U.S. Car Sales Set Another Record

Car and light-truck sales in the U.S. climbed to a record 17.55 million units in 2016, surpassing the all-time high of 17.48 million vehicles sold in 2015, Autodata Corp. reports.

The 0.4% gain was cinched by 3% growth to 1.69 million vehicles in December. The annualized sales pace surged to 18.4 million compared with 17.5 million in December 2015.

Domestic brands last month gained 2% to 751,100 units. General Motors climbed 18% to 318,900 units, thanks to gains of 11% for cars and 22% for trucks. Ford’s volume last month was flat a 237,800 units, as a 12% drop in demand for cars offset a 4% gain for trucks. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles posted a 9% decline to 189,900 units as the company’s car and truck sales fell 38% and 3%, respectively.

Deliveries of Asian manufacturers advanced 4% to 772,400 units in December.

Gainers included Toyota (+2% to 243,200 units), Honda (+6% to 160,500), Nissan (+10% to 152,700) and Subaru (+12% to 63,200). Kia sales were virtually flat at 54,400 vehicles. Monthly totals fell for Hyundai (-2% to 62,300 units), Mazda (-2% to 28,800) and Mitsubishi (-6% to 7,400).

U.S. demand for European brands expanded 4% to 166,900 vehicles in December. Volkswagen surged 20% to 37,200 units but ended the year down 8% at 322,900 vehicles.

Rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW saw sales shrink 6% to 35,900 units and 5% to 32,800 units, respectively. Mercedes handily outsold BMW last year 374,500 units to 313,200 units. Audi sales jumped 14% to 23,200 units in December and finished the year at 210,200 units, up 4%.

Light trucks captured a record 60% of the U.S. market in December and the full year. Last year car sales shrank 8% to 7.11 million units, and truck demand grew 7% to 10.45 million units, according to Autodata.