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 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 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.

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).

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.

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.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicles Sales Growth

• United States Motor Vehicles Sales dropped 1.0 % in Feb 2025, compared with a growth of 2.8 % in the previous month.
• US Motor Vehicles Sales Growth rate is updated monthly, available from Jan 1977 to Feb 2025, with an average growth rate of 1.8 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 109.5 % in Apr 2021 and a record low of -45.9 % in Apr 2020.
• Car Sales of US recorded 1,253,157.0 units in Feb 2025.

Sales of used light vehicles in the United States came to around **** million units in 2024. In the same period, approximately **** million new light trucks and automobiles were sold here. Declining availability of vehicles In the fourth quarter of 2024, about ***** million vehicles were in operation in the United States, an increase of around *** 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Crossovers are Americans’ favorite type of passenger vehicle. This category accounts for over ** percent of automobile sales in the United States as of June 2022. The most popular models include Honda’s CR-V, Nissan’s Rogue, and Toyota’s RAV4. In the first quarter of 2022, U.S. auto buyers bought just under ******* units of Toyota’s RAV4 model, making it the best-selling vehicle in this category. Toyota is the market leader   The RAV4 was one of the very first specimens of its kind, as production of this model began in 1994. Toyota was the second most valuable automotive manufacturer worldwide in 2022, with a brand value of just over **** billion dollars. It followed Tesla, which was first in the ranking with a gap of over ** billion dollars compared to the runner-up. Toyota’s net revenue rose to **** trillion Japanese yen in 2022 (around *** billion U.S. dollars as of March 2022 exchange rates), a visible growth of over ** percent compared to 2021, despite the manufacturer being impacted by the global automotive chip shortage.  Crossovers benefit from the shift away from sedans   Crossover SUVs (sport utility vehicles) combine the fuel efficiency levels of compact and midsized cars and the higher seating positions of light trucks. They gained in popularity when fuel prices were low and, consequently, automakers increased production volumes and model additions of this vehicle type. Between 2014 and 2021, U.S. car sales fell from over *** million to around **** million units. Concurrently, light truck sales increased from *** million units in 2014 to close to **** million units in 2021. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vehicle demand led to a *** percent drop in light truck sales in 2020. This drop in vehicle sales impacted countries across the globe. In 2020, Germany recorded a loss of over ******* sales of SUVs compared to 2019, whereas China’s new SUV registrations remained stable between the two years.

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

United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price: Used Vehicle data was reported at 8,786.000 USD in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,483.000 USD for 2009. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price: Used Vehicle data is updated yearly, averaging 8,130.000 USD from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,786.000 USD in 2010 and a record low of 5,857.000 USD in 1990. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price: Used Vehicle data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA004: Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price.

United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price data was reported at 13,105.000 USD in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 12,518.000 USD for 2009. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price data is updated yearly, averaging 12,098.000 USD from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2010, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,451.000 USD in 2007 and a record low of 8,691.000 USD in 1990. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RA004: Motor Vehicle Sales: Average Price.

United States - Total Vehicle Sales was 1291.95400 Thous. of Units in June of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Total Vehicle Sales reached a record high of 1845.71300 in July of 2005 and a record low of 670.46600 in January of 2009. 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 August of 2025.

Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Lucid data was reported at 5,766.000 Unit in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,822.000 Unit for Jun 2024. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Lucid data is updated quarterly, averaging 2,318.000 Unit from Dec 2021 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,940.000 Unit in Dec 2023 and a record low of 460.000 Unit in Mar 2022. Electric Vehicle Sales: ytd: Lucid 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.

Graph and download economic data for Retail Sales: Used Car Dealers (MRTSSM44112USN) from Jan 1992 to May 2025 about used, dealers, vehicles, retail trade, sales, retail, and USA.