Japanese Cars Still Popular in SUV-Focused N. American Market

U.S. consumers are clamoring for more SUV/crossovers every month. But demand for Japanese-brand cars continues to outperform the region’s conventional car market, Augusto Amorim, manager of North America sales forecasting at LMC Automotive, tells AutoBeat Daily.

Amorim notes that all five car models in the market’s 15 best-selling nameplates in January-May were Japanese: the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Civic, and the Toyota Corolla and Camry.

He acknowledges that sales of those five models dropped 10% through May compared with a 1% decline for the market overall. But he says some of that decline can be attributed to the maturity of current Accord and Camry models, both of which are being replaced with new designs.

Amorim adds that Japanese carmakers appear likely to maintain a broader array of vehicle choices in the North American market than will their traditional domestic brand rivals. The heavy shift from cars to SUV/crossovers favored by domestic brands can boost profits. He cautions that it also leaves companies more vulnerable if fuel prices jump unexpectedly.