CUV/SUVs and Pickups are accounting for upwards of 70 percent of the market vs. a declining 30 percent for cars just as fuel prices are heating up. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – April 3, 2018 With the Q1 now behind us, U.S. March auto sales of 1.65 million vehicles was up on a volume basis and up 2.6 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. Finally, the average consumer appears to be purchasing new personal transportation, second only to the home as the most expensive purchase we make. The winners in March were GM, FCA, Mazda, VW, and Mitsubishi, all achieving double digit sales volumes gains. The losers were Nissan with a single digit falloff and Hyundai that once again experienced a double-digit decline. Top 10 March 2018 sales items of note: The well accepted Equinox continues to outsell the perennial leading CR-V. B and C-Segment March 2018 sales items of note: The Sonic had a poor showing into the end of last year but that has since subsided as discounts continue to move it back to a more prominent position in the B-segment. Remember it used to hold on to the #2 spot behind the Versa for months on end just a few years ago. The all-new and imho, best B-segment available, all-new 2018 Accent continues to flounder since its release. D and Utility-Segment March 2018 sales items of note: Other than the up and coming 5-series, there is a lot of blank ink in the D-Segment. The all-new Camry is holding its own while most of the segment continues to see sales declines as perspective purchasers continue to move to the CUV where double digit gains show across much of the top 10 in that segment. In the Crossover segment, Rogue has held onto its #1 position and #3 overall position through the1Q ahead of RAM pickups. That is saying something! Pickup-Segment March 2018 sales items of note: There really is no change other than the shear volume of Pickups’ sold. The F-Series has outsold 12 of the top 18 manufactures by its lonesome. Electrified-Segment March 2018 sales items of note: With a slow January start, Ford has placed a lot of $s behind its Fusion Hybrid and its sales volume again dominates the HEV segment placing the strong RAV4 and fading Prius behind. The Camry Hybrid although not moving beyond its stagnant 5th spot within the HEV Top 10, the positive sales results bode well for continued success of the most efficient midsize available today. On the electric front, the Prius Prime PHEV now accounts for 41.8 percent of the Prius liftback sales. Given the lower cost and plug-in capability, is it any wonder? Tesla, Honda, FCA, and Kia do not supply HEV/PHEV/BEV monthly sales breakouts. U.S. Automobile March 2018 vs. March 2017 Market Share Comparison March 2018 Market Share items of note: GM market share was up an extremely strong 1.3 percent compared to March of 2017. On the downside, Ford was down .6 percent, Hyundai was down 0.8 percent, and Nissan was down a steep 1.1 percent. U.S. March 2018 Sales vs. March 2017 Sales Ranks and Results for the top 18 Automobile Manufacturers GM March 2018 Sales: 296,341 vehicles sold, up 15.7 percent above the 256,224 sold in March of 2017 Ford March 2018 Sales: 244,306 vehicles sold, up 3.4 percent above the 236,250 sold in March of 2017 Toyota March 2018 Sales: 222,782 vehicles sold, up 3.5 percent over the 215,224 sold in March of 2017 FCA March 2018 Sales: 216,063 vehicles sold, up 13.6 percent above the 190,254 sold in March of 2017 Nissan March 2018 Sales: 162,535 vehicles sold, down 3.7 percent below the 168,832 sold in March of 2017 Honda March 2018 Sales: 142,392 vehicles sold, up 3.8 percent above the 137,227 sold in March of 2017 Hyundai March 2018 Sales: 61,540 vehicles sold, down 11.2 percent below the 69,265 sold in March of 2017 Subaru March 2018 Sales: 58,097 vehicles sold, up 5.9 percent above the 54,871 sold in March of 2017 Kia March 2018 Sales: 50,645 vehicles sold, up 2.5 percent above the 49,429 sold in March of 2017 BMW March 2018 Sales: 35,842 vehicles sold, down 0.4 percent below the 36,002 sold in March of 2017 Mazda March 2018 Sales: 33,302 vehicles sold, up 35.7 percent above the 24,549 sold in March of 2017 VW March 2018 Sales: 32,548 vehicles sold, up 17.8 percent above the 27,635 sold in March of 2017 Mercedes-Benz March 2018 Sales: 31,484 vehicles sold, down 2.7 percent below the 32,352 