New Rochelle Dealer Riding National Roll-out, Positive Wave

At Honda of New Rochelle, the sales outlook is optimistic. The 10-year-old auto dealership sells new and used cars from two lots on Boston Post Road. On Tuesday, they were busy preparing for a Wednesday evening promotional event to showcase the 2013 Honda Accord. 

"Everybody's really busy getting ready for Wednesday," sales manager Jason Lee said. "There will be live music and food, a lot of activity." 

But the real excitement is the hope for plenty of customer traffic and interest in the updated car. Their Wednesday Midnight Madness event coincides with a national roll-out of the company’s stalwart product.

According to Web site Motor Intelligence, Honda Civic and Accord remain among the top five vehicle choices over the past year. Sales of the Civic and Accord models are up 106 and 89 percent respectively.

If you’re in the market for a car, a recent survey said efficiency and great gas mileage have replaced a desire for size. And despite charged political discourse about the health of the economy, car sales are on the rise.

Earlier this month, a survey conducted by the Wall Street Journal indicated U.S. auto sales seem to be on a steady, positive trend. According to their report, sales of all types of vehicles have increased nearly 28 percent over the past year ending in August 2012, totalling more than 5 million vehicles have been sold.

Sales of small cars have dramatically increased, more than 47 percent over the last year and nearly 250,000 sold in August 2012. A closer look at those numbers shows American buyers have made a deliberate decision to downsize their cars. Large car sales are down a dramatic 85.6 percent over the last year- a slump that seems to coincide with concerns over gasoline prices.

The hopes at Honda of New Rochelle for the new Accord—a small car—fit right into those projections. The dealership will be open until midnight Wednesday, and to continue the buzz, a new car will be given away next week on Sept. 26—all in hopes of catching that upward trend in sales.

Buyers have lifted American Honda sales more than 59 percent over the last year and the company holds about 10 percent of total national sales. Since last year, their sales are up nearly 60 percent compared to competitor Toyota—up more than 45 percent. On the opposite end is now-defunct Saab and Mitsubishi which is down nearly 47 percent is sales this year.