Car Sales Pace Slows in U.S.

Light-vehicle sales in the U.S. slipped 4% to 1.14 million units in September compared to a year earlier.

The annualized sales rate of 15.28 million was 500,000 units stronger than for September 2012 but also the weakest pace in the past six months.

Sales by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler slipped 2% to 513,500 units as an 11% drop at GM offset gains of 6% at Ford and 1% at Chrysler.

U.S. demand for European brands dipped 1% to 117,400 vehicles last month. Sales fell 12% to 31,900 units for Volkswagen, offsetting big gains for Mercedes-Benz (+8% to 26,800 units), BMW (+8% to 23,600) and Audi (+6% to 13,100).

Other European gainers included Mini (+8% to 5,300), Porsche (+13% to 3,100) and Jaguar (+31% to 1,300). European brands posting weaker results were Land Rover (-7% to 3,400), Fiat (-24% to 3,200) and Smart (-39% to 625).

U.S. sales by Asian brands fell 7% to 408,200 units. Except for Subaru, whose sales jumped 15%, all other Japanese and South Korean brands reported lower volumes in September.