GRAPHIC: Declining cars, rising light trucks in the United States
Cars as percentage of U.S. sales
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.
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Car sales on pace to hit 60-year low
Just five years ago, U.S. vehicle sales were evenly split: 50 percent cars and 50 percent light trucks. Now, trucks outsell cars by a ratio of more than 2-to-1, and there's no sign of a car rebound anytime soon.
Light-truck sales overwhelming car 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.
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GM sees opportunity in surrendered territory
General Motors' car sales are falling faster than those of its domestic rivals, but the company insists it won't join Ford Motor Co. and FCA US in abandoning most sedans.
Shrinking U.S. midsize sedan market
The midsize sedan has long delivered high volumes. But the popularity of trucks has eaten into their sales.
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Toyota sees chance as sedan rivals drop out
Toyota is treating plummeting U.S. car sales as an opportunity, not as a worrisome trend threatening one of its biggest strengths.
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For Ford, Fusion was right car at wrong time
In 2012, it finally looked like Ford had an answer to the Japanese automakers' dominance of the segment. Now it's headed for the scrap heap.
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