A deal that dealers like: Southwest Idaho car dealers posted their best year since the recession hit the region in full force in 2008.
The numbers: Year-end sales show new car sales were up 15 percent in 2011 over 2010, and used car sales were up 10 percent. Overall sales for new and used vehicles rose 12 percent to 54,938, based on vehicle registrations reported by Cross Sell to the Idaho Statesman's marketing department. As usual, used cars outsold new ones. In 2009, the number was 41,687, nearly 25 percent less.
Spell it p-r-o-f-i-t: “We had our most profitable year for stores here in over five years,” said John O'Bryan, regional vice president for Larry Miller's four Idaho car dealerships.
Why did it happen? The search for fuel efficiency brought many customers to car lots in 2011, O'Bryan said. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Idaho last year was $3.49, the highest ever. O'Bryan also thinks customers have gotten used to the tighter economy, which frightened many away during the recession’s height.
Bill Roberts: 377-6408
