U.S. Fuel Economy Up in February

The WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index shows U.S. light-vehicle sales averaged 25.3 mpg (9.3 L/100 km) in February, a 0.4% improvement over year-ago.

Cars scored 30.2 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) on the index, up 1.6% from year-ago. This vehicle type accounted for 38.3% of the indexed fleet compared with 43.4% in like-2016. All car segments lost share from last year.

Domestic cars averaged 29.9 mpg (7.9 L/100 km), up 1.1%. Imported models improved 3.1% from prior-year to 31.1 mpg (7.6 L/100 km).

Light trucks hit 22.3 mpg (10.5 L/100 km), an increase of 2.3%. Market share rose from 56.6% in prior-year to 61.7%. Vans were the only segment in this category to not gain share from February 2016.

Domestically built light trucks scored 21.6 mpg (10.9 L/100 km), up 2.3%. Imports gained 1.4% to 24.8 mpg (9.5 L/100 km).

The national average gasoline price was $2.416 per gallon in February, 1.7% below prior-month but 29.1% higher than same-month 2016. The market share of diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles grew compared with year-ago.

Sales of alternatively powered vehicles helped some automakers achieve small upticks to record highs. Audi reached 24.2 mpg (9.7 L/100 km) selling the plug-in hybrid version of the A3. The Niro hybrid boosted Kia to 27.2 mpg (8.7 L/100 km). Diesel vehicles accounted for over 10% of Jaguar Land Rover’s sales for the second consecutive month in February, moving the automaker to 21.3 mpg (11.0 L/100 km).

During the first two months of the year, the industry rating averaged 25.4 mpg (9.3 L/100 km), 0.8% better than same-period 2016.

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