December ends a strong vehicle sales year in the U.S.
Strong December sales capped 2014 year in the U.S. as automakers peddled more than 1.5 million cars, SUVs and light trucks. For the year, the tally was more than 16.5 million units. Virtually free money, rising consumer confidence, plunging gasoline prices, and year-end promotions all made for happy days in dealerships.
The Detroit Three took a 45.4% share of the December market, selling 684,862 vehicles, meaning they sold 45.2% of the overall U.S. auto market in 2014, with sales of 7,469,500 vehicles, an increase 6% compared to 2013.
Results were uneven though. GM, now free of its bankruptcy-issued Series A preferred stock, was up 19% in December, 5% for the year. The Number Two automaker Ford Motor saw increase in December by 1.3%, but dropping 0.6% for the year, largely due to model changeovers including the Best Selling F-Series pickup truck. Fiat Chrysler, now FCA, posted another strong increase in December at +20% (193,000), as well as a y-o-y jump of 16% to 2.1 million vehicles. CEO Sergio Marchionne must be grateful for Jeep and Ram brands because the car business at FCA is weak with sales dropping -10% to less than 500,000 y-o-y.
Offshore brands finished the year with a 54.6% of the December auto market, selling 822,477 vehicles, down slightly from the 55.3% share, but a sales improvement over the 720,537 vehicles they sold last month. For the year overall, Asian and European brands captured a total market share of 54.8% and sold 9,052,500 vehicles.
December’s Top Ten sellers had six offshore nameplates. As usual, trucks continued to own the top three spots, held by the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500-3500, in that order. Honda CR-V Held its fourth place finish for the second month in a row. In fifth place, the Nissan Altima displaced the Toyota Camry as the best-selling car in the U.S. for the month. Despite finishing December in sixth place, the Camry during 2014 was the top-selling car in the U.S. for the 13th consecutive year. The midsize Honda Accord and compact Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic rounded out the Top Ten list in December, finishing the month in seventh, eighth, and tenth places.
