agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Automakers Shift Production to Autos with Better Profit Margins

Automakers have shifted to selling vehicles with better profit margins in the U.S. as supply chain shortages and shipping concerns dampen production.

September 9, 2022
Automakers Shift Production to Autos with Better Profit Margins

Automakers have shifted to selling vehicles with better profit margins in the U.S. as supply chain shortages and shipping concerns dampen production.

IMAGE: Getty Images

1 min to read


Automakers have shifted to selling vehicles with better profit margins in the U.S. as supply chain shortages and shipping concerns dampen production.

And it appears consumers are shifting their preferences as well. Luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Tesla report selling more vehicles in the U.S. than ever before, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Luxury vehicle sales comprise 17.3% of all U.S. auto sales in 2022, compared to 14.1% of overall sales in 2021.

Ad Loading...

Super premium models, as the Wall Street Journal labels them, are also hot among U.S. consumers. Sales of Bentley, Ferrari and Lamborghini jumped 35.6% to 6,700 vehicles in the first half of 2022.

In 2021, automakers sold 2.48 million luxury cars in the U.S., which represented a 13.2% jump over 2019. However, mass-market auto sales grew by just 1.7 percent in 2021. What’s more, J.D. Power market analysts assert automakers would have sold more luxury vehicles in 2021, if it weren’t for supply constraints.

Automakers report spending $80,000-$100,000 on a vehicle has become more common.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Sales

Zoomed in shot of front of Volkswagen car.
Sales•by Lauren Lawrence•September 24, 2026

September Payments Reach New Heights

Despite lower interest rates and longer loan terms, the average new-vehicle monthly payment continues to climb, and transaction prices remain high.

Read More →
A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Sales•by Hannah Mitchell•August 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
Photo of man's hand holding a square blue piece with a yellow capital P on it, with other letter pieces below on a surface
Sales•by Justin B. Gasman•August 5, 2026

Two Kinds of Agents and the 5 Ps That Separate Them

Follow these key guidelines to distinguish your agency from competitors by adding more value to your dealer clients' businesses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man climbing ladder in front of mountain landscape.
Sales•by Lauren Lawrence•August 3, 2026

Positive Equity Reaches Record High

Mainstream vehicle owners who bought a car seven years ago are likely to have positive equity when trading in for a new vehicle, according to second-quarter Edmunds data.

Read More →
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Sales•by Lauren Lawrence•July 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →
Photo of blue Toyota Prius parked next to a body of water with a city skyline behind it
Sales•by Hannah Mitchell•July 24, 2026

July Auto Sales Simmer

Deliveries were up modestly from a year ago despite still-high prices as OEMs offered more incentives and loan rates eased somewhat.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of parked cars of various types for sale on a lot
Sales•by Hannah Mitchell•July 20, 2026

Used Sales Hit Summer Drag

The vacation season, combined with high prices, has dented deliveries and added to inventories, though supply is still slim enough to keep listings elevated.

Read More →
Closeup photo of a new white car on a road from the driver's side
Sales•by Hannah Mitchell•June 26, 2026

June Automotive Boon?

A forecast for this month’s new-vehicle sales tells a familiar 2026 story: Year-over-year comparisons must be made in light of last year’s aberrations.

Read More →
split background green and blue. 2019 to 2025 with car going from starting location to end point. $37,310 and $48,402. Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industry•by Lauren Lawrence•June 25, 2026

Affordable New Cars a Thing of the Past

More than one out of five new vehicles sell for more than $60,000, according to Edmunds. That's up 7% compared to prepandemic 2019.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Hood of orange Tesla in front of sunrise
Sales•by Lauren Lawrence•June 18, 2026

Legacy Automakers Risk Falling Behind

As legacy automakers, mostly in the U.S. and Japan, have revised their 2030 electric-vehicle sales targets and shifted to a hybrid focus, they risk falling behind new market leaders.

Read More →
Ad Loading...