Kyle's Corner (FYI) Auto Sales: The Numbers Are Saying Something!

USA Today reports that the United States' auto industry had its first significant setback in over 18 months as new vehicle sales dropped 3.7 percent in May. Consumers' concerns about the economy seem to be the main factor to the sales drop.

TrueCar.com was stated in USA Today saying, "The total transaction price for the average vehicle sold last month in the U.S. rose 2.1% to $29,817, the highest ever recorded." Who can blame consumers for cutting back when average vehicle prices are the highest combined with a difficult and challenging economy?

So what automakers gained and which lost? USA Today provided Autodata information specifying that Hyundai (including its brother Kia) were up 20.7% from a year earlier and Chrysler was up 10.1 %. However, Autodated revealed that Ford is down .3%, GM down 1.0%, Nissan down 9.1%, Honda down 22.9%, and Toyota down 33.4%.

Of note is that Hyundai and Kia are offering consumers well designed and stylish vehicles that offer excellent gas mileage at a lower price point than the other automakers.

Yesterday, I was at a Panera restaurant parking lot and a BMW 330i was parked next to a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. On the outside, the Hyundai looked to be as large or larger than the BMW. It looked to have more room on the inside. The Elantra's styling looked as good or better than the BMW's. Now, no one is disputing that the BMW is the better performance machine; however, the Elantra cost less than half the 330i's price.

The sales number are speaking loud and clear that consumers are demanding good automotive value for their money. And at this point, Hyundai is delivering what drivers want!

Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price -- " He welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com. Follow Kyle on Facebook and Twitter.