International Nameplate Automobile Dealers Announce Monthly Sales

Alexandria, VA--February 4, 2013--– The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released January 2013 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents America’s approximately 10,000 international nameplate franchises whose brands accounted for 54.4 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States last month.

AutoData Corp. estimated the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) at 15.29 million units, versus 13.98 million units one year ago. Sales for all brands, unadjusted for business days, were up 14 percent from January 2012, but down 23 percent from December. Last month was the strongest January since 2008.

In total, manufacturers sold 1,043,103 million vehicles in January, a strong start for the New Year. Sales were driven by pent-up demand, new redesigns of popular models, and low interest rates. Toyota led all manufacturers in improvement from a year ago with its Toyota, Scion, and Lexus brands jumping 26.6 percent. Honda sales, boosted by the redesigned Accord and CR-V, were up 12.7 percent. Subaru sales were up 21.3 percent and Volkswagen sales were up 6.6 percent from January 2012.

“The sales momentum the industry built in 2012 has continued into 2013,” said AIADA President Cody Lusk. “Dealers are benefitting from a combination of popular new remodels and consumers who need to replace their aging vehicles with new cars and trucks.”

In January, international brands accounted for 567,313 units sold, down from 748,703 in December. Asian nameplates occupied 44.8 percent, up from 43.9 percent in December. European nameplates took a 9.6 percent share, down from 11.4 percent in December. Domestics improved their market share from 44.8 percent in December to 45.6 percent in January.

Read AIADA’s complete coverage of January’s international nameplate auto sales here.