U.S. light vehicle sales in June posted their highest rate since 2005 at 1.5 million, which translates to a SAAR – Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate – of 17.16 million. Low interest rates, an aging vehicle population and automaker rebates fueled the robost market, according to AutoData.
AutoData also notes that the seasonally adjusted annual rate was the highest reported June SAAR since 2005. Industry-wide, 1,476,675 light vehicles were sold last month, compared to 1,635,090 in May and 1,420,994 a year ago. So far this year, sales for all brands, unadjusted for business days, are up 4.4% from 2014.
The all-important market share battle was a standoff. Offshore brands – traditionally weak in trucks – held U.S. share at 54.8 % compared to 54.6 % last month, and 53.8 % in June 2014. Overall sales of offshore brands decreased from 891,687 units in May to 808,768 units in June. However, they were up from the 764,029 vehicles sold by international brands in June 2014.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
