Major automakers recorded double-digit growth in the U.S. sales for January, driven by increasing demand for new cars, and crossover utility vehicles amid favorable economic conditions.
Ford Motor Co. (F) reported 24.6% growth in sales, General Motors' sales rose 13.6%, Daimler AG (DAI) sales jumped 26.4%, and Nissan North America Inc. (NSANY.PK) sales grew 16.1% over last year. However, Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) posted a 15.8% drop in monthly sales, American Honda Motor Co. Inc., a unit of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (HMC), sales fell 5%, and Chrysler sales fell 8%.
General Motors reported that its January sales increased 13.6% to 146,825 units from 129,227 units in the prior year month, due to the continued growth of new GM crossovers and passenger cars.
GM noted that it sells more crossovers than any other automaker, representing about 20% of industry crossovers sold.
There were 24 selling days this January, compared to 26 selling days last January.
Total car sales grew 35.1% to 59,363 units, while total truck sales declined 18.3% to 49,574 units from a year earlier.
Total core brand vehicle sales increased 29.8% to 145,098 units, but non-core brand vehicle sales plunged 90.1% to 1,727 units from the year-ago month.
Among GM's four core brands, Buick sales grew 44.4% to 10,061 units, Chevrolet sales rose 36.4% to 105,294 units, and GMC sales improved 11.4% to 21,303 units. However, Cadillac sales fell slightly by 0.7% to 8,440 units from last year.
Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac comprised 98% of the company's retail sales in January, compared to 85% a year earlier.
Susan Docherty, GM vice president, Sales, Service and Marketing, said, "This is the fourth month in a row that Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac have shown a collective year-over-year retail sales increase. Our long-term plan to continue to focus and strengthen our brands is delivering results."
Pontiac sales declined 95.7%, Saturn was down 90.9%, Saab decreased 46.5%, and HUMMER dropped 78.3%.
In January, GM North America produced 199,000 vehicles, including 69,000 cars and 130,000 trucks, which represents a 206% increase over a year earlier.
GM's production for the first quarter jumped 75% to 650,000 vehicles, including 237,000 cars and 413,000 trucks.
At the month-end, inventories of vehicles for U.S. dealers decreased 51% to 390,000, including 143,000 cars and 247,000 trucks, when compared to last year.
Looking ahead, Mike DiGiovanni, executive director, global market and industry analysis, said, "Global economic recovery is picking up pace. In the U.S., we are seeing a strong rebound in manufacturing and stabilization of consumer confidence, which will support a slow but steady improvement in the vehicle market."
Among others in the industry, Ford Motor reported that its January sales increased 24.6% to 116,534 units from 93,506 units in the year-ago month.
Total Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales grew 24.1% to 112,406 units from 90,596 units a year ago.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury car sales rose 43% to 41,050 units, while truck sales increased by 15.3% to 71,356 units a year earlier.
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor reported its January sales fell 15.8% to 98,796 units from 117,287 units in the prior year month.
Total Toyota division sales fell 18.8% to 83,279 units, but total Lexus division sales grew 5.4% to 15,517 units from a year ago.
In January, Toyota temporarily suspended sales of eight models involved in the recall for sticking accelerator pedal. The company expects to stop production in 5 facilities in U.S and Canada for the first week of February.
Toyota is in the process of recalling about 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific Toyota Division models. The company said it has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats.
Due to the sales suspension, Toyota said that it expects to stop production lines for the week of February 1 to assess and coordinate activities. The facilities to be closed are located in Canada, Indiana, Kentucky and Texas.
Toyota said it will also begin rolling out repairs for 5.4 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that were recalled in November over concerns that the floor mats could entrap the gas pedal causing sudden acceleration.
Another peer, Daimler reported that its January month U.S sales for the Mercedes-Benz Cars division, Mercedes-Benz and smart combined, grew 26.4% to 15,436 units from 12,209 units a year ago.
Sales from Mercedes-Benz USA soared 45.3% to 15,158 units, but sales from smart USA plunged 84.3% to 278 units from the prior year month.
Nissan North America Inc. reported its January sales increased 16.1% to 62,572 units from 53,884 units a year ago.
Total car sales rose 31.5% to 43,616 units, but truck sales fell 8.5% to 18,956 units from the year-ago month.
American Honda Motor Co. Inc., a unit of Honda Motor, reported its January sales fell 5% to 67,479 units from 71,031 units a year ago.
Total car sales grew 2.7% to 41,638 units, but total truck sales fell 15.3% to 25,841 units from the prior year month.
Chrysler Group LLC reported January U.S. sales that fell 8% to 57,143 units from 62,157 units in the prior year month.
Total car sales decreased 7% to 14,721 units, while total truck sales slipped 9% to 42,422 units over last year.
Volkswagen of America Inc. reported January sales of 18,019 vehicles, representing a 41.4% increase over January 2009 sales of 12,744 vehicles. January marks Volkswagen's seventh consecutive sales month of growth.
Audi AG (AUDVF.PK) reported that its U.S. sales for the month of January rose 37.9%. The results followed strong year-end sales that gave Audi the largest 2009 market share gain in the imported luxury vehicle sector. In January 2010, Audi sold 6,510 cars and SUVs compared to 4,722 vehicles sold in January 2009.
Hyundai Motor America, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea, on Tuesday reported January sales of 30,503 vehicles, representing an increase of 24% over January 2009 sales of 24,512 vehicles.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.