The U.S. auto industry sold nearly ************* cars in 2024. That year, total car and light truck sales were approximately ************ in the United States. U.S. vehicle sales peaked in 2016 at roughly ************ units. Pandemic impact The COVID-19 pandemic deeply impacted the U.S. automotive market, accelerating the global automotive semiconductor shortage and leading to a drop in demand during the first months of 2020. However, as demand rebounded, new vehicle supply could not keep up with the market. U.S. inventory-to-sales ratio dropped to its lowest point in February 2022, as Russia's war on Ukraine lead to gasoline price hikes. During that same period, inflation also impacted new and used car prices, pricing many U.S. consumers out of a market with increasingly lower car stocks. Focus on fuel economy The U.S. auto industry had one of its worst years in 1982 when customers were beginning to feel the effects of the 1973 oil crisis and the energy crisis of 1979. Since light trucks would often be considered less fuel-efficient, cars accounted for about ** percent of light vehicle sales back then. Thanks to improved fuel economy for light trucks and cheaper gas prices, this picture had completely changed in 2020. That year, prices for Brent oil dropped to just over ** U.S. dollars per barrel. The decline occurred in tandem with lower gasoline prices, which came to about **** U.S. dollars per gallon in 2020 - and cars only accounted for less than one-fourth of light vehicle sales that year. Four years on, prices are dropping again, after being the highest on record since 1990 in 2022.

In 2022, U.S. auto shoppers bought approximately 2.86 million autos. Meanwhile, light trucks accounted for more than 79 percent of light vehicles sold to individual customers and corporate fleets in the United States.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, approximately **** million light vehicles were sold to customers in the United States. This was a slight increase of around *** percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, and a growth of roughly **** million vehicles between the third and fourth quarter of 2022.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars

• United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars was reported at 3,116,647.000 Unit in Dec 2023.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 2,858,575.000 Unit for Dec 2022.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 6,089,403.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2023, with 19 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 7,761,592.000 Unit in 2006 and a record low of 2,858,575.000 Unit in 2022.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Passenger Car (PC).

In 2024, the auto industry in the United States sold approximately 15.9 million light vehicle units. This figure includes retail sales of about three million passenger cars and just under 12.9 million light trucks. Lower fuel consumption There are many kinds of light vehicles available in the United States. Light-duty vehicles are popular for their utility and improved fuel economy, making them an ideal choice for savvy consumers. As of Model Year 2023, the light vehicle manufacturer with the best overall miles per gallon was Kia, with one gallon of gas allowing for 30.4 miles on the road. Higher brand satisfaction When asked about light vehicle satisfaction, consumers in the United States were most satisfied with Toyota, Subaru, Tesla, and Mercedes-Benz models. Another survey conducted in 2018 and quizzing respondents on their stance regarding the leading car brands indicated that Lexus was among the most dependable brands based on the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles.

Total Vehicle Sales in the United States decreased to 15.30 Million in June from 15.70 Million in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Total Vehicle Sales - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In terms of monthly light vehicle sales in the United States, Toyota was the top brand in December 2023 with Ford and Chevrolet in second and third place. Customers in the U.S. bought nearly 182,500 Toyota-badged vehicles in December 2023. What was the effect of the pandemic on sales? U.S. vehicle sales tanked in March 2020 but bounced back soon thereafter. Due to the global chip shortage, sales fell again through 2021 and 2022. U.S. auto dealers sold around 1.27 million light vehicles in December 2022, an increase of 5.39 percent year-on-year. These figures can be seen as a consequence of the dwindling supply while automakers halted manufacturing due to a lack of semiconductors for vehicle production. Raw material price inflation and the cost of living crisis recorded in 2022 had also impacted the supply and demand for new vehicles. Pre-crisis plateau Slightly under 14.5 million light vehicles were sold to U.S. auto dealers in 2020. Retail sales are estimated to have slowly recovered in 2021, falling short of the 15 million mark. New sales of light vehicles remained relatively flat between 2017 and 2019 albeit on a high level. 2019 car and light truck retail sales of just under 17 million units put the industry’s new light retail sales figures 1.4 percent lower in 2019 than in 2018. It was particularly passenger cars that did not move off the shelves easily, as light truck sales reached a peak in 2019. Passenger cars now only represented less than one-third of all light vehicle sales in the U.S. While the market recovered through 2023, passenger cars remained the less popular alternative to the larger light trucks for U.S. consumers.

