2016 sales scoreboard

January 09, 2017 12:00 AM

Jaguar F-Pace

> Slower; still a grower
Another year, another sales record — though not by much.
	U.S. light-Vehicle sales added
2016	56,211
2015	961,489
2014	920,204
2013	1.1 million
2012	1.7 million


> Shifting into 2nd
Toyota slipped past Chevrolet in the brand race of 2016. The last time Toyota ranked higher than 3rd was 2009, when it placed 1st.
	2016 sales	% change
Ford	2,487,487	–0.6
Toyota	2,106,374	–0.7
Chevrolet	2,096,510	–1.4


> Maxima effort
Nissan's large sedan shot past 4 direct competitors in 2016.
	2016 sales	% change
Nissan Maxima	62,670	55
Chrysler 300	53,241	0.4
Toyota Avalon	48,080	–20
Ford Taurus	44,098	–9.7
Buick LaCrosse	27,582	–34


> Share swap
The 4 top-selling groups all lost market share in 2016; the next 3 all gained.
	2016 share	% change
General Motors	17.30%	–0.3
Ford Motor Co.	14.80%	–0.1
Toyota Motor Sales	14.00%	–0.3
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles	12.90%	–0.1
American Honda	9.30%	0.3
Nissan N.A.	8.90%	0.4
Hyundai-Kia	8.10%	0.2


> Benz back on top
Mercedes, which last won the luxury brand title in 2013, finished on top in 2016. BMW, the 2015 champ, slipped to 3rd.
	2016 sales	% change
Mercedes-Benz*	340,237	–0.8
Lexus	331,228	–3.9
BMW	313,174	–9.5
*Excludes Sprinter, Metris vans


>Hot, not-so-hot groups
Jaguar Land Rover had a big 2016 (mainly due to Jag) while another luxury group, BMW/Mini, stumbled.
Group	2016 sales	% change
Jaguar Land Rover	105,104	24
BMW/Mini	365,204	–9.7


> Decade's top gainers
Light-vehicle sales added among brands, 2009 vs. 2016
		% change
1. Ford	1,046,834	73
2. Chevrolet	757,898	57
3. Nissan	737,116	107
4. Jeep	694,675	300
5. Toyota	610,163	41
6. Honda	431,521	41
7. Subaru	398,480	184
8. Ram	357,893	190
9. Kia	347,535	116
10. Hyundai	332,993	77


> One in 3 a CUV
Crossovers accounted for nearly a 3rd of total light-vehicle sales last year.
	2016 Sales	% change
Crossovers	5,625,057	8.5
Total light-vehicle sales	17,539,052	0.3


> Car crash
The bottom fell out of midsize car sales. Compacts almost outsold them, which would have been a first.
	2016 sales	% change
Midsize cars	2,124,115	–12
Compact cars	2,112,913	–5.2


> Honda realignment
Another sign of the times: The Accord has been Honda's best-selling model for decades, but in 2016 the midsize sedan fell to 3rd place.
	2016 sales	% change
Civic	366,927	9.4
CR-V	357,335	3.4
Accord	345,225	–2.9


> Crossover clash
While Honda's CR-V, the longtime compact crossover leader, held off a challenge from the Toyota RAV4, Nissan's Rogue jumped ahead of the Ford Escape into 3rd place.
	2016 sales	% change
Honda CR-V	357,335	3.4
Toyota RAV4	352,154	12
Nissan Rogue	329,904	15
Ford Escape	307,069	0.2


> Volt gets a jolt
The Prius remains the hybrid king — far and away — but the Volt shot past the C-Max into 2nd place last year.
	2016 sales	% change
Chevrolet Volt	24,739	61
Ford C-Max	19,834	–8.9


> Ram charging
Ram roared ahead of sibling Dodge in 2016 and nearly caught GMC.
	2016 sales	% change
GMC	546,628	–2.2
Ram	545,851	11
Dodge	506,858	–3.9


> Cadillac vs. Acura
In a premium-class skirmish, Acura passed Cadillac in 2015, but Caddy came back last year.
	2016 sales	% change
Cadillac	170,006	–3.0
Acura	161,360	–8.9


> Fit vs. Sonic
The new Honda Fit caught the Chevy Sonic in the subcompact segment.
	2016 sales	% change
Honda Fit	56,630	7.4
Chevrolet Sonic	55,255	–15

U.S. light-vehicle sales hit a new high of 17,539,052 in 2016. That's a mere 0.3 percent ahead of 2015, but a record is a record. The industry has chalked up seven straight annual sales increases, which is a streak of success (kept alive by a strong December) that the U.S. auto industry has not seen in a century. Here are some notable numbers from another notable year.