Truck Sales Continue to Hinder U.S. Fuel Economy Gains

The WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index shows light vehicles sold in the U.S. averaged 25.4 mpg (9.2 L/100 km) in September, a 0.8% improvement over year-ago.

Cars scored 30.1 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) on the index, up 1.8% from year-ago. This vehicle type accounted for 39.4% of the index fleet compared with 42.2% in like-2015. All car segments lost share from last year.

The midsize car segment hit a best-ever rating of 30.3 mpg (7.8 L/100 km), boosted by small increases in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales.

Light trucks hit 22.2 mpg (10.6 L/100 km), an increase of 1.6%. Market share rose from 57.8% in prior-year to 60.6%. Vans were the only segment in this category to not gain share from September 2015.

The national average gasoline price was $2.327 per gallon in September, up 1.9% from August but 5.5% cheaper than same-month 2015.

Plug-in hybrids remained the only alternative powertrain type to see significant growth from last year. A jump in market share to 0.4% from 0.2% has been spurred by new releases.

Volvo is one company benefiting from plug-in hybrid sales, the primary factor making it the most improved automaker on the September index, rising 14.9% from year-ago.

BMW posted a sharp decline in sales of its i3 EV, down to 391 units compared with 1,710 in same-month 2015, resulting in a 13.6% drop in its index score.

Jaguar Land Rover remained the lowest-rated automaker, but hit a new high at 20.7 mpg (11.4 L/100 km). An uptick in diesel variants was a key factor in the improvement. Also, compared with September 2015, sales of its car models increased relative to SUVs.

As the ’16 model year comes to a close, the index shows a 0.4% increase in fuel economy from ’15.

Over the first three quarters of the year, the industry rating averaged 25.4 mpg, 0.5% better than same-period 2015.

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