sold in March of 2017 Audi March 2018 Sales: 20,090 vehicles sold, up 7.4 percent above the 18,705 sold in March of 2017 Mitsubishi March 2018 Sales: 14,319 vehicles sold, up 21.7 percent over the 11,766 sold in March of 2017 Jaguar/Land Rover March 2018 Sales: 14,232 vehicles sold, up 10.2 percent above the 12,918 sold in March of 2017 Volvo March 2018 Sales: 8,233 vehicles sold, up 53.7 percent above the 5,356 sold in March of 2017 Porsche March 2018 Sales: 4,756 vehicles sold, up 6.2 percent above the 4,479 sold in March of 2017 Manufacturer ranking Items of note: Hyundai moved back ahead of Subaru despite a double digit negative monthly result. BMW, Mazda, and VW moved ahead of Mercedes-Benz with Mazda and VW achieving double digit sales volumes gains in March. Audi has sold 20,000 U.S. vehicles for just the fourth time and first ever for a March result. March 2018 U.S. Automotive industry sales of 1.649 million was up 6.3 percent vs. the 1.551 million sold in March of 2017. On a Daily Selling Rate basis with 28 selling days in March 2018 vs, 27 in March of 2017, sales were still up a healthy 2.6 percent. 2018 YTD sales of 4.09 million is up .08 million or 2 percent over the 4.01 million sold through the same period of 2017. March 2018 automotive industry seasonally annual adjusted rate (SAAR) reached 16.8 million.
BMW March 2018 Sales: 35,842 Vehicles Sold, Down 0.4 Percent BMW Group (BMW and MINI combined) reported U.S. March 2018 sales of 35,842 vehicles, down 0.4 percent from the 36,002 vehicles sold in March of 2017. BMW Electrified Vehicle sales totaled 2,662 in March of 2018, up 71.1 percent from the 1,556 sold in March of 2017. BMW Group electrified vehicles accounted for 7.4 percent of BMWs U.S. sales in March. BMW currently offers seven electrified models in the U.S., including the BMW i3, BMW i8, BMW 330e, BMW 530e, BMW 740e BMW X5 xDrive 40e and MINI Countryman plug-in-hybrid electric vehicle. Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 1 percent in March 2018 for a total of 31,311 compared to 31,015 vehicles sold in March 2017. YTD, BMW brand sales are up 3.0 percent year-over-year. 2018 BMW BMW 530e For March, MINI USA reported 4,531 vehicles sold, a decrease of 9.1 percent from the 4,987 sold in the same month a year ago.
Mercedes-Benz March 2018 Sales: 31,484 Vehicles Sold, Down 2.7 percent Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported it sold 31,484 vehicles in March, down 2.7 percent below the 32,352 sold in March of 2017. YTD sales of 86,981 are down 0.7 percent below the 87,635 sold through the same period of 2017. Mercedes-Benz Vans reported March sales of 2,967 units (up 3.3%) and smart reported 110 units. Mercedes-Benz volume leaders in March included the GLC, C-Class and GLE model lines. The GLC took the lead at 6,064, followed by C-Class sales of 4,984. The GLE rounded out the top three with 4,573 units sold. 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC43 Coupe
Audi March 2018 Sales: 20,090 Vehicles Sold, Up 7.4 Percent Audi reported it sold 20,090 vehicles in the United States in March, up 7.4 percent above the 18,705 sold in March of 2017. Sales were up 3.6 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis in which there were 28 selling days in March of 2018 vs. 27 in March of 2017. Audi’s YTD sales of 50,052 were up 9.7 percent above the 45,647 sold through the same period of 2017. Sales were up 6.8 percent on a DSR basis with 77 selling days in 2018 vs. 75 through the same period of 2017. The brand of Four Rings big winner in March was the Q5 with sales of 5,473, up 24.9 percent over the 4,382 sold in March of 2017. YTS sales of 14,030 were up 24.0 percent over the 11,312 sold through the same period of 2016. 2018 Audi Q5
Mitsubishi March 2018 Sales: 14,319 Vehicles Sold, Up 21.7 Percent Mitsubishi reported March 2018 sales of 14,319 vehicles sold, up 21.7 percent over the 11,766 sold in March 2017. It was the brands best March sales month since 2005. YTD sales were 35,772, up 22.7 percent over the 29,147 sold through the same period of 2017. 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander The highlight was Outlander achieving its best March ever with sales of 4,789 vehicles, up 13.1 percent over the 4,235 sold in March of 2017. YTD sales of 13,099 were up 36.1 percent over the 9,588 sold in March of 2017.
