As 2103 gets underway, the sales numbers for December are beginning to trickle in, and the auto industry's success in the past year is growing more apparent. The Washington Post reports that preliminary estimates show roughly 14.5 million new vehicles were sold in 2012, which is 13 percent higher than in 2011.

It doesn't look like the trend shows any signs of slowing either, as experts from market research firm Polk as well as those at Edmunds.com are predicting that 2013 will see sales top 15 million. This is only a 6.6 percent increase according to Fox Business, but it looks as though 2013 will be a year of innovation and competition between brands.

"What's especially encouraging is the current competitive strength among the automakers," said Dr. Lacey Plache, Edmunds.com's chief economist. "Consumers will continue to benefit from exciting new models and technologies – and potentially lower prices – as automakers continue to battle for market share."

As more drivers purchase new models, the pool of available used models will grow as well. This is largely due to the fact that Edmunds expects there will be 500,000 more leases that end in 2013 than there were in 2012. The result could be an average price drop of $200 to $300 per used model this year, making it a good time for car shoppers to begin looking.

Drivers in the New York/New Jersey area who are in the market for used cars may be able to find the ride they want at NJ State Auto Auction. The dealer carries a wide selection of makes and models with a constantly changing inventory, and every vehicle on the lot is CARFAX Certified. This allows drivers to buy with confidence, as they will know that they're getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride.

New Year's Day has passed, but automotive experts are still crunching the numbers for 2012's sales, and it appears as though Ford had a very successful year. The automaker is projecting its annual sales topped 2 million units for the second year in a row. If this prediction is accurate, Ford will be the only car company to have such high numbers in American sales in 2012.

More than 25 percent of Ford's overall sales were attributed to the lineup of efficient models that feature the environmentally friendly EcoBoost engine. The engine is designed to use less gasoline than a traditional combustion engine, while still providing plenty of power. This is made possible due to a highly pressurized fuel injection system that delivers fuel directly to each combustion chamber in the engine. A typical motor first mixes the fuel with air, but the EcoBoost method helps to improve efficiency and performance while also cutting down on emissions.

"In just three years, Ford has transformed our global small car lineup and started winning over customers worldwide with vehicles that are not only fun to drive but also fuel-efficient – largely thanks to our award-winning EcoBoost engines," said Jim Farley, Ford's executive vice president of global marketing.

Since the American automaker has been using the EcoBoost engine for several years, drivers in the market for used cars may be able to find fuel-efficient vehicles as old as 2009 model year Ford cars. New Jersey State Auto Auction carries a wide selection of Ford models, and the constantly changing inventory makes it easy to find the vehicle you want. Plus, every car on the lot is CARFAX certified, so you know you'll be getting behind the wheel of a reliable ride no matter which one you choose.