U.S. Domestic Brand Quarterly Sales Rise 1%

Third-quarter sales of traditional U.S. domestic brand cars and light trucks advanced 1% to 1.88 million cars, light trucks and SUV/crossovers, according to the companies.

Deliveries in July-September jumped 6% to 738,600 units for General Motors. But volume for the period fell 5% to 580,300 vehicles for Ford and 1% to 580,300 for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

All three companies have stopped reporting monthly sales results. But Automotive News estimates that last month’s total U.S. car market, including domestic brands, shrank 12% to 1.27 million units. Even so, AN says annualized sales for September totaled a still-healthy 17.2 million vehicles.

GM says nearly 20% of its third-quarter sales were to fleets. All brands gained volume for the period.

Ford posted a 9% upswing in light-truck deliveries. But the sales of the company’s car and SUV/crossover sales fell 30% and 11%, respectively.

At FCA, third-quarter sales of domestic brands were buoyed by a 15% gain for Ram trucks to 179,200 units. The increase offset declines for the company’s Jeep (-2% to 245,500 units) and Chrysler (-23% to 29,500) brands.

Through the first nine months of 2019, domestic-brand sales advanced 2% to 5.61 million units, according to company reports. Totals by GM, Ford and FCA fell by 1%, 4% and 1%, respectively.