World Vehicle Sales Rose 4.6% in September

Automakers delivered 8.71 million vehicles worldwide in September, a 4.6% increase from same-month 2016.

Sales were strong in North America, up 5.0% to 1.86 million, thanks to a 6.2% boost from the U.S. to 1.55 million. With eight months of losses, the U.S. 9-month total still was 1.9% below like-2016 with 13.10 million.

Demand in Canada grew 7.7% to 191,000 units, a record September total, and was up 5.4% year-to-date.

Mexico sales slid 11.5% below last year’s September record to 120,000 units. Major earthquakes in the capital were partly to blame for the decrease.

North America ended the third quarter 1.1% behind same-period 2016 with 15.86 million vehicles.

Europe sales were flat with 1.94 million in September. Most countries saw improvement, including Italy (+7.2%), Russia (+14.9%) and Spain (+5.2), but sales in the top two countries were down.

Weak consumer confidence in the U.K. pulled sales down 8.5% to 490,000 vehicles. Usually the standout biggest month, this year saw the first September decline in six years. Confusion over emission standards were blamed for the slowdown, which may negatively affect fuel-efficiency averages as diesel sales decrease. Overall, sales year-to-date were down 3.7% to 2.39 million.

Deliveries in Germany dipped 2.6% to 318,000 units in September, but still accounted for 16.4% of the region. After nine months of mixed results, Germany ended the third quarter 2.2% ahead of same-period 2016.   

With 15.72 million vehicles sold through September, Europe outpaced like-2016 by 3.8%. Though gradually improving, sales have yet to exceed pre-recession 2007 and 2008 levels of over 16 million.

In the Asia-Pacific region, sales improved 5.7% to 4.18 million for the month. China again was the driver of growth, jumping 5.7% to 2.71 million deliveries. Adding more than 900,000 vehicles to last year’s nine-month total, sales reached 20.22 million.

Despite rising tensions with the North, South Korea sales soared 19.5% to 154,000 units and improved 1.4% year-to-date. Japan (+3.9%), India (+13.8%) and Thailand (+21.9%) also saw big gains.

Finishing the third quarter, Asia-Pacific sales totaled 32.49 million, a 4.6% increase year-over-year and double the nine-month tally 10 years ago.   

Big gains also were seen in South America, rising 17.5% to 356,000 units for the month. Last year was the lowest September total in 10 years, but this year was still 3.8% above same-month 2015.

Sales in Brazil rose 24.5% to 199,000 units and improved 7.3% year-to-date. Argentina deliveries were 14.3% higher than last September and soared 28.5% beyond nine-month 2016.

The South America tally through the third quarter was 12.3% higher than like-2016 with 2.94 million sales.

Global vehicle sales through September grew 3.2% from like-2016 with 70.59 million units.

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