Average Age of U.S. Auto Fleet Hits Record High

The average age of the 245 million vehicles on American roads rose to a record 11 years in the first quarter of 2012, up more than two months from the same period of 2011, according to Experian Automotive. Of those cars and light trucks, more than 52 million are at least 16 years old.

The Schaumburg, Ill.-based research firm also calculates that the number of vehicles seven years and older in the U.S. has climbed to about 176 million units, a 17.3 million-unit jump from three years ago.

Experian says the aging fleet reflects the improved durability of vehicles and the economic slump that has caused consumers to defer the purchase of new vehicles.

The brands with the most vehicles in the American fleet are Ford (17%), Chevrolet (16%), Toyota (10%) and Honda (7%), according to Experian. It notes that the list closely tracks the most popular models still on the road: Ford F-150 (3.4%), Honda Accord (2.6%), Toyota Camry (2.6%) and Chevy Silverado (2%). The firm adds that hybrid and electric vehicles account for 0.9% of the mix.