The Autodata Corporation reported that sales of light vehicles during February eased 0.2% (+2.0% y/y) to 17.04 million (SAAR) from 17.07 million in January, revised from 17.05 million. During the last three months, sales averaged 17.00 million units. Sales have been easing since the 2016 sales peak of 17.55 million units.

Sales of light trucks were off 0.1% (+6.6% y/y) at 12.56 million units. Purchases of domestically-made light trucks fell 0.8% (+7.2% y/y) to 9.92 million units following January's 4.4% rise. Sales of imported light trucks improved 2.7% (4.3% y/y) to 2.64 million units after January's 0.4% improvement.

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

Auto sales weakened 0.2% (-8.9% y/y) to 4.48 million units. That remained below a peak level of 7.71 million unit sales during all of 2014. Purchases of domestically-produced cars fell 3.3% (-12.7% y/y) to 3.22 million units and added to January's decline. Sales of imported cars strengthened 7.7% (2.4% y/y) to 1.26 million units after rising 0.9% in January.

Imports' share of the U.S. vehicle market rose last month to 22.9% and has been moving sideways for two years. Imports' share of the passenger car market jumped to 28.1%, its highest level in four months. Imports share of the light truck market edged higher to 21.0% and 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.