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U.S. Auto Sales January 2016 - AIADA Report


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Washington DC, February 3, 2016; The AIADA reported that winter weather in January blanketed many parts of the country, while economic indicators like the stock market generated shaky consumer confidence. This resulted in decreased or flat sales for most brands. Toyota sales were down 3.9 percent, while Honda’s were flat from January 2015. Despite the weather, some brands experienced mild sales increases for the month, including Subaru, up 0.7 percent; Hyundai, up 1.1 percent; and Nissan, up 2.9 percent.

“International brands weathered the challenges of the January auto market rather well, setting them up for a strong year ahead,” said AIADA President Cody Lusk. “I’m confident that as the sales year progresses and consumers return to dealer lots, international dealers will resume their positive sales pace.”

International Sales Maintain Solid Share of U.S. Market

International brands started 2016 with a 53.8 percent share of the U.S. auto market, down from 54.7 percent in December and 54.6 percent in January 2015. They sold 617,258 vehicles in January, down from 898,488 in December and 628,241 in January 2015.

Asian brands occupied 45.1 percent of the overall U.S. market, up slightly from the 45 percent share they held in December, but down from the 45.7 percent share they held in January 2015. Overall, these brands sold 517,898 vehicles, down from 739,747 sold in December and 525,865 in January 2015.

European brands held 8.7 percent of the market, down from 9.7 percent in December and 8.9 percent in January 2015. The 99,360 units sold were down from the 158,741 sold in December and 102,376 sold in January 2015.

Domestic brands finished the month with a 46.2 percent share of the market, up from 45.3 percent last month and 45.4 percent in January 2015. Sales of 530,799 vehicles declined from 744,801 units in December, but improved from last January when they sold 522,882 vehicles.

International Models Remain Popular with Consumers

International models dominated the list of January’s most popular vehicles, led once again by the Toyota Camry. Despite the winter weather, sales for the sedan—in third place for the month behind the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram pickups—was up 0.3 percent. Toyota’s Corolla compact and RAV4 compact SUV—in sixth and eighth places respectively—also joined the Camry on the month’s list of best-selling vehicles.

Honda also headlined the list of international brands making an appearance on the month’s top-selling list. In fourth place, the Civic compact saw sales increase by 43 percent over January 2015. The Accord midsize sedan logged a ninth place finish for the month. The Nissan Altima finished the month in seventh place.

Internationals Tap North American Manufacturing

Despite the month’s winter weather, North American production units for international brands continued to press on, generating 396,700 vehicles. The rate fell from the 573,897 vehicles produced in December. Asian brands sourced 368,227 vehicles from their North American manufacturing units, including 201,708 cars (41.5 percent of all cars sold in the U.S.) and 166,519 trucks (25.2 percent of all trucks sold in the U.S.). European brands sourced 28,473 units from similar production plants. These included 17,429 cars (3.6 percent of all cars sold) and 11,044 trucks (1.7 percent of all trucks sold).

Outlook

AutoData Corp. reports that the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in January was 17.58 million units versus 16.72 million units last January. Total industry unit deliveries decreased 0.3 percent compared last January and 30 percent compared to December 2015. Industrywide, 1,148,057 million light vehicles were sold in January, compared to 1,151,123 in January 2015. Unadjusted for business days, sales for all brands for the first month of the year were off 0.3 percent from 2015 levels.