U.S. Fuel Economy Up 1.1% in June

The WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index rating for U.S. light-vehicle sales reached 25.4 mpg (9.3 L/100 km) in June, up 1.1% from same-month 2014.

The national average gasoline price was $2.885, 3.0% higher than May, but still 23.4% below year-ago. The share of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and diesel vehicles were less than last year.

Cars scored 29.5 mpg (8.0 L/100 km) in June, 0.9% better than prior-year. All segments lost market share from 2014, leading to a total 45.4%, down from 49.0% in 2014.

Domestically built cars hit an all-time high of 29.4 mpg (8.0 L/100 km). Imported cars were down 1.9% from May, averaging 29.8 mpg (7.9 L/100 km).

Light trucks held on to a record-high rating of 21.8 mpg (10.8 L/100 km), 4.5% above same-month 2014, and gained share mainly from a boost in CUV sales.

The index result for imported light trucks ticked down 0.7% from prior-year to 24.1 mpg (9.8 L/100 km). Domestic light trucks improved 5.0% to 21.3 mpg (11.0 L/100 km) as domestic pickups saw a 9.5% gain from last year.

Daimler was the most improved automaker from the previous month, hitting a record-high 23.6 mpg (10.0 L/100 km).

Mitsubishi saw the greatest decline from May, falling to 30.0 mpg (7.8 L/100 km), allowing Volkswagen to be the top-ranked automaker (excluding electric-only Tesla) on the index for the first time since October 2013.

VW held last month’s 30.1 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) rating. The automaker was the most-improved from last year, rising 6.8%, due to increased share of diesel and electric powertrains and a shift to small cars in June.

Toyota had the worst year-over-year performance, slipping 3.4% to 26.9 mpg (8.8 L/100 km). Share of every car segment fell while sales of trucks, especially CUVs and pickups, grew. Gasoline-powered vehicles gained 3.5% share at the expense of all alternative power types.

Through the first half of 2015, the indexed market averaged 25.4 mpg (9.3 L/100 km), 1.3% above the same period in 2014.

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