It was only a mere blip, the year-over-year increase reported by the U.S. auto industry in September 2017. After eight consecutive months of decline, auto sales grew in September. But October’s results once again manifested a gradual and marginal decline.
U.S. auto sales slid roughly 1 percent in October 2017 thanks in large part to sharp decreases at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Dodge brand and a 15-percent Hyundai drop. Chrysler, Fiat, Jaguar, and Maserati were the only other brands to report double-digit percentage losses.
Meanwhile, auto sales continued to grow at Audi and Subaru, which reported their 82nd and 71st consecutive monthly improvements. Meaningful increases were also reported at Ford, Nissan, and Volkswagen. Toyota sales rose more than 2 percent.
Yet even midst a modest October decline, the story continues to be of lofty incentives. Across the industry, ALG says, incentive spending per unit was up 8 percent compared with October 2016, surging to $3,820 per vehicle. At General Motors, incentive spending shot up 15 percent to more than $5,100 per vehicle.
October 2017 featured one fewer selling day than October 2016 as well as one fewer weekend. The industry’s daily selling rate actually rose 4 percent.
| Auto Brand | Oct. 2017 | Oct. 2016 | % Change | 2017 YTD | 2016 YTD | % Change |
|
Acura
|
12,698 | 12,869 | -1.3% | 126,824 | 132,596 | -4.4% |
|
Alfa Romeo
|
1,205 | 23 | 5,139% | 8,557 | 441 | 1,840% |
|
Audi
|
19,425 | 17,721 | 9.6% | 180,339 | 169,900 | 6.1% |
|
BMW
|
% | % | ||||
|
Buick
|
19,142 | 20,046 | -4.5% | 178,972 | 189,813 | -5.7% |
|
Cadillac
|
13,931 | 13,948 | -0.1% | 127,777 | 133,234 | -4.1% |
|
Chevrolet
|
175,110 | 181,964 | -3.8% | 1,691,298 | 1,713,876 | -1.3% |
|
Chrysler
|
11,018 | 14,181 | -22.3% | 154,827 | 200,678 | -22.8% |
|
Dodge
|
24,476 | 41,514 | -41.0% | 390,266 | 436,454 | -10.6% |
|
Fiat
|
1,769 | 2,622 | -32.5% | 23,021 | 27,721 | -17.0% |
| Ford | 190,789 | 178,623 | 6.8% | 2,032,454 | 2,075,481 | -2.1% |
|
Genesis
|
1,786 | 1,201 | 48.7% | 16,888 | 3,909 | 332% |
|
GMC
|
44,630 | 42,668 | 4.6% | 450,264 | 434,100 | 3.7% |
|
Honda
|
114,655 | 113,292 | 1.2% | 1,232,132 | 1,221,945 | 0.8% |
|
Hyundai
|
53,010 | 62,505 | -15.2% | 564,750 | 650,193 | -13.1% |
|
Infiniti
|
10,296 | 11,208 | -8.1% | 124,010 | 107,983 | 14.8% |
|
Jaguar
|
2,891 | 3,219 | -10.2% | 33,119 | 23,568 | 40.5% |
|
Jeep
|
67,074 | 68,826 | -2.5% | 689,316 | 775,932 | -11.2% |
|
Kia
|
44,397 | 48,977 | -9.4% | 502,327 | 540,741 | -7.1% |
|
Land Rover
|
5,477 | 5,532 | -1.0% | 59,958 | 59,923 | 0.1% |
|
Lexus
|
22,894 | 24,803 | -7.7% | 242,553 | 260,996 | -7.1% |
|
Lincoln
|
8,909 | 9,069 | -1.8% | 91,631 | 89,504 | 2.4% |
|
Maserati
|
1,140 | 1,304 | -12.6% | 11,129 | 9,460 | 17.6% |
|
Mazda
|
20,811 | 22,711 | -8.4% | 241,108 | 246,978 | -2.4% |
|
Mercedes-Benz °
|
28,955 | 28,659 | 1.0% | 271,205 | 277,863 | -2.4% |
|
Mercedes-Benz Vans °
|
2,446 | 2,724 | -10.2% | 27,673 | 27,880 | -0.7% |
|
Total Mercedes-Benz °
|
31,401 | 31,801 | -0.8% | 301,653 | 310,205 | -2.8% |
|
Mini
|
% | % | ||||
|
Mitsubishi
|
7,381 | 7,637 | -3.4% | 86,576 | 81,988 | 5.6% |
|
Nissan
|
112,716 | 102,312 | 10.2% | 1,195,243 | 1,188,561 | 0.6% |
|
Porsche
|
4,715 | 4,506 | 4.6 % | 45,952 | 44,752 | 2.7% |
|
Ram
|
47,831 | 49,443 | -3.3% | 466,524 | 449,743 | 3.7% |
|
Smart
|
140 | 418 | -66.5% | 2,775 | 4,462 | -37.8% |
|
Subaru
|
54,045 | 53,760 | 0.5% | 532,893 | 500,647 | 6.4% |
|
Toyota
|
165,540 | 161,492 | 2.5% | 1,777,360 | 1,747,760 | 1.7% |
|
Volkswagen
|
27,732 | 24,779 | 11.9% | 280,188 | 256,047 | 9.4% |
|
Volvo
|
7,008 | 6,340 | 10.5% | 63,974 | 64,872 | -1.4% |
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
BMW Group
|
% | % | ||||
|
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
|
154,513 | 176,609 | -13.2% | 1,732,511 | 1,890,969 | -8.4% |
|
Daimler AG
|
31,541 | 31,801 | -0.8% | 301,653 | 310,205 | -2.8% |
|
Ford Motor Co.
