ROCKFORD (WREX) -
Confidence is key to driving an economic recovery and car dealers are optimistic early numbers point to the boost businesses need.
The annual spring auto show started up at CherryVale Mall Tuesday with a lot of excitement, not just from people anxious to take a look at what's on the market, but also from car dealers who expect a very good year.
"The interest rates are low, the economy is doing somewhat better and it's about time. I mean our van is 10 years old."
Nancy Hartsock and her husband Randall are what dealers expect to see a lot of this year. People hanging on to their older cars, who are now ready to buy.
"Their cars are wearing out, I've seen more cars recently with more than a 100 thousand miles than we've ever seen before," said George Schaffner, Lou Bachrodt Automall.
The National Automobile Dealers Association predicts vehicle sales will be up 9 percent this year to nearly 14-million. That trend is already starting. January's car sales were up more than 11 percent from 2011.
Schaffner says the same has been true locally especially as the economy starts to rebound.
"The customers are coming in, the confidence is there. People are secure in their jobs, they're secure in their surroundings."
With most interest rates for vehicles at 3 percent or lower and other incentives offered by the car companies, the Hartsock'ss say they expect to be new car owners in the next few months if not sooner. They kicked off their shopping at the Rockford Auto Show so they could start comparison shopping right away.
"This way we don't have to travel to all the different dealers to look, they have a big verity, compact, right here."
The auto show runs until Sunday during regular mall hours.
