2014 car sales best in U.S. since ’06
Buoyed by the recovering economy, lower gas prices and the impetuous sales of trucks and SUVs, automakers sold more vehicles in two thousand fourteen than in any year since before the U.S. recession. Industry experts expect those gains to proceed this year, albeit the sales tempo likely will slow from 2014.
U.S. sales of cars and light trucks totaled 16.52 million — the very first time they crossed the sixteen million mark since 2006. That was almost one million more sales than in 2013, according to figures released Monday.
“The U.S. auto industry astonished many with a better-than-expected 2014, and closed on a high note, which bodes well for 2015,” Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com, said in a statement. “While new-car sales likely will rise again in 2015, it won’t be at the rhythm we’ve seen in latest years. Competition will intensify and automakers’ pledge to be disciplined in balancing supply and incentives with request will be tested.”
In addition to sturdy sales of trucks and SUVs — especially compact sport utility models — luxury cars did well among buyers. Non-luxury sedans, however, didn’t sell as well.
Foreign makes Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, and BMW set U.S. sales records in 2014.
Among last year’s highlights:
■ Trucks, including SUVs, outsold cars. Together, sales in this category rose ten percent, to 8,603,399.
Separated from pickups, SUV and crossover sales rose 11.8 percent to Five,381,431 last year, as automakers rushed to suggest more models in the hot segment.
■ The top three best-selling vehicles were all American trucks: Ford Motor Co’s F-150, General Motors Co.’s Silverado and the Dodge Ram 1500.
■ GM sold more vehicles in two thousand fourteen than any other automaker.
■ Ford was the best-selling brand for the fifth-straight year, and the Dearborn automaker’s F-150 pickup was the best-selling truck for the 38th straight year.
■ The Toyota Camry was the nation’s best-selling car for the 13th consecutive year.
■ BMW was the best-selling upscale automaker, hitting out Mercedes-Benz and Lexus in the growing luxury segment, where sales enhanced 15.1 percent. Ford’s Lincoln continued its turnaround with a 15.6 percent sales increase, which came mostly from its fresh MKC crossover and refreshed Navigator.
■ Asian automakers outsold American and European brands by about 35,000 vehicles.
■ FCA US LLC — the Fiat and Chrysler tieup — continued its incredible streak in 2014, ending the year with 57-consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains.
For the year, FCA sales were up 16.1 percent, driven by strong spectacles for its Jeep and Chrysler brands. GM sales rose Five.Three percent as SUVS from its Buick and Chevy brands attracted buyers. And Ford sales were down 0.6 percent compared to 2013, due mostly to launch costs and extended plant downtime related to the introduction of its fresh aluminum-bodied F-150 pickup.
Chrysler gained the most market share in two thousand fourteen as Toyota and Nissan also spotted upticks. Ford lost the most share as GM, Honda and Hyundai also lost.
December sales were strong, fanned by falling gas prices and holiday sales. Detroit’s Big Three automakers all reported December sales gains Monday as overall industry sales enlargened Ten.8 percent last month.
GM reported a Nineteen.Trio percent sales increase last month compared to the same time a year ago; December sales at Ford rose 1.Three percent, and FCA US LLC reported Monday its December sales in the United States were up 20.Four percent — its best December in a decade.
The less fuel-efficient, higher-profit vehicles were helped in two thousand fourteen by lower gas prices to end the year, but analysts say their popularity extends beyond numbers at the pump.
“What we’re observing now are trends that we’ve seen for the past duo years, long before the fall of gas prices,” Krebs said Monday on a conference call with reporters. “What’s fresh will sell, even on the car side.”
And automakers introduced slew of SUVs last year, and this year’s North American International Auto Showcase, which opens to the world’s automotive press Monday, should add even more.
GM introduced six fresh two thousand fifteen utilities: the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban; and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. Ford Motor Co. also spinned out its updated two thousand fifteen Lincoln Navigator in two thousand fourteen and recently unveiled its two thousand sixteen Ford Explorer that’s due on dealer lots in 2015. Last year also marked the very first utter year of sales for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ two thousand fourteen Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee SUVs. The Cherokee helped lead Jeep to a 41.Two percent boost in sales compared to 2013.
Analysts are already looking ahead to two thousand fifteen and anticipate sales of around seventeen million vehicles. Hot segments like compact crossovers, trucks and SUVs should proceed to attract buyers, and low gas prices could proceed to help sales through the very first half of the year.
No comments