While Honda had vowed to ring in the Year of the Dragon on a high note, they probably didn't expect such a monster start. Year-to-year sales were up 144% in January, helping put away the memories of a disastrous 2011.
Land Rover went from selling 173 vehicles a year ago to 310 last month – an increase of 79%. Meanwhile, German manufacturers including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz kept their ball rolling with a push of more than 30%.
Right behind them were Acura (25%), Kia (24%), MINI (27%), Nissan (24%), and Chrysler (22%).
Others enjoyed more modest gains, such as Toyota (18.3%), Lexus (11.3%), and Ford (4.6%). The latter still managed to sell an impressive 14,973 units.
And finally, the bad news. GM (-11%), Volvo (-14%), and Suzuki (-27%) all posted lower sales numbers for the first month of 2012. However, they can look at the positive: Domestic and foreign automakers averaged a boost of 4.8% and 26%, respectively.
Source : Desrosiers Automotive Report
Land Rover went from selling 173 vehicles a year ago to 310 last month – an increase of 79%. Meanwhile, German manufacturers including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz kept their ball rolling with a push of more than 30%.
Right behind them were Acura (25%), Kia (24%), MINI (27%), Nissan (24%), and Chrysler (22%).
Others enjoyed more modest gains, such as Toyota (18.3%), Lexus (11.3%), and Ford (4.6%). The latter still managed to sell an impressive 14,973 units.
And finally, the bad news. GM (-11%), Volvo (-14%), and Suzuki (-27%) all posted lower sales numbers for the first month of 2012. However, they can look at the positive: Domestic and foreign automakers averaged a boost of 4.8% and 26%, respectively.
| January | Current Month | YTD | ||||
| 2012 | 2011 | 12/11 | 2012 | 2011 | 12/11 | |
| Acura | 717 | 574 | 24.9% | 717 | 574 | 24.9% |
| Audi | 1501 | 1140 | 31.7% | 1501 | 1140 | 31.7% |
| BMW | 1644 | 1215 | 35.3% | 1644 | 1215 | 35.3% |
| Chrysler | 16478 | 13250 | 21.9% | 16478 | 13520 | 21.9% |
| Ford | 14973 | 14314 | 4.6% | 14973 | 14314 | 4.6% |
| General Motors | 12959 | 14552 | -10.9% | 12959 | 14552 | -10.9% |
| Honda | 8451 | 3467 | 143.8% | 8451 | 3467 | 143.8% |
| Hyundai | 7460 | 6684 | 11.6% | 7460 | 6684 | 11.6% |
| Infiniti | 365 | 330 | 10.6% | 365 | 330 | 10.6% |
| Jaguar | 33 | 32 | 3.1% | 33 | 32 | 3.1% |
| Kia | 3774 | 3049 | 23.8% | 3774 | 3049 | 23.8% |
| Land Rover | 310 | 173 | 79.2% | 310 | 173 | 79.2% |
| Lexus | 810 | 728 | 11.3% | 810 | 728 | 11.3% |
| Mazda | 3727 | 3688 | 1.1% | 3727 | 3688 | 1.1% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 1970 | 1482 | 32.9% | 1970 | 1482 | 32.9% |
| MINI | 201 | 158 | 27.2% | 201 | 158 | 27.2% |
| Mitsubishi | 1423 | 1412 | 0.8% | 1423 | 1412 | 0.8% |
| Nissan | 4986 | 4008 | 24.4% | 4986 | 4008 | 24.4% |
| Porsche | 145 | 143 | 1.4% | 145 | 143 | 1.4% |
| Saab | 5 | 11 | -54.5% | 5 | 11 | -54.5% |
| smart | 87 | 82 | 6.1% | 87 | 82 | 6.1% |
| Subaru | 1876 | 1753 | 7.0% | 1876 | 1753 | 7.0% |
| Suzuki | 303 | 413 | -26.6% | 303 | 413 | -26.6% |
| Toyota | 9850 | 8323 | 18.3% | 9850 | 8323 | 18.3% |
| Volkswagen | 3109 | 2861 | 8.7% | 3109 | 2861 | 8.7% |
| Volvo | 340 | 397 | -14.4% | 340 | 397 | -14.4% |
| Light vehicles sales | 97497 | 84509 | 15.4% | 97497 | 84509 | 15.4% |
| Passenger car | 41155 | 32052 | 28.4% | 41155 | 32052 | 28.4% |
| Light truck | 56342 | 52457 | 7.4% | 56342 | 52457 | 7.4% |
| GM/Ford/Chrysler Nameplates | 44410 | 42386 | 4.8% | 44410 | 42386 | 4.8% |
| Import Nameplates | 53087 | 42123 | 26.0% | 53087 | 42123 | 26.0% |
| Sales History | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 12/11 |
| Janary | 102.8 | 76.9 | 81.6 | 84.5 | 97.5 | 15.4% |
| February | 111.0 | 80.2 | 100.2 | 96.0 | ||
| March | 150.0 | 127.5 | 145.4 | 153.5 | ||
| April | 175.2 | 143.9 | 149.7 | 159.9 | ||
| May | 184.5 | 154.0 | 154.9 | 149.0 | ||
| June | 159.5 | 138.5 | 154.6 | 164.8 | ||
| July | 149.5 | 139.9 | 148.8 | 141.5 | ||
| August | 147.0 | 135.4 | 136.1 | 140.4 | ||
| September | 134.1 | 129.5 | 135.1 | 134.5 | ||
| October | 122.7 | 121.5 | 123.3 | 125.7 | ||
| November | 105.2 | 102.1 | 116.0 | 121.1 | ||
| December | 94.4 | 111.2 | 111.7 | 114.6 | ||
| Full Year | 1636.0 | 1460.6 | 1557.1 | 1585.5 | 97.5 | |
| Note: Sales figures above are in thousands. | ||||||