• Auto sales increase in December.

• Light truck sales fall at yearend.

• Chip shortage remains drag on sales.

The Autodata Corporation reported that light vehicle sales during December fell 3.1% (-22.9% y/y) to 12.72 million units (SAAR). Sales remained 31.2% below the April peak of 18.50 million units. During all of 2021, sales rose 3.5% versus 2020 to 15.10 million units, though that level remained 14.0% below the 2016 peak of 17.55 million units.

Trucks' share of the light vehicle market eased to 77.7% last month and stood below an 80.2% share in October. For all of last year, that share was 77.4%, up from a low of 48.1% during all of 2009.

Passenger car sales rose 6.0% (-26.2% y/y) in December to 2.84 million units after a 2.7% November rise. Car sales were at the highest level since August but fell 3.1% during all of 2021. Purchases of domestically-produced cars rose 1.0% last month (-28.8% y/y) to 1.93 million units following two months of strong increase. Sales of imported autos rose 15.2% in December (-20.2% y/y) to 0.91 million units and more than recovered November's decline. Nevertheless, imported car sales remained 38.9% below the May peak.

Sales of light trucks declined 5.3% (-21.8% y/y) last month to 9.88 million units and added to a 1.2% November shortfall. During all of last year, light truck sales rose 5.6% after declining 9.6% in 2020. Purchases of domestically-made light trucks fell 7.2% in December (-21.7% y/y) to 7.77 million units, the lowest level in three months. Partially offsetting this decline, sales of imported light trucks rose 2.4% last month (-22.7% y/y) to 2.11 million unit but remained 36.1% below April's record 3.30 million unit sales.

Imports' share of the U.S. vehicle market rose in December to 23.7%. It had risen to a September high of 27.9%. For all of last year, imports' share of the vehicle market rose to 25.3% from 19.9% in 2015. Imports' share of the passenger car market rose to 32.0% last month but remained below the September high of 38.1%. Imports' share of the light truck market edged higher to 21.4% and remained well below the 25.2% September high.

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