Light vehicle sales in the United States fell 8.8% to 1,304,150 units last month as ‘import’ [foreign-owned] brands – many built in the US and Canada – overtook the Detroit-owned domestics for the first time ever.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more


WardsAuto.com calculated that domestic brand car sales – by country of manufacture – fell 10.4% to 417,846 while imports were off 8.3% to 202,305.


Domestic light trucks fell 9.7% to 570,432 but imports were up 2.3% to 113,567.


Year to date light vehicle sales are down 3.2% to 9,520,849 – domestics off 5.4% and imports up 4.7%. Domestic cars and trucks were both down, with imports up.


The news comes as the US is in the midst of a credit crunch as so-called sub-prime borrowers mortgage default rates rise, pushing at least one major lender to the brink of applying for US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

GM’s July sales were off 19% year on year to 315,995 units, Ford was down 16.4% to 189,764 and Chrysler fell 4.6% to 137,728.


Nissan and the minor Japanese and Korean players made modest 3-5% gains but Honda sales were off 3.2% and Toyota 3.5%.


BMW sales rose 25.1% but Subaru tanked with a 15% slump.


US analysts were quoted as saying that the housing slump was hitting Detroit automakers with sales of pickup truck models popular with builders down as much as 29%.


“We [saw] combined incentive spending for Japanese automakers reach record highs [in July],” said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com.


“Even Toyota was aggressive – with its highest ever month – to help fuel sluggish sales.”