USA August 2012: Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, Volt and Spark all set monthly records in market up 20%

Chevrolet Volt

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Who would have thought the US new car market would still be capable of 20% year-on-year growths? It is true this month with 1,285,202 new vehicle finding a home in the States, bringing the year-to-date total to 9,711,044 units, up 15% on 2011. A few brands lodge historical performances: Volkswagen delivers its best August sales since 1973 (that’s 39 years!), Hyundai posts its best August ever and Kia celebrates its 24th consecutive monthly sales record.

VW has its best August since 1973, when the Beetle was the brand’s best-seller

The Ford F-Series delivers its best month of the year so far at 58,201 units, up 19% year-on-year and its 13th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, with its year-to-date total now standing at 408,656 sales, up 13% on 2011. The Chevrolet Silverado snaps the 2nd spot away from the Toyota Camry thanks to 38,295 units vs. 36,720, but the Camry is still #2 year-to-date.

Tesla sold 71 Model S in the US this month

Another excellent month for the Honda Accord, now #4 both in August at 34,848 sales (+89%) and year-to-date at 218,665 (+35%) while the Ford Escape is up 5 spots on July to #5 with 28,188 units, its highest ever August score. In 6th place, the Chevrolet Cruze hits its monthly record at 25,975 sales beating the 25,160 it sold in April 2011 and one of 4 Chevrolets doing so this month with the Sonic at 8,703 units (#47), the Volt at 2,831 (#109) and the Spark at 2,630 (#114).

US sales of Lexus ES are up 92% in August

Notice also the Chevrolet Impala up 17 spots to #18, the Dodge Caravan up 20 to #19, the Lexus ES up 39 ranks on July and 92% year-on-year to #53 vs. #90 year-to-date, the Buick Verano up 7 to a best-ever #73, the VW Beetle up 8 to #96 and the Acura RDX breaking its monthly volume record for the 4th consecutive month at #107 with 2,926 sales.

Dodge Dart

Among other newcomers, the Dodge Dart takes off in August: up 294% and 74 ranks on last month to #106 at 3,045 units, the Cadillac XTS is up 12 to #127, the Scion FR-S up 11 to #136, the Acura ILX up 9 to #142, the BMW X1 lodges its very first month in the US at #205 with 576 sales and for the first time I can report sales of Tesla Model S at 71 units for a 244th position.

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Full August 2012 Top 263 Ranking Table below.