Inventory levels in the U.S. continue to fall from the highs of a year ago, but in the case of Subaru, those leaner stock levels may be getting uncomfortable.
Across the industry, automakers and dealers had an estimated 3,751,800 unsold vehicles on hand on Aug. 1, a 66-day supply, according to the Automotive News Data Center.
That is down from 3,897,000 at the same time in 2017, a 69-day supply at the time.
Light trucks represented 71 percent of unsold inventory on Aug. 1.
Though down from last year, the 66-day supply is still the second-highest Aug. 1 inventory level of the last five years.
Subaru's inventory level fell to just 26 days on Aug. 1, its lowest point of the year and the lowest for any brand or automaker so far in 2018.
Subaru's Crosstrek remains in strong demand, and the brand is selling down its Forester crossover as it awaits the arrival of a redesigned version this year.
At 45 days, Mercedes-Benz USA was the only other automaker with less than a 50-day supply on hand on Aug. 1, while Mitsubishi Motors North America and FCA US had the industry's highest inventory levels, at 86 days.
Among brands, Acura and Audi had a 47-day supply, higher than only Subaru and Mercedes-Benz. On the other end of the spectrum, the struggling Fiat brand had an industry-high 186-day supply. Buick, at 118 days, and Jaguar, at 102, were the only other brands with more than a 100-day supply. a
