USA June 2015: Chevy Silverado closest to F-Series in 6 years

The Chevrolet Silverado is nipping at the Ford F-Series’ heels.

* See the Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 278 models by clicking on the title *

The U.S. new light vehicle market is up a satisfying 4% year-on-year in June to 1.476.472 registrations, lifting the H1 2015 result to 8.523.058 units, also up 4% on 2014. The seasonally adjusted annual rate stands at 17.16 million in June, down from the 17.78 million it reached it May but above the 16.91 million from June 2014. Once again, trucks pull the market up at +11% and 800.048 sales vs. -4% and 676.627 units for passenger cars. Pickup trucks are up 10%, crossovers up 19% and SUVs up 2%. The market is on track to hit 17 million units for the first time since 2001 and the third time ever by the time 2015 comes to an end. To finish painting the rosiest picture the U.S. market has seen in years, the average sale price is also up 2.5% year-on-year to $33.340 according to Kelly Blue Book.

The HR-V (7.760 sales) helps Honda reach an all-time record light truck sales month.

General Motors is the only auto group to lose ground year-on-year in June at -3%, and their excuse is unhealthy: “GM blamed its decline on a 45% drop in fleet shipments to daily rental operators” says Automotive News. Reversely, Ford Motor is up 1%, Toyota Motor up 4% (light trucks up 18%), FCA posts its 63rd consecutive month of year-on-year gains at +8%, Honda Motor is up 4% (light trucks are up 18% to an all-time record thanks to the HR-V), and Nissan Motor up a very impressive 13% on the back of stunning Rogue sales. Subaru for its part is up 7% to lodge its 43rd consecutive monthly increase and Mitsubishi is up 32%.

BMW now leads the U.S. luxury race.

Brand-wise, Ford (+1%) dominates ahead of Chevrolet (-3%), Toyota (+4%) and Honda (+1%). Nissan is up 13% and although it ranks 5th in June it maintains its 4th spot year-to-date, Jeep is up a splendid 25%, Hyundai is up 1% to post its best June ever, GMC (+8%) is the only GM brand to post year-on-year gains this month, Dodge signs its 5th straight double-digit decline at -14% and Chrysler surges 28% thanks to sales of the 200 sedan up 153%. In the battle for the 2015 luxury crown, BMW overtakes Mercedes year-to-date thanks to sales up 7% to 32.176 in June vs. 28.044 (+6%) for Mercedes (excluding Sprinter sales), 26.121 (+11%) for Lexus and 18.262 (+8%) for Audi – the brand’s 68th consecutive year-on-year gain. BMW totals 168.623 sales so far in 2015 vs. 164.970 for Mercedes, once again ex-Sprinter.

The Edge (+30%) helps Ford stay afloat in the U.S. this month.

This month more than any in the past year that the transition has started, Ford F-Series sales are suffering from the new aluminium-bodied F-150’s supply issues, falling 9% year-on-year to 55.171 units. That’s only 3.623 more than the Chevrolet Silverado (+18%), the smallest gap between America’s two best-selling nameplates since May 2009, in the midst of recession, when only 1.918 sales separated the two models. Despite dropping 8% year-on-year, the Toyota Camry remains #3 and overtakes the Ram Pickup to now also rank #3 year-to-date. The Nissan Altima is back up one spot to #6 (+13%), followed by three Hondas: the Civic (-11%), CR-V (+8%) and Accord (-15%).

The Toyota Tacoma (#24) still dominates the mid-size pickup segment.

Stunning month for the Hyundai Elantra breaking into the overall Top 10 for the second time in 4 months at #10 with sales up 55% to 26.613, the nameplate’s 2nd best monthly result ever, below just the 28.794 reached last March. The Nissan Rogue is up 54% to #14, the Ford Explorer up 30% to #16, the GMC Sierra up 21% to #20, Jeep Cherokee up 39% to #22, Toyota Tacoma up 31% to #24, Ford Edge up 30% to #32 and the Ford Transit is up to a record #33 and 12.134 deliveries exactly one month after launching in the U.S. Further down, notice the Honda HR-V up a further 10 spots to #60, the Jeep Renegade up 6 to #88 and the Fiat 500X up 38 to a still very timid #231 and 324 sales.

Previous month: USA May 2015: Highest ever May volume and 17.8 million annual pace

One year ago: USA June 2014: Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Sonata lead gainers

Full June 2015 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 278 models below.