United States EIA Projection: New Car Sales data was reported at 5,149.021 Unit th in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,181.587 Unit th for 2049. United States EIA Projection: New Car Sales data is updated yearly, averaging 5,557.171 Unit th from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2050, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,463.062 Unit th in 2026 and a record low of 5,149.021 Unit th in 2050. United States EIA Projection: New Car Sales data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA010: New Vehicle Sales: Projection.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars

• United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars was reported at 12,892,621.000 Unit in Dec 2023.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 11,371,749.000 Unit for Dec 2022.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 9,784,346.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2023, with 19 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 12,892,621.000 Unit in 2023 and a record low of 5,200,478.000 Unit in 2009.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Commercial Vehicle (CV).

Just over *********** used vehicles were sold between private parties in the United States in July 2022. This was a month-over-month decrease of some five percent compared to the June 2022 sales volume. Overall U.S. used vehicle sales had also been decreasing month-over-month in July 2022.

The distribution of used vehicle sales in the United States by sales channel remained constant from September 2022 to September 2023. Retail sales at car dealerships held over **** of the used car sales market during that time. Used vehicle sales were the leading type of light vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2023, amounting to over **** million units sold.

The United States automotive dealership market, valued at XX million in 2025, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.00% from 2025 to 2033. Key market drivers include increasing vehicle sales, growth in the used car market, and rising demand for vehicle financing and insurance services. However, the market faces restraints such as the impact of economic downturns and competition from online car sales platforms. The market is segmented by type (new vehicle dealership, used vehicle dealership, parts and services, finance and insurance), retailer (franchised retailer, non-franchised retailer), and vehicle type (passenger cars, commercial vehicles). Major industry players include AutoNation Inc., Sonic Automotive Inc., Larry H. Miller Dealerships, Staluppi Auto Group, Lithia Motors Inc., Asbury Automotive Group Inc., Hendrick Automotive Group, Group 1 Automotive Inc., Penske Automotive Group, and Ken Garff Automotive Group. The market is primarily driven by the United States region, which accounts for the majority of market share. Recent developments include: July 2022: Lithia & Driveway (LAD) continued its US expansion by buying nine dealerships in southern Florida and one in Nevada, which are expected to add nearly USD 1 billion in annual revenue for the company. LAD also announced its expansion in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the addition of Henderson Hyundai and Genesis. With this purchase, LAD becomes the sole owner of the Hyundai and Genesis stores in the greater metro area., March 2022: Group1 Automotive Inc. announced that it completed a USD 2.0 billion five-year revolvings syndicated credit facility with 21 financial institutions that will expire in March 2027 and can be expanded to USD 2.4 billion total availability. The six manufacturer-affiliated finance companies are Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, BMW Financial Services NA LLC, American Honda Finance Corporation, VW Credit Inc., and Hyundai Capital America Inc., January 2022: Penske Automotive Group expanded its presence in the Austin/Round Rock market in Texas with the grand opening of the Honda Leander. The new dealership, located in Leander, Texas, is the retailer's 14th Honda store overall and is its ninth dealership in the market., January 2022: Sonic Automotive Inc., one of the nation's largest automotive retailers, acquired Sun Chevrolet in Chittenango, New York. Sonic also acquired Caputo's three used car locations in December 2021. The Chittenango location was the only new car dealership.. Key drivers for this market are: Rapid Urbanization and Demand for Convinient Transportation. Potential restraints include: Traffic Congestion in Major Cities. Notable trends are: Rising Focus of Automotive Dealers on Enhancing Consumer Experience and Dealer Network to Drive Demand.

Nearly 1.8 million used vehicles were sold at car dealerships in the United States in March 2023. This represented a share of just under 53 percent of the total used car sales volume that month—a share which remained constant throughout 2022 and the beginning of 2023, with minimal variations.

Market Size statistics on the Online Car Dealers industry in the US

Used car dealers in the United States had a market size of 138.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. While the industry value dipped at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, used car sales quickly recovered, with used car dealers' market value hiking above its pre-pandemic levels.

