Light truck retail sales in the United States increased to 12.9 million units in 2024. This was a year-over-year increase in sales of some 3.94 percent compared to 2023. In contrast, 2022 was the second drop in sales in a decade, after the drop reported in 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales had been increasing since 2010, when the auto industry began recovering from low vehicle purchases after the 2008-2009 financial crisis. In 2024, sales of light trucks accounted for about 81.2 percent of the approximately 15.9 million light vehicles sold in the United States. Ford, with its signature truck, the Ford F-150, was one of the leading North American car brands in the United States. Why are consumers buying trucks now? Before the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, the U.S. economy had largely recovered from the woes of the financial crisis and unemployment in the United States fell to 3.7 percent in 2019. This meant that consumers were better able to purchase new vehicles. Similarly, due to lower gasoline and diesel fuel prices, motorists were more willing to buy trucks over smaller, more fuel-efficient sedans. 2022 presented a challenge for this automotive market, with Russia's war on Ukraine leading to motor fuel price inflation and to higher new and used car prices.

As of the first quarter of 2023, the Ford F-Series remains, as it was in 2022, the best-selling light truck in the United States.

Pickups: one of the most important vehicle segments
The U.S. light truck market has remained resilient amidst a difficult business environment. Pickup trucks accounted for some of the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2022. A well-performing model can play an important role in a brand's success: Ford, the maker of 2022's best-selling model, was also the leading car brand that year.

AAA
Light trucks, including pickups, were the most popular light passenger vehicle type in the United States in 2022. However, the segment had faced challenges in the previous years, with retail sales dropping for the first time since 2008 in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the market picked back up in 2021, the semiconductor shortage, increasing raw material prices, and overall price inflation impacted light truck sales, leading to a steeper drop in 2022.

In 2021, some *** million automobiles, about **** million light trucks, and some ******* heavy-duty trucks were sold to customers in the United States. The U.S. auto industry sold about **** million motor vehicles in 2021—a slow recovery compared to 2020. Retail sales of motor vehicles declined significantly during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Pickup truck sales were the least affected by the pandemic because of their popularity in states with less stringent COVID measures. Mass motorization fuels the market As of 2022, over ** percent of the U.S. population reported having access to their own car, with an additional ** percent having access to a company or family car. This reliance on passenger vehicles is partly due to the U.S.’s extensive road network, which creates an incentive toward mass motorization and leads to higher demands, boosting the U.S. automotive market. As of March 2022, ** percent of consumers in the United States reported they intended to purchase a car. A success at risk due to the chip shortage With over *** trillion U.S. dollars in revenue from road vehicle and parts retail trade, the sector has swiftly recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rise in light truck sales. In contrast, interest in automobiles has been nosediving since 2015, as the U.S. consumers moved away from smaller models. Light trucks might, however, might fall victim to their own success. The global automotive chip shortage is an ongoing challenge in the industry. While passenger vehicle demand remains high, the monthly inventory-to-sales ratio has been nosediving since April 2020.

Thailand Total Sales: Value: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data was reported at 57,352,355,547.000 THB in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 61,310,612,821.000 THB for Nov 2023. Thailand Total Sales: Value: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data is updated monthly, averaging 61,411,248,721.500 THB from Jan 2016 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82,391,475,198.000 THB in Mar 2019 and a record low of 12,505,497,918.000 THB in Apr 2020. Thailand Total Sales: Value: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Industrial Economics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.C020: Industrial Products Total Sales (ISIC Rev. 4).

With year-end sales of around 732,100 units, the Ford F-Series was the best-selling light truck in the United States in 2024. The Ford F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks, the most popular variant being the F-150. The 14th generation of this model was released in 2020, with a fully electric version of the vehicle unveiled in 2021. Light trucks account for two-thirds of light vehicle sales in the United States After years of recovery in demand for vehicles, U.S. car and light truck sales growth slowed down in 2019, compared with the year before. The slow-down continued, as the coronavirus pandemic hit the sector. Russia's war on Ukraine, inflation, and supply chain shortages further hindered the sector's recovery in 2022. U.S. light vehicle sales came to around 15.5 million units in 2023, some 12.4 million of which were light trucks. This increase in sales signals the sector is recovering from the supply chain shortages recorded a year earlier. U.S. customers show a preference for domestic brands With the exception of Toyota pickups, light trucks built by U.S.-based automakers continue to be favorites among U.S. vehicle buyers. The Ford F-Series, which has been one of the most popular automobiles with U.S. buyers for years, was ranked as the best-selling light truck in the United States at year-end 2024. The following spots were claimed by GM’s Chevrolet Silverado and Chrysler’s Ram Pickup.

Graph and download economic data for Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos and Light Trucks (ALTSALES) from Jan 1976 to Aug 2025 about light weight, trucks, vehicles, new, sales, and USA.

This statistic represents the number of Ram pickup trucks sold in the United States from 2000 to 2020. In 2020, almost ******* Ram pickup trucks were sold in the United States. This pickup is a spin off of the Dodge Ram pickup brand.