Jaguar/Land Rover March 2018 Sales: 14,232 Vehicles Sold, Up 10.2 Percent Jaguar Land Rover reported March 2018 U.S. sales reached an all-time combined brand monthly high with 14,232 vehicles sold, up 10.2 percent over the 12,918 sold in March of 2017. YTD sales of 114,333 combined brand vehicles were up 8.8 percent over the 105,104 vehicles sold through the same period of 2017. The YTD result was a new all-time U.S. sales record for the combined brands. Land Rover on its own achieved a new U.S. monthly sales high of 10,972 vehicles, up 37.8 percent over the 7,965 sold in March of 2017. 2018 Ranger Rover Sport One of the most luxurious SUV interior available is also one of the most efficient as the 254 hp and 443 lb ft of torque 3.0L V6 Turbo Diesel mated to the std. 8-speed AT rated at just 22/28 mpg is capable of almost 40 mpg when driven gently! Both the Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport achieved their best ever U.S. monthly sales levels. The Range Rover Sport achieved sales of 3,330 vehicles, up 47.9 percent over the 2,251 sold in March of 2017. The Range Rover achieved March sales of 2,503 vehicles, up 25.7 percent over the 1,991 sold in March of 2017.
Volvo March 2018 Sales: 8,233 Vehicles Sold, Up 53.7 Percent Volvo reported U.S. it sold 8,233 vehicles in March, up 53.7 percent over the 5,356 sold in March of 2017. YTD sales of 20,083 was up 49.0 percent over the 13,479 sold through the same period of 2017. 2018 Volvo XC90 The XC90 was Volvo's best model in terms of sales with 2,796 sold, up 67.3 percent over the 1,671 sold in March of 2017. XC90 YTD sales are up almost as strong with sales of 7,389, up 61.8 percent over the 4,568 sold through the same period of 2017. The new XC40 launched in March and 1,001 have been sold during its first month of availability.
Porsche March 2018 Sales: 4,756 Vehicles Sold, Up 6.2 Percent Porsche March 2018 sales of 4,756 vehicles was up 6.2 percent over the 4,479 sold in March of 2017. IT was also a new all-time March sales high! YTD sales of 13,954 was up 9.7 percent over the 12,718 sold through the same period of 2017. The March sales leader was the Porsche Macan with sales of 1,746 vehicles, down 3.1 percent below the 1,802 sold in March of 2017. YTD sales of 4,888 was down 8.4 percent below the 5,337 sold through the same period few 2017. 2018 Porsche Macan
Canada March 2018 Sales vs. March 2017 Sales Ranks and Results for the top 7 Automobile Manufacturers GM Canada March Sales: 30,159 Vehicles Sold, Up 0.1 percent Ford of Canada March Sales: 26,066 Vehicles Sold, Down 1.6 Percent FCA Canada March Sales: 24,490 Vehicles Sold, Down 7.7 Percent Toyota Canada March Sales: 21,040 Vehicles Sold, Up 8.4 Percent Honda Canada March Sales: 17,538 Vehicles Sold, Down 8.5 Percent Nissan Canada March Sales: 15,192 Vehicles Sold, Down 3.9 Percent Hyundai Canada March Sales: 9,739 Vehicles Sold, Down 12.1 Percent
