January 2012 Sales

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.

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.

Source : Desrosiers Automotive Report