U.S. Sales Bounce Back: June SAAR Tops 14 Million

WardsAuto Forecast JUNE SAAR: 14.04 million units
Current estimated actual SAAR: 14.05 million units

WardsAuto Forecast JUNE Volume: 1,279,955
Current estimated actual Volume: 1,281,417

June U.S. light vehicle sales rebounded from May's disappointing and unexpected dip, finishing directly in line with WardsAuto's earlier forecast.

With 27 selling days (compared to 26 last June) General Motors sold close to a quarter of a million light vehicles in June - up 11.2% on a daily basis. Ford Motor Co. sold just over 200K, in line with expectations, but just 3.3% higher than year-ago. Chrysler had a slightly better than expected month -lifting its DSR 16.1% on sales of 144,092 units.

Collectively, Detroit 3 auto makers increased their daily sales rate 9.5% for the month, finishing the first half of the year up 10.8% on volume versus same-period year-ago.

Japanese companies, which were suffering from severely depleted inventories last year as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011, are reporting significant year-over-year gains for June.

Toyota daily sales in the  U.S>. were up 54.3% on sales of 177,795 LVS. Subaru increased its June DSR 34.8%. Nissan, which didn't experience the same level of production interruption as Honda and Toyota last year, was up 23.5%. But some of that volume may have come from Honda, which saw its sales rise 43.3% vs last June, an okay but not great improvemenet over a remarkably depressed yr-ago result.

Mitsubishi and Suzuki, meanwhile, were down 37.2% and 2.8% respectively.

South Korea auto maker Kia reported 51,326 sales, raising its DSR 9.7% over year-ago, when the company was taking advantage of the dearth of supply among its Japanese competitors, although Kia's ability to cash in was itself somewhat hampered by its capacity limitiations. Hyundai sales meanwhile were up just 3.8%, as the company also sells, more or less, everything it can build for the market.

BMW/Mini daily sales were down 0.6%, perhaps in anticipation of upcoming model updates. Jaguar Land Rover was also down versus year-ago, dipping 1.8% on a daily basis. Porsche, on the strength of its new 911 Carrera, saw its DSR jump 13.5% on sales of 3,002 units.

Other European auto makers came in above expectations. Audi daily sales were up 21.3% versus year-ago, largely on the strength of a 55% increase in Q5 deliveries, while sister brand VW, was up 29.2%. Volvo sold 7,107 units, better than expected, though still down 3.3%.