2012 cars in 2011?

[4.6owner]

Just checked my calendar and its still 2011, and not even halfway through 2011 at that, so why are 2012 cars already available? Not specifically referring to the Genesis since I have no idea about that, but saw 2012 cars being advertised on the local Ford dealer website!

 

[jdposhkus]

I know right?
My boss got a 2012 M37x over 2 months ago...

 

[Mark_888]

Just checked my calendar and its still 2011, and not even halfway through 2011 at that, so why are 2012 cars already available? Not specifically referring to the Genesis since I have no idea about that, but saw 2012 cars being advertised on the local Ford dealer website!

Because they are revisions introduced in 2011. Most of the 2011 models were introduced in fall of 2010, so any new model (with sufficient revisions from previous year) that is introduced mid-year is designated as the next model year.

It used to be that all model changes took place in the fall, but because of competitive reasons, automakers want to introduce them as soon as they are ready, and don't necessarily want to wait until the fall.

 

[4.6owner]

So for practical purposes we have to subtract half-year from our MY to know when it was really released... for example a 2011 Genesis would be a car bought from the latter part of 2010 to the early part of 2011, etc? That's confusing and not very intuitive but good to know!

 

[Mark_888]

for example a 2011 Genesis would be a car bought from the latter part of 2010 to the early part of 2011, etc?

Not quite.

First, I asusme you mean "introduced" not "bought". Some dealers are still selling 2010 models if they hapen to have some in stock.

Second, a car that is first introducted in one calendar year, almost always initially carries the model year label of the next year when it is first introduced. At one time new models were always introduced in the fall, but now auto makers are sometimes introducing them whenever the new desigins are ready and not waiting until the fall (this only happens when there is some "less than trivial" difference from the prior year).

If yout want to know the build date of your car, look at the label in the driver side door jamb.

 

[mikec]

US law basically states car manufacturers can call go up to 1 year ahead of the calendar. So on Jan 1, 2011 they could start selling 2012 models. And quite a few actually did just that.

As others notes, it's just a marketing game for the most part - some car makers want to be the "first with their new models." Kinda like the movie studios wanting to be the first to release their "summer blockbusters."

mike c.

 

[4.6owner]

Thanks for the replies. Good to know about this marketing tactic - confusing but surely it works for the manufacturers. Why buy a 2011 car from MFG A when you can get a 2012 from MFG B?

I wonder if this affects resale values too (say you bought a 2011 MY car when 2012 MYs are widely available, do you lose a year of depreciation?).