International Nameplate Automobile Dealers Announce Monthly Sales Automakers Experience Flat Sales Month in February

Alexandria, VA--March 5, 2014: The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released February 2014 sales figures for the international nameplate automobile industry. AIADA represents Am erica’s approximately 10,000 international nameplate franchises whose brands accounted for 53.2 percent of all vehicles sold in the United States last month, down from 55.5 percent in January. AutoData Corp. estimates the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) at 15.34 million units, the same as last February , and up slightly from January’s SAAR of 15.24 million units. Sales for all brands, unadjusted for business days, were unchanged from last February , but are down 1.4 percent for the year - to - date.

Total industry unit deliveries increased 18 percent from last month. Winter weather continued to impact sales in many parts of the country in February. Honda (down 8 percent), Toyota (down 5.8 percent), H yundai (down 6.3 percent), and Volkswagen (down 13.8 percent) saw sales decline for the month. However, the month saw several bright spots as brands like Subaru (up 24 percent), Nissan (up 16.7 percent), as well as luxury automakers Jaguar (up 35.2 percent ), Mercedes - Benz (up 3.3 percent), and BMW (up 3.3 percent) experienced a positive sales month.

“February certainly presented challenges for the international nameplate auto industry, but I’m confident in what the rest of 2014 holds,” said AIADA Presiden t Cody Lusk. “International nameplate brands continue to be among the most popular in the U.S., and I expect that spring will bring customers out of hibernation and back to showrooms.”

In February, international brands accounted for 635,418 units sold, u p from 562,151 units last month.

Asian nameplates occupied 44.4 percent of the U.S. market, down from 46 percent last month. European nameplates occupied 8.8 percent of the February U.S. auto market, down from 9.5 percent in January. Domestic brands claime d 46.8 percent, up from 44.5 percent last month