A survey of folks leaving the recent California International Auto Show in Anaheim found it helped them in their search for a new vehicle.
More than three quarters of the people who responded said the show helped them make up their minds about which auto to buy. Many of them said they plan to buy a vehicle within the next 12 months.
For 41% of the respondents, this was their first time at the show, put on by the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and the Southland Motor Car Dealers Association.
That’s good news for auto dealers, who face bleaker news from the fourth-quarter Orange County Auto Outlook put out by the Costa Mesa-based Orange County Automobile Dealers Association.
The report predicts a 2.8% drop in local auto sales next year, based on new car registrations. That’s a definite shift from this year. Sales are running up 7.4% through September versus a year earlier.
In Los Angeles sales are up 5.6% through September, while nationally they were down 1.1%.
But OC should fare better than the nation again next year, according to the association. The report sees national auto sales slipping 3.7% next year.
OC is different, according to the association’s report, because consumer affordability for new autos still is near record highs here. The county also is seen having higher personal income and rising employment, according to the report.
Even so, dealers here could be in for a couple of tough years. The association also predicts a sales drop in 2006 before things are seen picking up in 2007.
Some of the factors impacting auto sales: high gas prices, high consumer debt levels and a cyclical decline after strong sales in the past several years.
Meanwhile, the county continues to be a prime market for upscale cars. For the year through September, sales of near luxury cars,entry-level BMWs and the like,made up nearly 4% more of the local market than they did nationally.
And imports continue to rule here. From 1997 to 2004, domestic auto sales fell by 13 points and account for less than 7% of the local market.
One American offering dominates the light pickup market here: Ford Motor Co.’s F-Series. But import trucks are up, as are European cars.
The Chevrolet Tahoe, Toyota Sienna and the GMC Yukon all are doing better in OC than the rest of the nation, according to the association’s report.
Crystal Cove Update
Williams-Sonoma and Juxtaposition Home have expanded at Crystal Cove Promenade in Newport Beach. Newly opened at the center is a store for furniture maker Mitchell Gold. Mitchell Gold’s furniture is sold through other stores including Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. It also is sold through catalogs of L.L. Bean, Nieman Marcus and others.
Coming to the Crystal Cove Promenade in time for the holidays: Eric Hanan Jewels, Pier 1 Imports and Modo Mio Cucina Rustica restaurant, the second spot for the Italian restaurant, which has its other eatery in Pacific Palisades.
Down at the Spectrum
At the Irvine Spectrum Center, Hollister and Angl (pronounced “angle”) now are open. Coming next month: The Finish Line, a seller of athletic shoes; Kay Jewelers; and Frederick’s of Hollywood. The ice rink also is open at the Spectrum through Jan. 17.
Sushi and a Big Gulp
Only in OC. 7-Eleven’s new stores here plan to sell sushi and deluxe sandwiches.
“We’ve refined our fine food offerings,” spokesman Kevin Gardner said.
But Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. isn’t turning its back on the Slurpee and other convenience store staples. The chain has plans to open 50 stores next year,
including 12 in OC. 7-Eleven opened its most recent store in Santa Ana last
week.
Bio Bottle
Colorado’s Biota Brands of America Inc. chose Laguna Beach’s Wild Oats Natural Marketplace as the place to launch its spring water in Southern California.
The water comes in a plastic bottle made from corn, for the environmentally conscious. The bottles disintegrate within 80 days with commercial composting.
