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AUTO SALES Trade-in time: Local car dealerships see a boom year Record month shows people are letting go of their old cars for new models Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Dec. 1, 2015 at 6:31 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Dec. 1, 2015 at 6:31 PM » Social News More Americans acquired a new set of wheels last month than in any November since 2001. The broader trend apparently held true in the Rogue Valley as well. "November was good, but the whole year has been up over last year — and last year was our best year ever," said Dave Mills, owner of Airport Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac on Biddle Road. Automakers anticipated a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 18 million vehicles. If they hit that mark, it would surpass the 2000 high-water mark of 17.4 million sales. According to the Automotive News Data Center, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' 3 percent gain was the largest among Detroit's Big Three. The company posted its best November in 16 years, selling 175,974 vehicles. A year ago Fiat Chrysler sold 170,839 autos. Led by Chevrolet, General Motors advanced 4.8 percent. "There are just more people coming into the market right now," Mills said. "There are people turning in their GM cars with 200,000 and 300,000 miles on them. Ten years ago, you never saw someone trading in a car with over 100,000 miles on them. Now, the cars are so much better you're seeing trucks with Duramax diesel getting 500,000 miles." People who traded in their vehicles every two or three years in past eras are now driving their cars much longer, said Southern Oregon Subaru owner Gregg Sorensen. But a variety of elements are pushing people to the showroom. "Interest rates are low and there is a perception of pent-up demand in the marketplace," Sorensen said. "People who have been hanging onto their cars longer than they typically would are reaching that 'time to do something' point." Nationally, Subaru sales were up 1.8 percent last month and for the year are 13.5 percent ahead of 2014. "We had a nice increase in November and we're up 15 percent over last year," Sorensen said. TC Chevy General Manager Derek DeBoer suggested rapid technological changes are attracting buyers as well. "Cars are changing faster than people can keep up with," DeBoer said. "There's always something new and exciting. The biggest current challenge is keeping a big enough inventory on the ground to meet customer needs." Buyers typically sit on the sidelines during November, he said. But auto dealers have increasingly embraced Black Friday to bolster sales. Edmunds.com analyst Jessica Caldwell told the Wall Street Journal that since 2010, November has delivered one of the three best seasonally adjusted annual rates in each year, with Thanksgiving weekend raking in twice as many sales as any other weekend in the month last year. "We all seem to be trending the same way now," DeBoer said. "So many people wait for the end-of-the-year programs. So there is some urgency to get out there and do some early shopping if they're looking for specific new car needs." In an area with an older population, Airport Chevrolet has carved out a niche among younger buyers, Mills said. Airport sells the Chevrolet Spark — four-door, five-passenger basic transportation — for $9,999. The dealership sold 274 Sparks, more than double any other store in the country last year. The next closest was a dealer in Fontana, Calif., which sold 130 of the vehicles. "It's probably a younger person buying the car," he said. "My thought is that if you sell them a car and do everything right the entire time they own that car, then we will keep them in our family their whole life." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Follow @@GregMTBusiness Posted Dec. 1, 2015 at 6:31 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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