• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Biden Meets UAW Picketers, Offers Support
  • Ford Halts $3.5B MI Battery Plant; Fain Slams Company
  • An Electric Acura NSX Could Be Coming
  • Jeep Culture is a Real Thing
  • Porsche Cars North America Gets a New CEO
  • Canadian Union Approves New Contract with Ford
  • The Rearview Mirror: Birth of a Legendary Design
  • UAW Ups Pressure, Expands Strikes to Parts Depots
  • Ineos Begins Grenadier Production for North America
  • VinFast Focuses on Europe to Beat Chinese Rivals to Market
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • A Week With: 2024 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus
    • A Week With: 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV
    • A Week With: The 2024 BMW i7 xDrive60
    • A Week With: 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale Veloce AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid
    • A Week With: 2024 Subaru Impreza RS
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Desert Boss
    • First Drive: 2024 Polestar 2
    • A Week With: 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic
    • A Week With: 2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automobiles > US Auto Sales Remain Flat in May

        US Auto Sales Remain Flat in May

        Crossovers and small utes still leading the pack.

        Joseph Szczesny
        Joseph Szczesny , Executive Editor
        June 01, 2017
        Ford Sales VP Mark LaNeve said the company's May sales were up on the strength of its SUVs and trucks.

        Strong sales of crossover and sport utility vehicles and trucks, kept the industry anchored during May as overall sales stayed flat with General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Toyota posting small declines and Ford, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi posting modest gains.

        GM’s May total sales were 237,364 vehicles, which is down 1% from last year, largely due to a 36% drop in fleet sales. However, the company’s U.S. retail sales of 191,388 vehicles, up slightly from last year. GM’s May retail performance was driven by exceptionally strong crossover sales at Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.

        Sales News!

        “As we see the industry shift to more crossovers, we are extremely well positioned to take full advantage of this dynamic,” said Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of Sales Operations.

        “We expect these launches will enable us to continue gaining retail share as we introduce more all-new compact and midsize crossovers than anyone else, including the all-new GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and the Regal TourX.”

        (Crossover sales may be hitting their peak, analyst believes. Find out more, Click Here.)

        FCA reported a 1% drop in sales during May, compared with the same month in 2016. However, its retails sale, which account for 79% of total sales, were up 1%. Fleet sales were down 7% year over year as FCA US continues its strategy of reducing sales to the daily rental segment.

        Sales of GM crossovers like the Acadia, which was up 33% in May, are driving its retail sales.

        But FCA also reported that Jeep sales in the U.S. dropped 15% in May as FCA continued to go through critical model changes that have reduced sales of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Cherokee by double-digit figures. So far this year, Jeep sales in the U.S have dropped by 13%, due in some measure to a 60% cut in fleet sales.

        Ford Motor Co. said sales for May 2017 increased 2.2% compared with last year. Retail results declined 0.8%, while fleet sales increased 8.4% as the company began increasing deliveries to rental fleets, a decision that’s bound to put pressure on car maker’s stock in the wake of the dismissal of former CEO Mark Fields and runs in stark contrast to its other Big Three competitors.

        Ford also reported its average transaction pricing increased $2,100 last month, outpacing an industry increase of roughly $500.

        Toyota Motor North America reported its U.S. May 2017 dropped 0.5% from May 2016 on a volume basis. Toyota division posted May 2017 sales of 192,847 units, up 0.1% on a volume basis, while its luxury brand, Lexus, dropped 4.8%.

        “Although down from last year, the auto industry is still enjoying a solid year in 2017, with light trucks continuing to shine,” said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager, Toyota division. “We continue to see the SUV segment leading the way, with a best-ever May for RAV4, Highlander, and overall light truck for the Toyota division, where inventory remains at healthy levels for our customers during the summer buying season.

        (Click Here to see more about sliding new vehicle sales last month.)

        “We are also thrilled at how well the market is accepting our newest model, the C-HR, with its first full month of sales in May, as our dealers have started to build some inventory. So far, we are seeing strong interest from a younger demographic for the C-HR, which is exciting,” Hollis added.

        VW's U.S. sales got a boost from the new Atlas, which hit showrooms in mid-May, selling more than 1,600 units.

        Nissan Group reported an increase of 3% over the prior year as overall sales of Nissan-brand crossovers, trucks and SUVs set a May record, up 22%. The Infiniti luxury brand also had a strong month as sales increased 15%.

        Volkswagen reported sales increased 4.3% over May 2016 as the company continued to rebound from the diesel disaster. May 2017 also marks the start of sales for the all-new, Chattanooga, Tennesee-built Atlas. Deliveries of the vehicle, which began mid-month, totaled 1,610 units.

        Audi of America reported a May sales increase of 2.5% vehicles, as the SUVs and the A4, A5 models led the gains. May 2017 marked the 77th consecutive month of record sales for Audi of America, as well as the fifth-best sales month in the brand’s U.S. history, the automaker reported.

        The steady increase in the sales of crossovers and trucks also has helped raise transaction prices and pushed many new customers into leasing, which has created new challenges for dealers and manufacturers as the current cycle moves on.

        Analysts at Kelley Blue Book reported the estimated average transaction price for light vehicles in the United States was $33,261 in May 2017 and new car have increased by $847 or 2.6% from May 2016, fell by $266 from April.

        “Transaction prices continue to climb at a steady rate, driven by the weakening sales mix of cars which is estimated at 38% in May, down from 41% one year ago,” said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.

        (To see how crossovers/utes could account for half the U.S. new vehicle market, Click Here.)

        “Compact SUVs, the most popular segment in terms of sales, saw an increase of 2% year-over-year and clearly remain in very high demand. There are signs, however, of discounts in SUV segments that are growing quickly, including subcompact and luxury SUVs, which are likely helping to fuel those segments’ double-digit sales growth this year.”

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        Biden speaks to UAW with bullhorn

        Biden Meets UAW Picketers, Offers Support

        Today
        Bill Ford at MI EV battery plant event

        Ford Halts $3.5B MI Battery Plant; Fain Slams Company

        Today
        2022 Acura NSX Type S smoking tire teaser

        An Electric Acura NSX Could Be Coming

        Today

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: