The Autodata Corporation reported that sales of light vehicles during January edged 1.1% higher (2.0% y/y) to 17.05 million units (SAAR) from 16.87 million in December. During the last three months, sales averaged 17.00 million units, a figure that has been trending lower since the 2016 sales peak of 17.55 million units.

Sales of light trucks increased 3.5% (9.7% y/y) to 12.56 million units. Purchases of domestically-made light trucks rose 4.2% (10.5% y/y) to 9.98 million units following December's 3.7% fall. Sales of imported light trucks improved 0.8% (6.6% y/y) to 2.58 million units after December's 4.1% decline. Imported light truck sales have roughly doubled in the past five years.

Trucks' share of the U.S. light vehicle market rose to a record 73.7%, up from a low of 48.8% during all of 2012.

Auto sales declined 5.3% (-15.0% y/y) to 4.48 million. That remained below a peak level of 7.71 million unit sales during all of 2014. Purchases of domestically-produced cars fell 7.0% (-16.2% y/y) to 3.32 million units and reversed December's rise. Sales of imported cars held steady (-11.5% y/y) at 1.16 million units and have been trending lower since 2011.

Imports' share of the U.S. vehicle market was steady last month at 22.0%. Imports' share of the passenger car market rebounded to 25.9% after falling in December. Imports share of the light truck market slipped to 20.5% but remained up from the 12.0% low in January 2015.

U.S. vehicle sales figures can be found in Haver's USECON database. Additional detail by manufacturer is in the INDUSTRY database.