USA Full Year 2013: Ford F-Series at its best since 2006

The Ford F-Series lodges its 32nd consecutive year atop the US rankings.

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Up 8% on 2012 to 15.6 million units, the US new light vehicle market delivers its best year since pre-recession 2007, and marks the 4th straight year with a gain of 1 million units or more: from a ghastly 10.4 million in 2009, to 11.6 million in 2010, 12.8 in 2011 and 14.5 million in 2012. A pretty impressive rally indeed, and 2014 predictions place the market above 16 millions sales, which would mean 5 consecutive years of growth, an extremely rare feat. According to Automotive News, since the late 1920’s there has been only one occurrence of such rally: from 1996 to 2000. In fact, since December 2009, the US market has gained year-on-year ground 46 of 49 months, including 27 double-digit gains. Volume in 2013 is almost 50 percent greater than it was in 2009…

The Toyota Camry is the best-selling passenger car in the US for the 16th year.

In this euphoric context, Ford remains the most popular brand in the country, outpacing the market and all but one carmaker in the Top 6, up 11% to 2.4 million sales, followed by Chevrolet at 1.95 million (+5%), Toyota at 1.89 million (+7%), Honda at 1.36 million (+7%), Nissan at 1.13 million (+11%) and Hyundai at .72 million (+6%). Dodge is up 14% to #7, Subaru up 26% to an all-time high 424,683 sales, Volkswagen down 7% and Ram up 22%.

The all-new CLA helped Mercedes keep its luxury crown in 2013.

Mercedes, up 13% to 334,350 units, remains above BMW (309,280) and Lexus (273,847) in the luxury brand race with Cadillac catching up somehow at +22%, and both Audi and Porsche delivering record volumes. 2013 saw Suzuki quit the US market due to weak sales. Mitsubishi and Volvo are now in the line of fire as their volumes fail to take off. Finally, notice Maserati up a splendid 138% thanks to the new Quattroporte and Ghibli.

The Ford Fusion had its best-ever year in 2013.

Model-wise, the Ford F-Series is the most popular vehicle in the country for the 32nd year in a row (no interruption since 1982!) and with sales up a massive 18% to 763,402 units, it lodges its biggest annual volume since 2006 (796,039), peaking at 74,592 units in December. In fact, the entire Top 5 achieve their highest sales in at least 5 years, confirming the US market is now well and truly back to its pre-recession levels and buying habits. Thanks to its new generation, the Chevrolet Silverado remains #2, up 15% to 480,414 sales, its best since 2007 (618,257). The Toyota Camry is the best-selling passenger car for the 12th year in a row the 16th of the last 17 years (the Honda Accord interrupted in 2001) and in spite of sales up just 1% to 408,484 it lodges its best year since 2008 (436,617).

The analysis continues below.

Previous post: USA December 2013: BMW 3 Series breaks all-time record

One year ago: USA Full Year 2012: Ford F-Series and Toyota Camry still the ones

Two years ago: USA Full Year 2011: Ford F-Series celebrates 30 years, Toyota Camry 10 years at #1

Full Analysis, Full Year 2013 Top 278 models, Top 40 brands and Top 15 groups Ranking Tables below.