USA April 2021: Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia break records in market above pre-pandemic levels.

Toyota Highlander sales are up 302.3% year-on-year in the U.S.

New light vehicle sales in the U.S. are estimated to surge 110% year-on-year in April to 1.4 million units, also 4.8% above the April 2019 volume. It’s another strong month with the Seasonally Adjusted Annualised sales Rate (SAAR) up 115% year-on-year to 18.51 million units, marking the second consecutive month above 18 million. The year-to-date tally is now up 27.2% to 5.32 million units. Particularly weak year-ago volumes, government stimulus and improving consumer confidence have all combined to produce a high level result for the month. The issue now is inventory, freefalling to just 33 days in April, a record low. High demand and dwindling inventories mean incentives are thawing and the average transaction price is going up. In April, J.D. Power anticipates average incentive to fall -35.6% year-on-year to just $3.191 per unit, whereas the average transaction price is expected to rise 6.7% year-on-year to $37.572, the highest ever figure for the month. Fleet sales are recovering but can’t match the market growth at +81% and 154.400 units and are down -44% on April 2019.

Looking at carmakers still sharing monthly sales results, Toyota Motor (182.6%) vastly outpaces the market and hits an April volume record, with Toyota up 183.3% and Lexus up 176.7% also both hitting record volumes for the month. Cars and SUVs more than triple year-on-year for the Toyota brand. Ford Motor (+64.8%) is the only manufacturer to stand well below the market growth with the Ford brand up just 62.7% and Lincoln up 114.9%. Retail sales are up 57%, SUVs up 119.8%, pickups are up 48% and cars down -20.9%. American Honda (+171%) sets an April volume record helped by a monthly record volume of light trucks (98.828). The Honda brand is up 165.7% to a new April record and Acura is up 226.2%. Hyundai-Kia is up 127.1%, with April bests for Hyundai (+128.2%), helped by retail sales up 146% whereas fleet sales are down -27%. Kia (+121.3%) and Genesis (+308.7%) both reach all-time volume records. Subaru (+100.5%) sets a new April volume record, with Mazda (+184.4%) and Volvo (+185.5%) both in outstanding shape.

Over in the models aisle, the Ford F-Series (+31.8%) is weak, the Toyota RAV4 (+172.1%) and Honda CR-V (+234.2%) are only separated by 116 units. Unusual strength from the Toyota Corolla (+237.5%) and Camry (+169.2%) with the Honda Civic (+111.9%) in tow. The Toyota Highlander (+302.3%) quadruples its sales year-on-year. The Ford Bronco Sport easily crosses the 10.000 monthly sales mark for the first time selling just under 14.000 units. Below, the Honda HR-V (+347.5%) and Passport (+228.7%) set all-time volume records as do the Kia Forte (+196.2%) and new K5 at just above 9.600. As for the Kia Telluride, Sportage and Seltos, they all set new April records.

Previous month: USA March 2021: Market bounces back up 60%, Toyota #1 brand over Q1

One year ago: USA April 2020: Market down -50%, lowest SAAR in over 40 years at 8.6 million

Full April 2021 figures for selected groups, brands and models below.