Total sales of light vehicles edged 0.4% higher during October to 18.24 million units (SAAR). The gain followed a total increase of 6.9% during the prior three months and left sales 10.0% higher than one year ago. Total unit sales were at the highest level since July 2005.

A 0.2% dip in light truck sales understates the dynamic behind last month's truck market -- a surge in imports and a decline in domestic sales. Imports' 1.9% gain to 1.62 million units was to a record high, with sales nearly 50% higher versus a year ago. The strength came at the expense of domestic truck sales which eased 3.0% but were still 14.8% higher than last year.

Passenger car sales increased 1.3% (0.4% y/y) after a 2.3% September rise. Sales were barely higher (0.4%) than one year ago. Imported car sales paced last month's increase with a 1.9% rise. The gain, however, did not make up September's loss and sales of imports remained 0.8% lower than last year. Sales of domestic passenger cars fared somewhat better and gained 1.0% after a 4.1% surge in the month prior. Here again, though, the y/y comparison is a less-than-inspiring 0.9%.

Imports share of the market for light vehicles rose m/m to 20.5%, still lower than a high of 30.7% in February 2009. Imports share of the light truck market jumped to 15.8%, its highest since March 2011. Imports share of the passenger car market was little changed m/m at 26.4%, remaining below the 34.8% peak during all of 2010.

U.S. vehicle sales figures are published by Autodata and can be found in Haver's USECON database.