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GUIA Forecast: Dismal 77,000 Vehicles to be Sold in 2016

By on January 19, 2016

SAN JUAN – The United Automobile Importers Group (GUIA by its Spanish acronym) is forecasting the sale of 77,000 new autos for 2016, a number similar to the industry’s worst year on record set in 2009, after local sales fell 7.8% in 2015 versus the previous year.

According to the latest GUIA monthly sales report, some 9,285 new units were sold in Puerto Rico last month, down by 248 units, or 2.6%, from the 9,533 reported in December 2014.

Non-fleet (retail) sales in Puerto Rico were down 2.5%, to 6,400 units in December, and down 9.4%, to 70,819 units, for the year. Meanwhile, fleet sales were down 2.9%, to 2,885 units, in December, but up 4.9%, to 10,354 units, for 2015.

“December 2015 marks the 20th month out of the last 21 that the local auto industry has reported a decrease in new-auto sales in Puerto Rico, and for 2016 we are forecasting a continuation of that trend,” GUIA President Ricardo García commented during a press conference held Tuesday at GUIA’s headquarters in San Juan.  

García also pointed out that 2015 was the third year in a row the island’s auto industry finished below the previous year and the second worst year for new vehicle sales.

The island’s auto distributors reported 81,353 new-units sold in Puerto Rico in 2015, down 7.8% from the previous year.

Founded in 2006, GUIA is a nonprofit, independent organization of new-auto distributors responsible for more than 90% of all new vehicles sold on the island.

By José L. Carmona

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