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U.S. Car Sales Slip 2% to Fourth-Best Year
Car and light truck sales in the U.S. totaled 17.23 million units in 2017, down from 17.55 million in the previous year, Autodata Corp. reports.
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Car and light truck sales in the U.S. totaled 17.23 million units in 2017, down from 17.55 million in the previous year, Autodata Corp. reports.
The dip, which was widely expected, marks the first year-on-year decline since 2009 (sales in 2016 surpassed the previous year by fewer than 71,000 units). But full-year volume for 2017 is still the market’s fourth-best result ever.
Deliveries last year retreated for all three traditional domestic companies. Sales dipped 1% for General Motors (to 3.0 million vehicles) and Ford (to 2.58 million). Deliveries shrank 9% (to 2.02 million units) for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Combined volume for the traditional domestic marques declined 3% to 7.64 million units in 2017. Demand for Asian brands slipped 1% to 7.99 million vehicles. Sale of European brand vehicles grew 2% to 1.61 million units.
December results hint that the sales pace this year may decelerate at a faster clip. Overall volume for the month dropped 5% to 1.60 million units, led by eroding demand for domestic brands (-4% to 720,700 units) and Asian nameplates (-7% to 715,900). Deliveries of European models were virtually flat at 166,500 units.
December sales for Ford rose 1% to 240,900 units. But demand ebbed for GM (-3% to 308,100 vehicles) and FCA (-11% to 168,200). Trucks were four times as popular as cars at Ford and GM, and eight times so at FCA.
Among Asian brands, December sales rose for Hyundai (+2% to 83,600 units) and Mitsubishi (+15% to 8,500). Deliveries were flat at 63,300 units for Subaru. But results shrank for Toyota (-8% to 223,000 units), Honda (-7% to149,300), Nissan (-10% to 138,200), Kia (-21% to 43,000) and Mazda (-7% to 26,900).
Sales of European luxury brands rose last month, with increases for Mercedes-Benz (+9% to 39,000 vehicles), BMW (+4% to 34,300) and Audi (+16% to 27,000). Sales of Volkswagen brand cars and crossovers plunged 19% to 30,300 units.
Light trucks claimed 63% of the U.S. passenger vehicle market last year, according to Autodata. That ratio compares with 60% in 2016, 56% in 2015 and 52% in 2014.