Sacramento Dealerships Seeing Boost In Car Sales

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento area car dealerships say sales are starting to rev back up, and are now trying to keep up with the demand.

The latest car trends show drivers are done with the old, and gearing up for the brand new.

"It's been a while. I had a 2001, think it's about time to get rid of it and go new," said car shopper Diana Rosmy.

Rosmy is looking at a new Jeep Compass, and is ready to take the plunge for the right price.

"This is the great time to be in the business right now," said Brent Hall, general manager at Sacramento Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM.

By the end of the year, 16 million cars are expected to be sold. That's the highest since 2007.

The Chrysler dealership off Fulton Avenue has had three record breaking months.

"A lot of people have been holding onto their cars the past 5, 6, 7 years, not making a decision to get into one; but now they are," said Hall.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, 16 new car dealerships have come to California this year, bring the total to 1,458 statewide.

The new dealerships are speeding into Sacramento. Chrysler has been in town for a year, and a new Kia dealership is opening right next door.

Construction is underway for a Mini Cooper dealership on Auburn and Watt Avenues, just a few blocks away.

A new tenant is also coming to the Roseville Auto Mall, where sales went up 16 percent in just one month.

"We've been very active in Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville and Fulton Avenue," said CBRE Group Vice President Bill Ayres.

Ayres says for years dealerships in Sacramento have been shutting down and merging with other dealers.

Most of those that survived are being renovated, or looking to take over other vacant lots, including a parcel at the Folsom Auto Mall and a former Harley Davidson dealership in Rocklin.

No longer hitting the brakes during a hesitant economy, big name car makers are making inventory available to a revved up demand.

Car salesmen say business will really start to boom in December, which is traditionally their busiest month of the year.