CBT News Anchor Bridget Fitzpatrick reports on sales totals for the month of June 2017 at dealerships around the U.S. The seasonally adjusted, annualized sales rate was 16.51 million.
Major US automakers reported a fourth consecutive month of lower new car sales for June which came in below analysts expectations. Even with hefty consumer discounts and looser loan terms last month, it looks like 2017 may fall short of last years record year for the retail auto industry.
Biggest Losers
GM fell 4.7 percent. Sales were down for Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac, with Buick being the only brand to post an increase year over year.
Ford fell 5 percent, however first half sales for the F Series pick up were the best since their record sales in 2004. Sales for the Explorer were up 23 percent in June.
Fiat Chrysler was down 7.4 percent, due to low Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Fiat sales, but Ram sales were up as well as Alfa Romeo, which has already sold more in 2017, than they did for all of 2016. They are up 2725 percent.
And with its largest sales decline of the year, Hyundai Kia fell 15 percent. So the question remains whether they will have to dramatically reduce car production and move resources to make more SUVs and crossovers.
Greatest Gains
Subaru was up 12 percent with the best June ever for the Crosstrek, Forester, Outback and Impreza. This was Subaru’s 67th consecutive month of yearly month over month growth.
Volkswagon was up 15 percent in June. June 2017 marks the first full month of sales for the all new Atlas where sales continue to grow.
Toyota sales were up 2.1 percent versus last June due to strong gains in the Rav4 where sales increased 24.7 percent. Sales of the 4Runner rose 16.6 percent.
Nissan sales increased 2 percent mainly due to overall sales of Nissan’s crossovers, trucks and SUVs which set a June record up 20 percent.
Honda sales for June were up .8 percent, where Honda trucks set a new all time June record up almost 2 percent. But is wasn’t just trucks for Honda as the civic and accord remain at the top of car sales charts with the accord rising 2.5 percent in June.
Luxury Brands
Let’s see where luxury brands ended up in June starting with Lexus. Lexus fell 5.4 percent, but continues to see strong demand in luxury utility vehicles with their NX setting another best ever month.
Mercedes is up 1 percent reporting their best ever June sales. Leaders for Mercedes include the C Class, GLE and E Class.
BMW dropped 1.2 percent in the U.S. Even with the 5 Series increasing 42.9 percent.
Also with a best ever was Infinity which had an increase of 11 percent. Sales for the Q50 were up 37 percent and the Q60 977 percent.
You can find more on where brands ended up in June 2017, and get insight from Edmunds Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell please visit “Dealers to See More Traffic in the Second Half of Year – Sr. Analyst Edmunds.com“
