USA February 2017: SUVs above passenger cars again, market at -1.1%

Nissan Rogue sales are up 54% to #4 overall (picture caranddriver.com)

* See the Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 290 models by clicking on the title *

February sales in the U.S. are almost a duplicate of January: the market is down slightly at -1.1% to 1.333.637 registrations, meaning the year-to-date tally now stands at 2.477.186, down 1.4% after two months. Last month, SUV/crossover segment outsold passenger cars for the first time in history. In February, the same situation happens with SUV/crossovers registering a 9.3% spike to 540.042 units and +9.6% to 1.015.324 year-to-date whereas passenger cars as a whole continue to freefall at -12.1% to 502.300 and 929.896 so far in 2017. As it has now become the norm, light trucks (+6.9%) – including SUV, Crossovers and pickup trucks – account for over 60% of the market at 62.3% in February vs. 62.6 in January and 60.7% over the Full Year 2016 which was a record.

The Ford Escape is up 16% to #6 overall (picture caranddriver.com) 

Group-wise, General Motors is the only one in positive territory in the Top 4 at +4.2% to 237.388 units, while Ford Motor drops 4%, Toyota Motor is down 7.2% and FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles crashes 10.1% to 4th place. Nissan North America sales now include Mitsubishi and are up 5.7% to 146.664, a fair way above American Honda at 121.686 (+2.3%) while Hyundai-Kia closes the Top 7 as usual with 95.693 units (-6.9%). The Volkswagen Group signs the second largest year-on-year gain in market at 13.3% albeit off a very low base a year ago when its emission scandal and stop-sale orders hit deliveries full frontal. Daimler AG is up 6.8% but the BMW Group is down 2.5%. Jaguar Land Rover tops them all at +16.4%.

The Chrysler Pacifica is up to a best-ever 37th spot this month in the U.S. 

In the brands ranking, Ford dominates as usual but skids down 4.5% to 198.720 units whereas Chevrolet gains 3.4% to 164.095. GM’s strategy of less reliance on artificial sales such as fleet deliveries seems to slowly be paying off. Toyota (-1.9%), Nissan (+1.2%) and Honda (4.3%) follow while Volkswagen (+12.7%), GMC (+17.2%) and Audi (+17.3%) post the strongest year-on-year gains in the Top 20. On the other hand, Kia (-14.2%), Jeep (-14.7%), Lexus (-20.6%) and Chrysler (-28.1%) deliver that largest losses. Among smaller brands, Infiniti (+32.5%), Mitsubishi (+38.8%), Tesla (+43.7%), Maserati (+49.3%), Jaguar (+130.4%), Alfa Romeo (+843%) make themselves noticed.

Three Ford GT found a buyer in the U.S. this month.

Model-wise, the Top 6 best-sellers are all in positive territory  in another case of market concentration on the tried and tested nameplates available. The Ford F-Series gains 9% to 65.956 units, the Chevrolet Silverado surges 17% to 50.504 and the Ram Pickup is up 5% to 39.046 to make the podium 100 pickup truck as it has oe become the routine. It’s outside the podium that things are getting very interesting indeed. The Nissan Rogue posts another out-of-this-world 54% surge to rank 4th overall and #1 SUV in the country It is followed closely by the Honda CR-V (+26%) and Ford Escape (+16%) meaning the Top 6 is 100% light trucks. The Toyota Camry (-15%), Corolla (-11%), Honda Civic (-2%) and Nissan Altima (-6%) follow in order for passenger cars to save face and place four in the Top 10 but they are all in negative. The Toyota RAV4 (+3%) has let itself distanced by the three aforementioned SUVs at #11 overall.

The Hyundai Ioniq makes its first appearance in the U.S. sales charts in February. 

Among recent launches (<12 months), the Chrysler Pacifica continues to climb up the U.S. charts now that the Town & Country has all but disappeared from the ranking: up another 13 spots to a best-ever #37. The Pacifica is one of only two recent launches inside the Top 10 along with the Cadillac XT5 down one spot on January to #83. Below, we find the Honda Ridgeline at #104 (+5), the Buick Envision at #105 (+12) and the Infiniti QX30 at #124 (+49). Launched last month, the Kia Niro goes from 42 sales in January to 2.143 now, allowing it a spoy inside the Top 150 (#133). The Chevrolet Bolt for its part is down 18 ranks to #190 but the Alfa Romeo Giulia is up 36 to #216. In February we welcome the Ford GT at #280 and the Hyundai Ioniq at #284.

Previous month: USA January 2017: SUVs outsell passenger cars in market down 1.7%

One year ago: USA February 2016: Market up 7% to best February in 15 years

Full February 2017 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 290 models below.