cars, with Joeten Motors leading with 14 units sold. Triple “J” Motors and Microl Corp. followed closely, selling 13 and 12.
In July 2010, the dealers sold only 29 used cars.
Reports from the CNMI Department of Commerce showed that sales for used cars went up from 330 units sold in 2005 to 352 units in 2006. The figure went up to 469 in 2007 and dipped to 418 in 2008. Sales for used cars dropped to 398 units last year, but the figures for used car sales showed that it did not significantly drop like the sales for brand new cars since 2005.
In an earlier interview, the island’s car dealers said the sales for used cars went up as the economy got tougher and due to uncertainty about the future.
August sales
Sales for brand new cars dipped by 8.33 percent for August, following the 33.33 percent sales increase posted in July compared to the sales for brand new cars for the same months last year.
The three car dealers sold a total of 55 brand new vehicles in August. These included 30 sedans, 4 trucks, 6 vans and 15 sport utility vehicles. The dealers sold 60 brand new units in August last year.
Joeten Motors topped the sales last month with 21 units sold, representing 38.18 percent of the monthly market share, followed by Microl Corp. and Triple “J” Motors which sold 17 units each.
Toyota still remains the brand of choice among customers, with 17 units sold for the month. Hyundai came in second, with 9 units sold, followed by Ford and Mazda with 7 units sold each, Nissan and Honda with 6 units each, Kia with 2, and Suzuki with one unit sold.
On a year to date comparison, total sales for brand new cars for the first eight months of 2010 posted a 41.44 percent increase. The dealers sold a total of 413 brand new cars from January to August. They sold 292 units for the same period last year. This year’s brand new vehicles sold included 196 sedans, 62 trucks, 22 vans and 133 sport utility vehicles.
Joeten Motors is the island’s distributor of Nissan, Ford, Honda and Kia. Microl Corp. sells Toyota and Chevrolet while Triple “J” Motors is the local dealer of Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Suzuki and Mazda.
