100,000-Unit Sales Club Growing

The number of U.S.-market light-vehicle nameplates on track to record 100,000 deliveries for full-year 2010 represents a 39.1% increase over 2009, according to a Ward's forecast.

As the critical fourth quarter approaches, the sales trend line indicates 32 cars and light trucks will hit the 100,000-unit mark, up from 23 last year.

First-time club members are the Nissan Versa C-car and the Chevrolet Traverse and Kia Sorento cross/utility vehicles. And with 68,835 deliveries through August, the Sorento already has outperformed its best-ever full year, 2004, when its tally was 52,878.

Rounding out the list of nameplates absent from the 2009 honor roll but expected to hit 100,000 sales this year are the Chevolet Equinox, Chrysler Town & Country, Mazda3, Ford Edge, Ford Econoline van and Honda Pilot.

Through August, 16 vehicles already have reached or exceeded 100,000 deliveries, led by a pair of pickups, the Ford F-Series — the nation's best-selling nameplate for 33 years running — and the Chevy Silverado.

Light trucks account for six of the nameplates that have reached the plateau through the first eight months of the year, and 15 of the 32 total vehicles expected to hit 100,000 — a slight uptick from 2009's 8:14 truck/car ratio.

The trend is consistent with the overall market's growing preference for light trucks.

Surging Town & Country sales are at the center of an emerging subplot. Outpaced by the Honda Odyssey since 2008, the Chrysler is turning the tables in the segment it pioneered, leading through August 78,492 to 71,584.

But the long-term race likely is far from being decided. The Odyssey has been redesigned for '11, while Chrysler promises "extensive" interior, exterior and powertrain enhancements for the Town & Country and its Dodge Grand Caravan platform-mate.