GAINESVILLE, Ga. -

According to a new report developed by Black Book and Fitch Ratings, vehicles are likely to depreciate at a greater degree this year, though not enough to present any major obstacles to U.S. auto loan and lease ABS.

Black Book said Wednesday that vehicle depreciation rates averaged just below 13 percent in 2012, a level underneath the historical range of 15 percent to 18 percent.

The firm indicated auto ABS has benefited from relatively benign depreciation rates during the past two years, which has resulted in very low loss rates of under 0.45 percent on auto loan ABS, and strong residual values gains of 11 percent in auto lease ABS transactions through the end of last year.

Black Book expects vehicle depreciation rates this year to remain low but rise to the lower end of the historical range previously mentioned.

Analysts pointed out that the average monthly depreciation on wholesale values of one- to five-year-old vehicles was of 2.1 percent late last year based on sales volumes during the past 12 months at wholesale vehicle auctions.

During the last quarter of 2012, even with high gas prices, compact cars, entry-level cars, entry midsize cars and upper midsize cars (all more fuel efficient models), depreciated at inflated levels of monthly averages of 3.3 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, according to Black Book.

That said, Fitch believes auto loan ABS asset performance will still benefit from healthy used-vehicle values this year even as vehicle depreciation rises as higher used-vehicle volumes enter the wholesale vehicle market.

"A higher amount of auto leases coming due this year will squeeze auto lease residual values down marginally from current elevated levels, but not enough to impact auto ABS asset performance materially," Fitch senior director Hylton Heard said.

The new Black Book-Fitch Vehicle Depreciation report is a joint venture by the two companies utilizing Black Book's used vehicle depreciation data. The report will be released quarterly.

"Auto lenders are continuously searching for ways to assess risks related to changes in values to automobiles backing retail loans and leases and ultimately loss rates, and this new report helps to identify risk exposure levels for various individual vehicle segments," Black Book president Tom Cross.

In the initial report, Black Book discusses among other items, factors that drive vehicle depreciation rates within individual vehicle segments, while Fitch focuses on how recent low depreciation has positively impacted used-vehicle values and continues to support auto ABS asset performance and ratings.

Black Book tracks used-vehicle market depreciation rates providing an understanding of how vehicle prices impact automobile lenders and lessors, auto ABS transactions, consumers and other auto market constituents.

"Black Book is one of the leading sources for automobile data and insight that may be instrumental to the auto lender community," Heard said. "The new report will show key trends tied to auto supply and demand that drives vehicle depreciation rates and ultimately impacts the auto ABS sector."

To obtain a copy of the Black Book-Fitch Vehicle Depreciation Report, send an email to LenderSolutions@BlackBookUSA.com or go to Fitch's website at www.fitchratings.com.

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