Navigating the current car market can be a daunting task, with its varying inventory levels and volatile prices. In this context, knowledge truly is power. A critical piece of this knowledge is understanding the Market Day Supply (MDS).
MDS is a measure of the number of days it would take to sell all of a particular model of car, based on the current sales rate, assuming no additional inventory is added. A high MDS suggests an oversupply, potentially giving buyers leverage for negotiation, while a low MDS might indicate a seller’s market, where negotiating could prove tougher.
Using CarEdge Insights, we identified which new cars have the most and least inventory available in December 2024.
Why does inventory matter to car buyers?
Inventory influences negotiability. When there’s a glut of cars, dealers will be more inclined to negotiate with you. Slim pickings? Not so much. This valuable insight can give you an edge in your car buying journey, helping you save money and avoid the hassle.
Here are the fastest and slowest-selling cars and trucks in America right now.
The Top 10 in December 2024: New Cars With the Highest Inventory
This month, it’s not just Stellantis brands in the top 10. Audi’s A3 sedan takes the top spot in December, with 936 days of supply. There’s quite the gap between Audi and the Land Rover Discovery in the number two spot. If you’ve been following along for months, you know that this list wouldn’t be complete without at least a few Chrysler, Jeep, or Dodge models. Now, it’s the Chrysler Voyager with 283 days of market supply. Freshly returned to the US market, the Voyager is slow to sell.
The only EV on the list this month is the Volkswagen ID.4, which has fallen behind competitors from Hyundai, Kia, Ford, and of course Tesla. Nissan makes an appearance with the Z sports car. Jaguar, Audi, Jeep, Lincoln, and even Mercedes-Benz round out the top 10 slowest-selling new cars in December 2024. All of these slow sellers are especially negotiable. Don’t pay a dollar over MSRP for any of these cars! The average selling price for the 10 slowest-selling cars is $66,697.
Here are the 10 slowest-selling new cars, in other words, the models with the most inventory today.
The Bottom 10 in December 2024: New Cars With the Lowest Inventory
On the other side of the coin, these are the fastest-selling cars today. This month, we’re seeing the usual suspects on the list. Once again, Toyota dominates. Eight of the ten fastest-selling new cars are Toyota or Lexus models. Yet, Toyota remains a brand known for relatively fair and transparent pricing. Perhaps the competition could learn a thing or two from Toyota’s playbook.
Kia’s discontinued Forte joins Toyota on the list as budget-minded buyers purchase the last inventory. The Forte’s replacement, the all-new Kia K4, is already arriving on dealership lots. However, the K4 sedan’s starting price is $2,000 higher than the Forte.
If you’re shopping for any of these new cars in 2024, you’ll be up against stiff competition and in many cases, greedy dealers. The average selling price for the 10 fastest-selling cars is $45,580. The fastest-selling cars in America are $21,000 cheaper than the slowest-selling cars.
Read the full article on CarEdge here.
