USA October 2015: All-time record year now a true possibility

The Toyota RAV4 is up 31% to #7 (2016 hybrid variant pictured)

* See the Top 15 best-selling groups, Top 40 brands and Top 280 models by clicking on the title *

Similarly to electric wonder Tesla, the U.S. new light vehicle market got into “Insane Mode” in October. Sales are up a whopping 14% year-on-year to 1.455.053, lifting the year-to-date total to 14.508.443 units, now and for the first time this year officially on track to break the all-time annual volume record of 17.395 million set in 2000… Even more impressively, the U.S. market hits its highest annualised sales rate (SAAR) in a decade for the third month in a row at 18.23 million vs. 18.17 in September, the first time since February 2000 that the SAAR exceeds 18 million for two consecutive months. All the planets are aligning in the U.S. right now, with pent-up demand, cheap petrol and affordable credit.

The new XC90 helps lift Volvo sales up 87% this month.

As it has been the case for the most part of the past 12 months, light trucks are pulling the market up with sales of crossovers, SUVs, pickups and minivans up 22% vs. +4% for cars. Manufacturers with strong light truck portfolios have logically benefitted the most: General Motors is up 16%, Ford Motor Co up 13%, Toyota Motor also up 13% and FCA extends its stretch of consecutive year-on-year gains to 67 thanks to a 15% sales surge. Brand-wise, all Top 11 best-sellers except Honda (+9%) post double-digit year-on-year gains. Chevrolet and GMC are both up 18%, Hyundai and Subaru up 20% – the Japanese carmaker’s 47th consecutive month of growth – and Jeep is up a whopping 33%. Further down, notice Mazda (+35%), Volvo (+87%) and Land Rover (+98%) all riding the current light-truck euphoric wave.

Chevrolet dealers are clearing their Malibu inventory to make room for the 2016 model (pictured)

Over in the models ranking, once again the Ford F-Series (+3%) is getting caught up by the Chevy Silverado (+10%) all the while keeping a safe 14.000-unit distance. The Ram Pickup makes the podium 100% pickup truck for the 6th time this year, with the Toyota Camry (+5%), Honda Accord (+11%) and Honda CR-V (-1%) following. The Toyota RAV4 is up 31% to stop just 776 units short off an SUV win. The Nissan Rogue (+70%) is back inside the Top 10, runout prices for the outgoing generation push the Chevrolet Malibu up 122% to #11, the Equinox is up 25%, the Ford Explorer up 26%, Focus up 20%, Hyundai Elantra up 24% and Honda Pilot up 63%.

First appearance of the Toyota Mirai in the U.S. sales charts this month.

Further down, the Ford Mustang gains 121%, the Hyundai Tucson is up 103% thanks to the new generation, the Mercedes GLE is up 10 spots on September to break into the Top 100 at #97, the new model pushes the Volvo XC90 up 10-fold year-on-year to #125, the Fiat 500X is up 49 ranks on last month to #133 and 2.178 units, the Scion iA (#145) and iM (#164) already lodge stable rankings month-on-month, the first 34 units of the Toyota Mirai find a buyer in California and the Mercedes GLC makes a very discreet appearance (for now) at #274 with two sales in October.

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Previous month: USA September 2015: Market up 16% to highest SAAR in a decade (again)

One year ago: USA October 2014: Honda CR-V up 30% to 5th place

Full October 2015 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 280 models below.