USA November 2017: Nissan, Honda, Ford lift market up 1.3%

Nissan Motor sales are up 18.5% in November, helped by the Rogue (+35%).

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

The US new light vehicle market scores only its second year-on-year gain of the year in November at +1.3% to 1.397.856 registrations, an all-time record for the month leading to a year-to-date tally down 1.5% to 15.627.307. US sales are headed towards a third consecutive year above 17 million annual units and a first year-on-year decline for the first time in eight years. The Seasonally Adjusted Annual Selling Rate (SAAR) comes in at 17.55m, the third highest this year below September (18.58m) and October (18.11m). Average transaction prices also hit a new high at $35.870. Cars continue to freefall at -9.3% to 484.686 or 34.4% share, adding up to 5.814.600 (-10.3%) year-to-date while light trucks shoot up 7.9% to 916.170 or 65.6% share and up 4.6% so far this year to 9.812.707 units. Crossovers are up 11.8% to 461.027, pickup trucks up 3.6% to 230.153 and SUVs up 3.5% to 151.950. After eleven months, crossovers are up 8.7% to 4.813.659, pickups trucks up 4.7% to 2.537.435 and SUVs up 0.3% to 1.608.948.

Honda Motor gains 8.3% thanks partly to the CR-V (+25%). 

General Motors is still the most successful group in the US but drops once again at -2.9% year-on-year to 245.387, with Chevrolet (-1.1%), Buick (-3%), GMC (-5.8%) and Cadillac (-12.8%) all down. In contrast, Ford Motor is up 7% to 210.205, helped by strong fleet and truck sales, with the Ford brand up 7.6% but Lincoln down 5.5%. Toyota Motor ends a five month streak of year-on-year gain with a 3% drop in November as the Toyota brand loses 2.3% and Lexus falls 6.7%. No end in sight for FCA’s negative streak: handicapped by lower fleet sales, the company posts a 15th consecutive year-on-year decline at -3.9% to 156.060. Gains at Alfa Romeo (+6161%) and Chrysler posting its first increase in 22 months at +13.7% failing to compensate falls at Jeep (-1.9%, 15th consecutive decline), Ram (-5%), Dodge (-15.3%) and Fiat (-28.2%).

Ford Motor is up 7% year-on-year this month with the Explorer up 23%.

Nissan Motor is the hero of the month with a 18.5% surge to 144.594 keeping the company in 5th place: Nissan is up 19.3% to #4 overall, Infiniti up 7.5% and Mitsubishi up 24.8%. Honda Motor also performs at +8.3% (Honda up 8.2%, Acura up 9.5%) while for Hyundai-Kia the nightmare continues at -11.7% (Hyundai -9.4% Kia -15.6% Genesis +36%). Subaru extends its streaks of year-on-year gains to 72 consecutive months or a full six years thanks to deliveries edging up 0.8% to 51.721. The Volkswagen Group is up 3% on the strength of Audi (+12.1%) just as VW drops 1.6% and Mercedes is headed towards a second consecutive year as the country’s favourite premium brand with sales up 3.6% this month above BMW (+7.1%). Among smaller brands, Land Rover (+20%), Tesla (+50%), Ferrari (+40.2%), Lamborghini (+82.9%) and Rolls Royce (+37%) impress but Mini (-10.4%), Maserati (-17.3%), Bentley (-36.2%) and Smart (-76.9%) struggle.

Subaru scores a 72nd consecutive year-on-year gain thanks to the Impreza (+96%). 

Over in the models ranking, the Ford F-Series (+1%) is steady at the highest level, above 70.000 sales for the 8th time this year, followed as usual by the Chevrolet Silverado (+3%) and Ram Pickup (-0.5%). Only 600 sales below is the Nissan Rogue shooting up 35% to top all crossovers (including the new Rogue Sport). The Toyota Camry (+24%), now feeling the effects of the new generation, returns to #1 passenger car but still trails the Honda Civic year-to-date with only one month left in the year. The Honda CR-V (+25%) is back above the Toyota RAV4 (+2%) while the Ford Escape (+9%) and Explorer (+23%) also make their way into the Top 10 which only includes two passenger cars. The Honda Accord is in difficulty at -15% as is the Toyota Corolla (-28%).

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is up 51% on October. Picture caranddriver.com 

Let’s also note the great performances of the Jeep Cherokee (+44%), Honda Pilot (+57%), Ford Focus (+45%), Chrysler Pacifica (+51%), Hyundai Tucson (+51%), Ford Transit (+47%), Chevrolet Impala (+54%), Subaru Impreza (+96%), Nissan Titan (+131%), VW Tiguan (+54%) and Buick Enclave (+88%). The VW Atlas (#83) leads recent launches (<12 months) with a record 5.154 sales, distancing the Toyota C-HR (#104), Chevrolet Bolt (#114) at a best-ever 2.987 deliveries, Kia Niro (#140), Range Rover Velar (#160) with a record 1.475 units, Hyundai Ioniq (#182), Alfa Romeo Giulia (#201), Tesla Model 3 (#205) and Alfa Romeo Stelvio (#207). The Kia Stinger makes its first appearance in the US sales charts at #274.

Previous month: USA October 2017: Market down 1.1% but SAAR remains above 18m

One year ago: USA November 2016: Incentives revive annual record hopes

Full November 2017 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 280 models below.