America’s Car Market Expanded Nearly 8% in 2013

Automakers sold 15.6 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. last year compared with 14.5 million in 2012, Autodata Corp. reports. Results were the best since 2007.

Traditional U.S. brands boosted volume 9% to 7.1 million vehicles, expanding their combined market share 0.7 points to 45.2%. Full year sales rose 7% to 2.8 million vehicles for General Motors, 11% to 2.5 million for Ford and 9% to 1.8 million for Chrysler.

GM's market share last year was unchanged at 17.9%. Ford and Chrysler each gained 0.2 points to finish 2013 at 15.9% and 11.3%, respectively.

Sales of Asian brands increased 7% to 7 million units last year. But that wasn't enough to match overall market growth, so they lost half a point of share to end the year at 45.1%, according to Autodata.

Toyota and Honda posted full-year sales increases of 7% to 2.2 million and 1.5 million units respectively. Nissan's volume climbed 9% to 1.3 million, and Hyundai advanced 3% to 720,800 units. Kia, whose sales dropped 4% to 435,200 units, was the only major Asian company to post lower sales last year.

European marques advanced 5% to 1.5 million units but lost 0.2 points of market share to finish last year at 9.7%. Volkswagen's full-year volume fell 7% to 407,700 units. But Mercedes-Benz and BMW advanced 13% to 334,300 units and 10% to 309,300 units, respectively.