The Autodata Corporation reported that sales of light vehicles during May increased 6.2% (1.2% y/y) to 17.40 million units (SAAR) and reversed April's 6.1% decline. Sales have been moving sideways since the middle of last year. Nevertheless, motor vehicles & parts contribution to real GDP growth was -0.42 percentage points during Q1'19.

Light-truck sales increased 8.0% (6.7% y/y) last month to a 12.38 million unit rate and reversed the 6.5% April decline. They have remained in an upward trend since the recession's end. Purchases of domestically-made light trucks rose 9.6% (7.8% y/y) to 9.97 million units. The gain fully reversed the prior month's decline. Sales of imported light trucks rose 2.1% (2.4% y/y) to a 2.41 million sales rate after a 2.9% decline. These sales have roughly tripled during the last ten years.

Auto sales improved 1.6% (-10.2% y/y) to a 5.02 million annual unit pace following a 4.8% April decline. Car sales nevertheless have remained in a downtrend since 2014. Purchases of domestically-produced cars were little changed (-12.1% y/y) at 3.51 million units after falling 7.1% in April. Sales of imported cars improved 7.1% (-5.5% y/y), up for the third straight month, to 1.51 million units.

Trucks' share of the U.S. vehicle market rose to a record high of 71.1%. The share rose from 68.2% last year and a low of 47.3% in 2009.

Imports share of the U.S. vehicle market eased last month to 22.5% but has been trending upward since 2015. Imports' share of the passenger car market surged to 30.1%, nearly a six-year high. Imports share of the light truck market eased to 19.5%., but remained up from the 11.8% low in April 2014.

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