GRAPHIC: Declining cars, rising light trucks in the United States
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Automakers are on pace to sell about 5.3 million cars this year, which would be the fewest since 1958. The chart below illustrates the decline of U.S. car sales per automaker, as a percentage of their total U.S. sales.
In 1972 light-truck sales were almost a rounding error when compared with car sales in the United States. In 1986, U.S. car sales more than doubled light-truck sales. But since then, car sales have followed a mostly downward trajectory, while light-truck sales have steadily climbed.
The midsize sedan has long delivered high volumes. But the popularity of trucks has eaten into their sales.
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