The used car market boom

The used car market has been gaining steam since 2017 when the volume of used light vehicles sold hiked by just under 11 percent year-over-year to 42.7 million sales. By 2021, around 43.1 million used light vehicles were sold in the U.S, representing just under 74 percent of the total light vehicle sales in the country. While sales increased, the average used vehicle selling price also inflated—up 21 percent year-over-year in 2021—with vans, sport-utility vehicles, and crossover utility vehicles recording the steepest price increase. The semiconductor shortage, forcing halts in new vehicle production, is partly responsible for this boom in the used car market. Most used vehicle retail inventory in June 2022 was priced above 35,000 U.S. dollars, making the used car market increasingly inaccessible to consumers.

Light trucks at the forefront of sales

U.S. consumer satisfaction with their overall shopping experience dropped in 2021, with used car buyers reporting a satisfaction rate of 65 percent, compared to 71 percent in 2020. While 2021 satisfaction is higher than in 2019, this denotes the impact of higher prices on customers. Most consumers opted for used light trucks instead of used automobiles. The net purchase of used light trucks spiked in the third quarter of 2019, reaching 194.7 billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter of 2022, while auto sales had a net purchase value of 52 billion U.S. dollars that same quarter. The Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and Ram Pickup 1500 were the 2016 to 2020 MY models with the largest share of used car sales in the U.S. Ford was also the third best-selling manufacturer for new vehicles in the U.S.

The result of a merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., Stellantis sold around 347,700 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2022. This volume was down by around 15.5 percent compared with the same period last year. The largest drops in annual sales belong to Fiat and Alfa Romeo. While Stellantis's other subsidiaries fared better, all brands recorded a drop in sales as a result of the global automotive semiconductor shortage.

Stellantis and the future of vehicle sales

Drops in sales in the U.S. market was not a problem faced exclusively by Stellantis. Light vehicle retail sales in the United States have slumped in 2020, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic which put car manufacturing at a standstill and decreased overall demand. Stellantis further faced issues with the global chip shortage of 2021, which impacted its vehicle production and 2022 sales. Further market developments towards alternative fuels present a challenge for automakers. New energy light trucks and cars are gaining in popularity. The industry sold an estimated 607,600 plug-in electric vehicles in the United States in 2021. Entering the electric market is cited as one of the principal reasons why Fiat Chrysler originally approached major European manufacturing group, Renault, for a merger in 2019. Renault already worked in collaboration with Nissan and Mitsubishi, and the alliance saw plug-in electric vehicle sales increase 67 percent from 2017 to 2018. Nissan also has one of the best-selling car brands in the U.S. On the global scale, it was expected that for all parties, the merger will allow the manufacturers to stay influential in an increasingly competitive global market.

Talks with Renault led nowhere significant. The Alliance of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi faced trouble between 2017 and 2020 as their lead figure came under criminal investigations. Fiat Chrysler then went on to announce a merger with Group PSA which was approved by shareholders in January 2021, with the deal completed that same month.

Autos include all passenger cars, including station wagons. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis releases auto and truck sales data, which are used in the preparation of estimates of personal consumption expenditures.

EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Alternative Fuel as % of New Car Sales data was reported at 69.027 % in 2050. This records an increase from the previous number of 68.923 % for 2049. EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Alternative Fuel as % of New Car Sales data is updated yearly, averaging 67.875 % from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2050, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.027 % in 2050 and a record low of 18.828 % in 2022. EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Alternative Fuel as % of New Car Sales data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA010: New Vehicle Sales: Projection.

Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Genesis: Genesis GV60 data was reported at 733.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,866.000 Unit for Dec 2024. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Genesis: Genesis GV60 data is updated quarterly, averaging 1,133.000 Unit from Jun 2022 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,400.000 Unit in Dec 2023 and a record low of 233.000 Unit in Jun 2022. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Genesis: Genesis GV60 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Cox Automotive. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA008: Electric Vehicle Sales: by Brand and Model: ytd.

EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Conventional data was reported at 1,594.812 Unit th in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,610.302 Unit th for 2049. EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Conventional data is updated yearly, averaging 1,790.258 Unit th from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2050, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,261.247 Unit th in 2022 and a record low of 1,594.812 Unit th in 2050. EIA Projection: New Car Sales: Conventional data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA010: New Vehicle Sales: Projection.