|
199,698 | 187,692 | 6.4% | 2,124,085 | 2,164,985 | -1.9% |
|
General Motors
|
252,813 | 258,626 | -2.2% | 2,448,311 | 2,471,023 | -0.9% |
|
American Honda
|
127,353 | 126,161 | 0.9% | 1,358,956 | 1,354,541 | 0.3% |
|
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group
|
97,407 | 111,482 | -12.6% | 1,067,077 | 1,190,934 | -10.4% |
|
Jaguar-Land Rover
|
8,368 | 8,751 | -4.4% | 93,077 | 83,491 | 11.5% |
|
Nissan / Infiniti / Mitsubishi
|
123,012 | 113,520 | 8.4% | 1,319,253 | 1,296,544 | 1.8% |
|
Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Inc.
|
188,434 | 186,295 | 1.1% | 2,019,913 | 2,008,756 | 0.6% |
|
Volkswagen Group *
|
52,060 | 47,318 | 10.0% | 508,339 | 472,486 | 7.6% |
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
Industry Total †
|
1,329,802
|
1,343,804
|
-1.0%
|
13,957,767
|
14,185,901
|
-1.6% |
Source: Manufacturers
* 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 Automotive News figures/estimates for brands such as Tesla (4,900 October units) and other low-volume, high-priced manufacturers but does not yet include figures for the BMW Group, which has delayed reporting.
[Image: Volkswagen]
Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars.
What no one wants to admit is that fewer Americans can afford the price of a new car, despite MAGA and all the rest of the hype.
That sure explains why more people are buying more expensive crossovers and trucks instead of cheaper cars. Gotta be Trump’s fault.
Well lower sales of more expensive vehicles would indicate less people can afford them but those that can, can afford more.
That’s the way I see it too, because most people I know have stepped up to the next level of new car, because they can. Read that as “can afford more.”
MAGA hasn’t even made it to the masses yet. We won’t see that until the tax cuts take effect, if ever.
Indeed, Trump has signed a lot of stuff, put a lot of things right, but very little actually affects people’s wallets at this juncture.
Unless you have an IRA, an annuity, or are otherwise invested in the stock market. Bells and whistles all around for those people.
Our FERS and Thrifty Savings investments have exploded because of the Trump effect. We have to take cash disbursement to stay within the 10-year mandated withdrawal rules.
And THAT is a GREAT thing, for us, and those financially like us.
But unless tax relief goes into effect, we’re stuck with the staggering income tax rate.
“staggering income tax rate”. As an American, you enjoy some of the lowest personal tax rates in the western world. Sorry it’s an undisputed fact.
“put a lot of things right…”
Praytell what those things are?
And while I have been an advocate of tax reform, simply giving a huge windfall to the 1% and corporations does little but (once again) balloon the deficit.
History has shown that there is no correlation btwn tax cuts and job growth.
Btw, all those people hankering for the “good ‘ol times” (the 50s-60s) – that’s when the US had really high tax rates (90%+ for the upper income bracket) and when the US was the most “socialist” (not that I think such a rate is anywhere feasible today).
That’s back when the govt. actually thought about paying down its debt (war debt) and investing in infrastructure (such as the interstate highway system) and that’s when the middle class grew due to public assistance for education, housing, etc. (GI Bill) and when CEOs only made 30-40 times the average worker and not the insanely bloated compensation packages they do now.
But together we can afford many things. Like 1000 troops in Niger
Yes, since 2013…
We’ve been involved in Africa since waaaaaaay before then, unofficially of course.
One of my sons was stationed at various detachments in Africa, while he was active duty with the US Army.
What are they doing there? It costs taxpayers like $1 million to keep a soldier in that god foresaken place for a year. Pathetic.
Alfa is on fire!
Aww, you beat me to it! I think they’re going to surpass Subaru’s trajectory before long.
Alfa had already beat its previous sales record in 1986! They are on fire!
Subaru nearly failed sales increase! Toyonda just floating while Nissan and VW do all the business.
Looks more like Ford is doing all the business. Best selling brand by far. But, I’m sure that’s bad news for Ford, somehow.
Technically, the General has more total sales….as much as I hate to admit it.
First time the General has hit the 17% retail sales mark 3 months in a row in about a decade.
It is interesting to note that Ford sells about twice as many pickups as all their cars combined.
Yeah, they correctly identified the demo of 4-door sedan (Crown Vic, Marquis and TownCar) owners stepping up to a 4-door luxury F150.
There’s a waiting list for the 2018 Limited F150 which tops out over $60K for a 1/2-ton.
>
It is interesting to note that Ford sells about twice as many pickups as all their cars combined.
Not surprising to me. My local dealer has two rows solid on the front of the lot for F-150’s, and whatever straggler Focus/Escorts are on the last row at the very back.
Meanwhile, Mazda continues its descent from niche to irrelevance…
Just wait until the CX-5 diesel and Skyactive-X. Why, they’ll sell 10s more of them per month.
Which is the expected result when you put out mediocre cars.
Said it before and will say it again, Volvo’s decision to take on the germans head on, at their price point, is crazy. Their numbers are ABYSMAL.
They should be selling their vehicles at least 30% less than what they currently ask.
As an ex-Volvo owner I concur. Your getting a Buick/Acura but paying BMW/MB money. On top of that any visit to the service department will require a second mortgage which actually makes sense since (for us) it was a monthly trip.
When you are selling less then Mitsubishi you know things are bad. Could be worst… just look at Smart.
Historically in the 80s and 90s Volvo and SAAB were a step up from Toyota and various domestics. They make decent cars but nothing special that warrants the current pricing.
Wow, is the Atlas really that much bigger than the Tiguan?!
Alfa sales up 1840% – job well done!!!