The past few years have been a great time for the U.S. car dealers, while manufacturers haven't had it quite so good as retailers. At the same time many auto dealers complained they were often short of the products their customers wanted to buy, and it's pertinent to notice in this context that the factories still make too many vehicles for which there's no demand.
Things are going to change soon in the U.S. economy, which will make sales even more exciting for dealers and manufacturers. The American car business will become more dicey for global manufacturers, for which the greatest challenge is to figure out which countries need which models and how many.
It is certain that big changes will follow in the next 12 months, and no one has any idea what they will be. The U.S. presidential election is going to toss the economy in a cocked hat. The American car dealers will have to be flexible, to be able to switch back and forth quickly without much warning. No one can predict oil prices, but they will have a big impact on which models are popular, including hybrid and electric vehicles. What happens with sedans is anybody's guess, and fuel prices will make the outlook foggier.