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backAMERItalk June, 2012

Japanese Brands Gained Ground in May

The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released May 2012 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents America’s approximately 10,000 international nameplate franchises whose brands accounted for 54.5 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States last month.

Sales of new cars continued to grow in May, but not as fast as industry insiders expected. AutoData Corp. estimated the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) at 13.8 million units in May; under the 14 million mark for the first time in 2012. Sales for all brands, unadjusted for business days, rose 25.7 percent compared May 2012 and 13.4 percent year over year.

With 181,510 sales, Toyota led international brands in May. The world’s largest automaker was up 88.9 percent from May 2011, when its production was decimated by Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. Lexus sales were up 74.4 percent, Honda was up 46 percent, and Nissan and Infiniti were up 16.4 and 65.8 percent respectively. Non-Japanese brands that gained market share in the wake of the 2011 natural disaster lost some traction. Hyundai went from 5.6 percent of the U.S. market in May 2011 to 5 percent last month and General Motors dropped from 20.8 percent to 18.4 percent.

“Despite disappointing jobs numbers, Americans are still buying new cars,” said AIADA President Cody Lusk. “A combination of new models, low gas prices, and pent up demand are driving sales.”

In May, international brands accounted for 727,607 units sold, up from 654,086 in April. Asian nameplates occupied 45.4 percent of the U.S. auto market, up slightly from 45.3 in April. European nameplates dropped from 10 percent in April to 9.1 percent in May. Domestic brands finished the month with a 45.5 percent share of the market, up from 44.8 in April.

Source: AIADA - GAI

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