At the end of the 2010 calender year offshore brands retained their majority hold on the U.S. market.
As the U.S. automobile market recovered somewhat in 2010 and increased truck sales particularly helped Ford, General Motors and Chrysler record above average sale gains compared to the industry, there was speculation that “Buy American” was a factor.
Now that the final numbers are in for all automakers, an answer is available – no. Offshore brands enjoyed an equally good year in 2010 as the Detroit Three, according to light vehicle retail sales numbers from AutoData.
Offshore brands continued to own a majority of the U.S. auto market for every month of 2010, averaging 54.8% – down slightly from 55.8% in 2009. And the decrease can be accounted for by the sales of giant Toyota, which were flat.
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.
