Cars.com Chief Analyst: Economy, Financing, Interest Rates And New Products Will Keep Showrooms Full In 2015

When asked about December auto sales, Cars.com Chief Analyst Jesse Toprak told Benzinga that it was another robust month and a great end to the year.

For the last month of the year, Toprak explained that the market saw strong SUV and truck sales.

“Low gas prices pushed a lot of consumers to larger vehicles,” he said. “On the same token, the interest for electric vehicles and hybrids fell.”

Cars.com is anticipating 17.1 million units in 2015 -- a forecast that Toprak said has more of an upside than a downside.

“The economy, easy access to financing, low interest rates and a slew of new products will keep the showroom traffic at high levels,” he said.

One Concern

Toprak says barring any unforeseen circumstances, the economy will probably remain stable access to financing will remain unhindered.

He does have one point of worry in terms of long-term financing, which is approaching six and seven years. Very long-term financing can keep a consumer out of the market for a long time, Toprak explained.

Win-Win Market

Toprak thinks this is a market where consumers have the best choice of cars.

“In terms of market dynamic, it’s a win-win,” he said. “Consumers get the best cars they’ve ever seen, and the industry profitability is high due to the health of the sector.”

The First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II (NASDAQ: CARZ) automotive ETF traded down almost 2.5 percent in Monday's session.