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.

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 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.

Worldwide car sales grew to around ** million automobiles in 2024, up from around **** million units in 2023. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the sector experienced a downward trend on the back of a slowing global economy, while COVID-19 and the Russian war on Ukraine contributed to shortages in the automotive semiconductor industry and further supply chain disruptions in 2022. Despite these challenges, 2023 and 2024 sales surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are forecast to keep rising through 2025. Covid-19 hits car demand It had been estimated pre-pandemic that international car sales were on track to reach ** million. While 2023 sales are still far away from that goal, this was the first year were car sales exceeded pre-pandemic values. The automotive market faced various challenges in 2023, including supply shortages, automotive layoffs, and strikes in North America. However, despite these hurdles, the North American market was among the fastest-growing regions in 2024, along with Eastern Europe and Asia, as auto sales in these regions increased year-on-year. Chinese market recovers After years of double-digit growth, China's economy began to lose steam in 2022, and recovery has been slow through 2023. China was the largest automobile market based on sales with around **** million units in 2023. However, monthly car sales in China were in free-fall in April 2022 partly due to shortages, fears over a looming recession, and the country grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. By June of that same year, monthly sales in China were closer to those recorded in 2021.

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.

Sales of used light vehicles in the United States came to around 39.2 million units in 2024. In the same period, approximately 15.8 million new light trucks and automobiles were sold here. Declining availability of vehicles In the fourth quarter of 2024, about 292.3 million vehicles were in operation in the United States, an increase of around 1.3 percent year-over-year. The rising demand for vehicles paired with an overall price inflation lead to a rise in new vehicle prices. In contrast, used vehicle prices slightly decreased. E-commerce: a solution for the bumpy road ahead? Financial reports have revealed how the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has triggered a shift in vehicle-buying behavior. With many consumer goods and services now bought online due to COVID-19, the automobile industry has also started to digitally integrate its services online to reach consumers with a preference for contactless test driving amid the global crisis. Several dealers and automobile companies had already begun to tap into online car sales before the pandemic, some of them being Carvana and Tesla.

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

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 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.

Graph and download economic data for Motor Vehicle Retail Sales: Domestic Autos (DAUTOSA) from Jan 1967 to Jun 2025 about headline figure, vehicles, retail trade, domestic, new, sales, retail, and USA.

Number of units and total sales of new motor vehicles by vehicle type and origin of manufacture, monthly.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Motor Vehicle Retail Sales: Domestic and Foreign Autos (LAUTONSA) from Jan 1976 to May 2025 about foreign, vehicles, retail trade, domestic, new, sales, retail, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Retail Sales: New Car Dealers (MRTSSM44111USN) from Jan 1992 to Apr 2025 about dealers, vehicles, retail trade, new, sales, retail, and USA.

At around 948,000 unit sales, light trucks remained the largest U.S. auto market segment in September 2024, down from around 1.2 unit sales in October 2024 and decreasing by approximately 11.2 percent year-on-year. 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, 2023 was an encouraging year. U.S. motor vehicle sales grew to over 15.5 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 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Producer Price Index by Industry: New Car Dealers: Vehicle Sales (PCU4411104411101) from Dec 1999 to May 2025 about dealers, vehicles, new, sales, PPI, industry, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The graph displays the number of retail car sales in the United States from 1976 to 2025. The x-axis represents the years, ranging from 1976 to 2025, while the y-axis indicates the number of cars sold, spanning from 10,357,300 to 17,477,300. Throughout this period, car sales exhibit significant fluctuations, with the highest sales of 17,477,300 units occurring in 2016 and the lowest of 10,357,300 units in 1982. Overall, the data reveals an upward trend in retail car sales over the decades, despite occasional declines during certain years. The information is presented in a line graph format, effectively highlighting the annual variations and long-term growth in car sales within the United States.

United States - Total Vehicle Sales was 16.09200 Mil. of Units in May of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Vehicle Sales reached a record high of 22.05500 in October of 2001 and a record low of 8.94400 in April of 2020. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Total Vehicle Sales - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Sales of imported new autos (B149RC1Q027SBEA) from Q1 1947 to Q1 2025 about imports, vehicles, new, sales, GDP, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Motor Vehicle Retail Sales: Foreign Autos (FAUTOSAAR) from Jan 1967 to Jun 2025 about foreign, vehicles, retail trade, new, sales, retail, and USA.