(MENAFN) The average cost of a new vehicle in the United States has officially crossed the $50,000 threshold, according to fresh data released Monday.

Kelley Blue Book, a leading American automotive valuation and research firm, reported that the average price for a new vehicle hit $50,080 in September, marking an unprecedented milestone.

This figure signals a 2.1 percent increase from August and a 3.6 percent rise compared to the same month last year. Kelley Blue Book noted that the 3.6 percent year-over-year growth in September was the highest since spring 2023 but remains consistent with long-term inflation trends in vehicle pricing.

"New-vehicle prices have risen steadily for more than a year, with the pace of the increases accelerating in recent months," the company stated. It further revealed that with the arrival of 2026 model year vehicles on dealer lots, the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) also surged to a record $52,183 in September.

Kelley Blue Book added that this MSRP reflected a 4.2 percent year-over-year increase, outpacing the historical average rise.

Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive, explained the inflationary nature of the U.S. auto market, driven predominantly by affluent buyers with access to capital and favorable loan terms supporting premium segments.

"It is important to remember that the new-vehicle market is inflationary. Prices go up over time, and today's market is certainly reminding us of that," Keating said. She emphasized that tariffs were just one element of mounting cost pressures, with the principal driver behind September’s record prices being the expanding share of electric vehicles (EVs) and luxury models.

In a report released Monday, media highlighted that increasing auto tariffs are inflating costs and generating uncertainty, threatening production stability and potentially dampening consumer demand.

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump implemented a 25 percent base tariff on imported vehicles, which Kelley Blue Book estimates has increased prices by up to $6,000 on vehicles priced under $40,000.

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