September 2017 U.S. LV Sales Thread: Industry Hit 18.5 Million SAAR

WardsAuto tracks light-vehicle (LV) deliveries throughout sales reporting day. Monthly year-over-year change represents the change in daily sales rate (DSR).  September had 26 selling days this year compared with 25 days in 2016, meaning DSR % change will be lower than straight volume % change for year-over-year comparisons this month.

Related Table 

U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Summary table

SUMMARY:  

U.S. light-vehicle sales reached a 18.5 million-unit seasonally adjusted annual rate in September, following August’s 16.0 million SAAR and ending a 6-month streak of sub-17 million figures. In same-month 2016, the SAAR reached 17.6 million.

Nearly 1.52 million light vehicles were delivered over 26 selling days in September. The resulting daily sales rate represents a 1.9% increase from year-ago (25 days).

Preliminary assumptions pointed to October, rather than September, as the turning point for the market, as consumers replace vehicles lost due to natural disasters and automakers push incentives to clear out excess model-year ’17 stock. However, the shift came early, and sales results were much higher than expected.

Year to date, sales reached 13.0 million units, down 1.9% from like-2016.

General Motors accounted for 18.4% of the LV market, a jump from the 17.5% recorded year-ago.

Toyota showed a gain in market share, from 13.8% in September 2016 to 15.0% currently.

Ford's share lifted slightly from prior-year to 14.2%.

FCA showed a big drop, at 11.4% vs 13.4% last year.

Honda's market share was 9.4%, followed by Nissan with a 9.2% take.

UPDATE 3:30 PM EST

Hyundai continued its downward trend, slipping 17.7% to 57,007 sales.

UPDATE 2:20 PM EST

Volkswagen brand jumped 28.1% to 32,112.

Volvo soared 35.5% above September 2016, selling 7,900 units.

Daimler slipped 6.0% to 32,349 LVs.

UPDATE 12:50 PM EST

Subaru slipped 3.5% from last year on 55,120 sales.

BMW posted 29,307 LV deliveries, down 4.2%

Kia's sales rose 2.5% to 52,468.

UPDATE 12:00 PM EST

Honda sold 142,722 LVs, resulting in a 2.7% gain in DSR.

Mazda came in nearly flat with a year-ago with 25,738 deliveries.

UPDATE 10:35 AM EST

General Motors posted a 7.6% jump in DSR on 279,397 LV sales.

Toyota came in second with 226,632 deliveries, 10.5% greater than year-ago.

Ford sold 215,366 LVs, up 4.3%.

FCA dropped 13.2% to 173,071 units.

Nissan recorded 139,932 sales, 5.3% above like-2016.