U.S. Car Sales Surge 6% to 8-Year High

Passenger vehicle deliveries in the American market climbed to 16.52 million last year from 15.60 million in 2013 the largest volume since 2007, according to Autodata Corp.

December sales jumped 11% to 1.51 million units for an annualized rate of 16.9 million compared with 15.5 million a year earlier.

Traditional domestic brands posted a 13% increase to 684,900 vehicles in December and 6% to 7.47 million for the full year. Sales last month jumped 19% to 274,500 units at General Motors, 1% to 219,400 units at Ford and 20% to 189,400 units at Chrysler.

Asian brands advanced 10% to 661,000 units last month and 7% to 7.50 million for the year. December sales jumped 13% to 215,100 for segment leader Toyota. Volume rose 7% to 117,300 units for Nissan and 2% to 137,300 for Honda. Hyundai and Kia posted increases of 2% to 64,500 and 36% to 45,600, respectively.

Demand for European brands grew 6% to 161,500 vehicles in December and 3% to 1.55 million for the full year. Volkswagen's full-year sales were down 10% at 367,000 for the year. But the brand managed to keep its two-month-old sales recovery on track by selling 34,100 cars in December, 43 more than in the same month in 2013.

BMW's sales jumped 11% to 41,500 in December. Mercedes-Benz rose 4% to 37,300, and Audi's volume advanced 1% to 19,200. For the full year, volume climbed 7% to 356,100 for Mercedes, 10% to 339,700 for BMW and 15% to 182,000 for Audi.