USA January 2016: SAAR up to 17.55m units despite snowstorms

The Honda Civic is up 43% to 5th overall in January. Picture caranddriver.com

* See the Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 274 All-models by clicking on the title *

Even though January had one less weekend than in 2015, began with a stock market rout and ended with most East Coasters forced by severe snowstorms to postpone their planned car purchases to later in the year, U.S sales dip just 0.4% to 1.148.087 units this month. The seasonally adjusted annualised selling rate (SAAR) even leaps to 17.55 million units, the highest January since 2006, to be compared with 17.32 million in December and 16.71 million a year ago in January 2015.

Chevrolet is significantly cutting its sales to car-rental companies.

General Motors sales are flat, but for a good reason: deliveries to car-rental companies are down by a significant 13.000 units this month, offsetting a large improvement in retail sales. In fact, GM was the only major automaker to post a retail increase or a fleet decrease this month, according to figures obtained by Automotive News U.S. Chevrolet sold 16.400 fewer rental vehicles than in January 2015, more than justifying the brand’s 5.079 unit-decline. Chevrolet’s retail sales were up 12%, edging it past Ford by almost 1.500 units. Overall, the Chevrolet brand is down 4% and Cadillac is down 8%, but GMC is up 3.5% and Buick up 45%, with the new Cascada convertible hitting dealerships (#245).

Buick Cascada – Buick sales are up 45% in January.

At Ford Motor Co on the other hand, the Ford brand’s fleet sales surge by 20% but weak retail sales pull the brand down 3%, also because Ford car sales sink 13%. Lincoln on the other hand grows by 8%. Toyota Motor falls 5% with the Prius down 24% and the Camry – up 9.3% to 26.848 – the only Toyota brand car improving year-on-year. Toyota pulled the plug on Scion (+38%) this month, more on this shorty. Nissan sets a January record and at 105.734 deliveries (bypassing America Honda at -2%) as does Hyundai at 45.011 sales. Fiat Chrysler lodges a spectacular 7% increase to 155.037 sales, the company’s 70th consecutive monthly gain. For once, the Dodge brand is up 19%, Jeep is up 15%, Ram up 5% but Chrysler (-22%) and Fiat (-20%) crumble.

VW Passat sales are down 43% in January despite the arrival of the 2016 model. 

Volkswagen continues to be handicapped by its emissions scandal with sales down a harsh 15% to 20.079 ad the Passat taking a 43% cut despite the arrival of the 2016 model in December. However Audi continues on its runaway success, up for the 61st month in a row at +1% to 11.850 units. Subaru for its part snaps a 50th consecutive month of year-on-year gains at +1% and 41.101 deliveries. Mercedes is king of luxury this month with sales up 0.2% to 24.664 units ex-Sprinter vs. -10% and 20.933 for Lexus and -5% and 18.082 for BMW.

Ford Edge sales are up 26% year-on-year. 

Model-wise, the Ford F-Series worryingly drops 5% to 51.540 units whereas a year ago the all-new F150 was still struggling, on the other hand the Chevrolet Silverado is up 5% to 37.863 as is the Ram Pickup to 28.938. The Toyota Camry retains the #1 passenger car title by the skin of its teeth at 26.848 units vs. 26.741 (+43%) for the Honda Civic boosted by its new generation. The Toyota Corolla (-18%) and Nissan Altima (-16%) fall heavily as does the Honda CR-V (-17%), bypassed by the Nissan Rogue (+26%). The Ford Edge (+26%), Dodge Charger (+30%), Chrysler Town & Country (+39%), Ford Transit (+51%) and Dodge Grand Caravan (+83%) post the largest increases in the Top 50.

Previous post: USA Full Year 2015: 15 year-old annual record eclipsed: 17.470.659 units

Previous month: USA December 2015: Jeep shoots up 42% in market up 9%

One year ago: USA January 2015: General Motors strong in market up 14%

Full January 2016 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 274 All-models below.