United States - Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos and Light Trucks was 16.06900 Mil. of Units in August of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos and Light Trucks reached a record high of 21.70900 in October of 2001 and a record low of 8.59400 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Light Weight Vehicle Sales: Autos and Light Trucks - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on December of 2025.

China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light: General data was reported at 136,734.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 88,189.000 Unit for Feb 2025. China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light: General data is updated monthly, averaging 86,945.000 Unit from Jan 2005 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 243 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 165,165.000 Unit in Mar 2021 and a record low of 16,337.000 Unit in Feb 2020. China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light: General data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.RAB: Automobile Sales: Commercial Car: Truck.

Thailand Export Sales: Volume: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data was reported at 59,125.000 Unit in Dec 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 64,726.000 Unit for Nov 2023. Thailand Export Sales: Volume: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data is updated monthly, averaging 57,209.500 Unit from Jan 2016 (Median) to Dec 2023, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75,623.000 Unit in Sep 2017 and a record low of 12,159.000 Unit in Apr 2020. Thailand Export Sales: Volume: 1 Ton Pickup Truck data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office of Industrial Economics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Thailand – Table TH.JA095: Industrial Products Export Sales (ISIC Rev. 4).

Total Vehicle Sales in the United States decreased to 15.30 Million in October from 16.40 Million in September 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.

China GWM: Sales: Vehicle: Pickup: Pao data was reported at 15,003.000 Unit in Jun 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,006.000 Unit for May 2020. China GWM: Sales: Vehicle: Pickup: Pao data is updated monthly, averaging 6,259.000 Unit from Oct 2019 (Median) to Jun 2020, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,003.000 Unit in Jun 2020 and a record low of 1,037.000 Unit in Feb 2020. China GWM: Sales: Vehicle: Pickup: Pao data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Great Wall Motor Company Limited. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Automobile Sector – Table CN.RAR: Great Wall Motor Company Limited.

China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light data was reported at 217,560.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 147,898.000 Unit for Feb 2025. China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light data is updated monthly, averaging 131,329.000 Unit from Jan 2005 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 243 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 249,520.000 Unit in Mar 2021 and a record low of 26,454.000 Unit in Feb 2020. China Automobile: Sales: CC: Truck: Light data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.RAB: Automobile Sales: Commercial Car: Truck.

China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: General data was reported at 5.790 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.476 % for Feb 2025. China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: General data is updated monthly, averaging 4.355 % from Jan 2005 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 242 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 316.060 % in Feb 2021 and a record low of -75.220 % in Feb 2020. China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: General data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Automobile Sector – Table CN.RAB: Automobile Sales: Year on Year Change: Commercial Car: Truck.

United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: Net Purchases of Used Autos and Used Light Trucks was -28.60000 % Chg. from Preceding Period in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: Net Purchases of Used Autos and Used Light Trucks reached a record high of 1287.30000 in July of 2020 and a record low of -88.50000 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: Net Purchases of Used Autos and Used Light Trucks - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

At around 1.2 million unit sales, light trucks remained the largest U.S. auto market segment in August 2025, up from around 1.1 million unit sales in August 2024. Global chip shortage affects supply The second quarter of 2020 saw a significant drop in automotive sales volume compared to the year before. Most of the disruption was seen in May, before restrictions to curtail the coronavirus pandemic were lifted. Sales showed signs of recovery in the following months, before dropping again in 2021. The industry's inventory-to-sales ratio nosedived in May 2020, and has not fully recovered since. Supply issues were not felt as strongly across the automotive sector, while car demand was low due to national lockdowns brought on by the pandemic. However, as consumers' purchasing intentions picked up, vehicle stocks could not meet the new demand due to chip shortages, which led to production halts and cuts. U.S. vehicle sales gain momentum thanks to light truck sales As the year 2020 came to an end, motor vehicle sales in the United States finished on a high note. Following the Covid-19 disruption, the U.S. auto sector began to recover in the third quarter. However, the semiconductor shortage and global inflation further impacted sales in 2021 and 2022. In contrast, 2024 was an encouraging year. U.S. motor vehicle sales grew to over 15.8 million that year, which was the highest it had been since the onset of the pandemic. This jump in sales was partly due to light truck retail sales, which exceeded their pre-pandemic level in 2024.

China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: Diesel data was reported at 6.545 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 31.481 % for Feb 2025. China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: Diesel data is updated monthly, averaging 1.850 % from Jan 2005 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 243 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 256.950 % in Feb 2021 and a record low of -71.180 % in Feb 2020. China Automobile: Sales: YoY: CC: Truck: Light: Diesel data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Automobile Sector – Table CN.RAB: Automobile Sales: Year on Year Change: Commercial Car: Truck.

United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: New Motor Vehicles: Trucks: Light Trucks (including Utility Vehicles) was -15.20000 % Chg. from Preceding Period in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: New Motor Vehicles: Trucks: Light Trucks (including Utility Vehicles) reached a record high of 439.10000 in July of 2020 and a record low of -84.40000 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Real Motor Vehicle Output: Final Sales of Domestic Product: Private Fixed Investment: New Motor Vehicles: Trucks: Light Trucks (including Utility Vehicles) - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

Number of units and total sales of new motor vehicles by type of vehicle, annual.