Average per-vehicle incentives in the U.S. from auto makers rose
1.8% in December from the prior month, according to car-shopping
website Edmunds.com, as five of the six major auto makers posted
sequential increases.
The industry gave out an average of $2,314 for each vehicle it
sold in December, up from $2,272 in November and down from $2,538
in December 2010.
Honda Motor Co. (HMC, 7267.TO) reported the biggest
month-over-month increase in incentive spending, rising 7.2% from
November.
Chrysler Group LLC and Ford Motor Co. (F) both reported a 2.4%
sequential increase in incentive spending.
Edmunds said Chrysler's marketing and sales success in 2011 led
to far less reliance on incentive spending last month. Chrysler
posted a 27% year-over-year decrease in incentive spending, the
biggest drop among the major auto makers.
Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, 7203.TO) reported a 2.2% sequential
increase while Nissan Motor Co. (NSANY, 7201.TO) spent 0.1% more on
incentives in the latest month.
General Motors Co. (GM) was the only major auto maker to spend
less on incentives in December from November, posting a 1.2%
decrease. GM had reported the biggest sequential increase in
incentive spending in November from the prior month.
-By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287;
nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com