U.S. Auto Sales Brand-By-Brand Results: July 2016 YTD

After a steep May decline and modest growth in June, which fell below expectations, U.S. auto sales expansion flatlined in July 2016, suggesting the market is poised for a slower second half than the early part of the year projected.

New vehicle sales volume rose less than 1 percent in July 2016, a year-over-year improvement equal to roughly 11,000 sales.

There were a number of significant improvements. July 2016 was the best July ever for American Honda, for example, as sales jumped 6 percent to 139,125 at the Honda brand, overcoming another Acura decline. Buick, up 10 percent last month, ended the January-July period with its best start to the year since 2005. The only brands with superior growth rates in July were smaller outlets: Smart, Volvo, and Scion.

Mixed in with these gains, however, were double-digit percentage losses from a bundle of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brands: Maserati, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Dodge.

Additionally, Chrysler sales fell 4 percent. FCA’s corrected sales reporting methods mean prior monthly tallies don’t mesh with July’s numbers, but the automaker now says sales are up 4 percent through seven months.

General Motors was July’s top-selling automaker, Ford led all brands, the F-Series led the pickup truck sector and outsold all other vehicle lines, the Honda CR-V was America’s top-selling utility vehicle, and the Toyota Camry led all passenger cars.

Auto BrandJuly 2016July 2015% Change2016 YTD2015 YTD% ChangeAcura 13,67414,915-8.3%92,668102,002-9.2%Alfa Romeo 4349-12.2%338354-4.5%Audi 18,36417,6544.0%115,298111,2693.6%BMW 25,77726,970-4.4%179,213195,593-8.4%Buick 22,96020,79110.4%127,167127,1050.0%Cadillac 14,34114,1541.3%87,57295,053-7.9%Chevrolet 178,820188,790-5.3%1,185,7101,242,409-4.6%Chrysler 19,09519,907 -4.1% 148,398191,079-22.3%Dodge 35,52039,492 -10.1%311,658303,7012.6%Fiat 2,7543,196 -13.8%19,34623,118 -16.3%Ford 206,170212,478-3.0% 1,498,043 1,453,6853.1%GMC 51,13748,7774.8%305,724313,490-2.5%Honda 139,125131,4095.9%852,486797,3236.9%Hyundai 75,003 71,0135.6%449,063 442,1631.6%Infiniti 9,94510,433-4.7%74,92374,7130.3%Jaguar 3,3981,242174%14,3899,07858.5%Jeep 79,24675,459 5.0%543,714476,101 14.2%Kia 59,96956,311 6.5%388,296367,2635.7%Land Rover 6,0755,01121.2%42,72337,32314.5%Lexus 27,89029,816-6.5%179,454188,664-4.9%Lincoln 9,0989,536-4.6%62,39556,64810.1%Maserati 811957-15.3%6,0136,261-4.0%Mazda 27,91527,1572.8%173,269186,152-6.9%Mercedes-Benz ° 28,52327,526 3.6% 191,300 192,492 -0.6%Mercedes-Benz Vans ° 3,2722,16351.3%19,03415,69721.3%Total Mercedes-Benz ° 31,79529,6897.1% 210,334208,1891.0%Mini 4,7745,191-8.0%29,91835,451-15.6%Mitsubishi 7,8907,868 0.3% 59,824 57,4124.2%Nissan 122,530120,4391.7%855,666792,6428.0%Porsche 3,8784,730 -18.0%30,58629,8682.4%Ram 44,06942,021 4.9%302,082274,9249.9%Scion 6,4233,86566.2%44,14328,79653.3%Smart 49344111.8%3,0864,065-24.1%Subaru 52,09350,5173.1%331,551322,9352.7%Toyota 179,920183,500-2.0% 1,188,436 1,231,161-3.5%Volkswagen 28,75831,300-8.1%177,772205,742-13.6%Volvo 8,5845,61952.8%45,23834,98529.3%————— ——BMW-Mini 30,55132,161-5.0%209,131231,044-9.5%Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 180,727 180,1240.3%1,325,5361,269,2774.4%Daimler AG 32,28830,1307.2%213,420212,2540.5%Ford Motor Co. 215,268222,014-3.0% 1,560,438 1,510,3333.3%General Motors 267,258272,512-1.9%1,706,1731,778,057-4.0%Honda Motor Co. 152,799146,3244.4%945,154 899,3255.1%Hyundai-Kia 134,972 127,3246.0% 837,359 809,4263.5%Jaguar-Land Rover 9,473 6,253 51.5%57,11246,40123.1%Nissan Motor Co. 132,475130,8721.2%930,589867,3557.3%Toyota Motor Corp.214,233217,181-1.4%1,412,033 1,448,621-2.5%Volkswagen Group * 47,287 49,162 -3.8% 293,854 318,468 -7.7%———————Industry Total †1,522,1441,511,261 0.7% 10,167,06410,032,521 1.3%

Source: Manufacturers

[Image Source: General Motors]

* Volkswagen Group includes sales figures for Audi, Bentley, Porsche, and Volkswagen brands

° Mercedes-Benz USA releases sales figures for the Mercedes-Benz brand in the conventional sense, vans excluded, as well as totals for the Metris and Sprinter vans. The complete picture is included here.

† Industry total takes into account WSJ figures/estimates for brands such as Tesla (3,300 July units) and other low-volume, high-priced manufacturers. Numbers upated at 12:22 PM ET on August 3, 2016, with final Jaguar-Land Rover figures.

[Image: General Motors]

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.