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Viewpoints
Commentaries are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the views of Haver Analytics.
by Tom Moeller May 1, 2018
Total sales of light vehicles declined 1.9% during April (+0.6% y/y) to 17.15 million units (SAAR), following a 2.4% March rise, according to the Autodata Corporation. The decline placed sales 7.6% below the 18.57 million unit high reached last September. April sales have declined 4.0% since December, following a 1.7% twelve-month shortfall during 2017.
Leading last month's decline was a 3.4% drop (-16.4% y/y) in passenger car sales to 5.42 million units. Sales of domestically made autos eased 5.0% (-17.5% y/y) to 3.90 million units, the lowest level since November 2010. Sales of imported passenger cars improved 0.9% (-13.3% y/y) to 1.53 million units.
Sales of light trucks declined 1.2% (+11.0% y/y) to 11.72 million units. Domestic light truck sales eased 3.8% (+6.9% y/y) to 9.28 million units. Sales of imported light trucks increased 9.9% (30.1% y/y) to 2.45 million units.
Trucks' share of the U.S. vehicle market rose to 68.4% in April, up from 63.2% during all of last year and 48.8% during all of 2008.
Imports' share of the U.S. vehicle market surged to 23.2% last month, up from 19.9% in 2015. Imports' share of the passenger car market increased to 28.2% from 27.7% last year. Imports share of the light truck market surged to 20.9% versus 12.7% low during 2014.
U.S. vehicle sales figures can be found in Haver's USECON database.
Light Weight Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Million Units) | Apr | Mar | Feb | Apr Y/Y % | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 17.15 | 17.48 | 17.08 | 0.6 | 17.27 | 17.55 | 17.48 |
Autos | 5.42 | 5.62 | 5.72 | -16.4 | 6.35 | 7.10 | 7.73 |
Domestic | 3.90 | 4.10 | 4.13 | -17.5 | 4.59 | 5.20 | 5.63 |
Imported | 1.53 | 1.51 | 1.59 | -13.3 | 1.76 | 1.90 | 2.10 |
Light Trucks | 11.72 | 11.87 | 11.35 | 11.0 | 10.92 | 10.44 | 9.74 |
Domestic | 9.28 | 9.64 | 9.08 | 6.9 | 9.02 | 8.75 | 8.37 |
Imported | 2.45 | 2.23 | 2.27 | 30.1 | 1.90 | 1.69 | 1.38 |