USA May 2014: General Motors up 13% despite recalls, Hyundai and Jeep break all-time record

Hyundai Genesis – Hyundai delivers its biggest monthly volume since the brand landed in the US in February 1986.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 258 models, Top 38 brands & Top 15 groups! *

May light vehicle sales in the US are up a massive 11% to 1.608.693 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 6.742.948 units, up 5% on 2013 as increased discounts and extended holiday deals drew consumers to showrooms according to Automotive News. Even better news: the annualized pace of sales shot up to 16.8 million, its highest rate in almost 8 years – since July 2006! Brand-wise, the 3 biggest pieces of news this month are below:

1. General Motors delivers its best year-on-year gain of the year so far at +13% despite a worsening recall crisis. This figure was lifted by a 21% increase in fleet deliveries vs. 10% for retail. All four brands from the American car manufacturer are on the up: Chevrolet is at +14%, Buick +11%, GMC +8% and Cadillac +6%.

2. Fiat-Chrysler lodges its 50th consecutive monthly improvement (almost 4.5 continuous years!) with Ram pickup deliveries up 17% and Jeep up a gargantuan 58% to an all-time record 70,203 units, the first time in the history of the company that over 70,000 sales are achieved in a single month in the USA.

3. Hyundai Motor America also sets an all-time monthly sales record in May of 70,907 units, up 4% over May 2013 (68,358) and up 2% on its previous monthly record set in March 2012 (69,728). The Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis and Equus all gained at least 20% year-on-year this month.

In other brand news, Nissan Motor gains 19% (Nissan +17%, Infiniti +31%), the Toyota brand gains 17% to pass Chevrolet and rank #2 with 210,134 sales, Kia is up 15% to 60,087 units, Mazda is up 23% yo 29,731 sales, BMW up 17% to 29,602, Lexus up 21%, Audi up 25%, Lincoln up 21%, Mitsubishi up 54% and Maserati up 406%. Reversely, the Chrysler brand is down a harsh 22%, Volvo down 21% and the slide down continues for the Volkswagen brand at -15%.

2015 Toyota Camry. The Camry is back to #2 for the first time in almost one year.

In the models ranking, for once the Ford F-Series is the only vehicle to lose ground year-on-year in the Top 12, with buyers patiently waiting for the new generation to pop up in dealerships across the country from this Summer onwards. The Toyota Camry is up a brilliant 26% on May 2013 to reclaim a #2 spot it had not held since last August, also passing the RAM Pick-up year-to-date to establish itself it this position like last year.

The Nissan Sentra is up a huge 75% year-on-year in May in the US. 

The Chevrolet Silverado is down to #3 but still up 8% year-on-year while the Honda Accord is up one rank to #4, the Toyota Corolla up 31% year-on-year in 6th place and the Chevrolet Cruze up 41% to #11. Further down, notice the Nissan Sentra up a fantastic 75% on May 2013 to #17, the Jeep Wrangler up 18% to #21 and the Jeep Cherokee down 3 spots on April to a still very satisfying 27th spot with 15,992 sales, this generation’s strongest monthly volume so far. Other great gainers atop the ranking include the Nissan Versa up 31%, Kia Soul and Chrysler Town & Country both up 37%, Subaru Forester up 41% and Hyundai Santa Fe up 44%.

Further down the ranking, we welcome 3 new models this month: the Porsche Macan at #171, Lincoln MKC at #200 and BMW i3 at #228. More on this in the next US update…

Previous post: USA 4 months 2014: RAM keeps podium 100% pick-ups

Previous month: USA April 2014: Jeep up 52% to break record thanks to Cherokee

One year ago: USA May 2013: Ford F-Series hits highest volume in 7 years!

Full May 2014 Top 258 models, Top 38 brands and Top 15 groups Ranking Tables below.