USA February 2022: Hyundai (+8.5%), Mazda (+8.3%), Genesis (+45%) ignore market down -10%

Hyundai sales are up 8.5% year-on-year in February.

It’s another difficult month for new light vehicle sales in the U.S., estimated to fall -10% year-on-year to roughly 1.07 million. The Winter Storm Landon didn’t help sales already hampered by the microchip crisis. The year-to-date volume stands at 2.07 million, down -9% on the same period in 2021. The seasonally adjusted annualised rate of sales (SAAR) is down -11% year-on-year to 14.15 million vs. 15.9 million in February 2021 and 17.04 million in February 2020.

Among manufacturers still communicating monthly sales, Toyota Motor drops -11.2%, Ford Motor falls -20.8% as cars tumble down -44.6%, SUVs are down 11.8% and trucks down -25.5%. American Honda sinks -20.6% but Hyundai-Kia defies the surrounding gloom with a 6.4% uptick. Brand-wise, Toyota (-11.9%) remains in the lead above Ford (-20.7%) with Honda (-20.8%) down similarly. In contrast, Hyundai gains 8.5% to break its February retail sales record (+19%), Kia is up 2.3%, Mazda up 8.3% as cars drop -31.8% and light trucks rise 18.4% and Genesis up 45% on a low base. Volvo (-32.1%), Lincoln (-22.7%) and Acura (-19.5%) endure steep falls below while Lexus (-5.6%) resists.

Among models with available February 2022 sales, the Ford F-Series freefalls -29.8%, the Toyota RAV4 (-3.9%) resists, the Toyota Highlander (+20.4%) and Mazda CX-5 (+35.7%) post spectacular gains whereas the Toyota Tacoma (-21.3%), Camry (-34.5%), Honda CR-V (-49.6%) and Toyota Corolla (-31.9%) all fall faster than the market. The Subaru Crosstrek (+35.4%) signs its largest February volume, with the Kia Niro (+132.3%), Ford Bronco Sport (+86.1%), Honda HR-V (+63.1%), Hyundai Tucson (+37.2%), Subaru Impreza (+30%), Mazda CX-9 (+20.7%), Hyundai Palisade (+16.6%) and Venue (+16.4%) all very impressive further down. The Ford Bronco tops new models above the Ford Maverick, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

Previous month: USA January 2022: Market down -9% to lowest January in 9 years, Hyundai (+10.3%) in shape

One year ago: USA February 2021: Genesis, Volvo ignore market down -10%

Full February 2022 sales for selected groups, brands and models below.