Content area
Full text
Sales of 16 million light vehicles? Suddenly it's not a mirage.
In recent days, several key analysts, some big dealership groups and a handful of automakers, including Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler, have upped their forecasts for 2012 and the next two years.
And they all see 16 million on the horizon -- not this year, of course, but within two years. And they say single-month selling rates of 16 million are likely in 2013.
Mercedes' U.S. boss, Steve Cannon, said forecasters are "starting to sharpen their pencils and determine, 'Heck, is this thing coming sooner than we thought?'"
The new confidence grows out of a surprisingly strong first quarter.
"We see 16 million in a couple years," John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, said last week.
Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas said he "would not rule out 17 million" in three years.
AutoNation has raised its 2012 forecast from 14 million...