US Auto Sales Hit Record In 1H16; GM, Toyota Losers; Nissan Huge Winner -- July 5, 2016

EV sales (link here), observations:

• Toyota has dumped the Prius; sold 11 in June, 4 the month before
• without the Priusm, Toyota has no EV in the current lineup
• Tesla Model S takes a big jump to 3,700 deliveries, up from 1,200 the month before, but lower than the 3,990 in March
• Chevy volt, no change, at around 1,900
• Ford Fusion, gaining traction, at 1,700, up from 1,453 the month before
• Tesla Model X, a huge jumpt 2,145 from 1,600 the month before, but of course, "reservations" only
• Nissan Leaf in a range of around 1,000
• the luxury cars with minimal impact (BMW, Cadillac ELR, Mercedes,  Porsche -- of those four, BMW most impressive; Mercedes least impressive

When one looks at the luxury EV market, it seems these models would be a huge distraction for the manufacturer.

From Zacks:

U.S. light-vehicle sales improved 1.5% year over year to 8.65 million units in the first half of 2016, per Autodata. This represents a new record for first-half sales results.

Sales increased 2.5% year over year to 1.5 million units in Jun 2016. However, sales on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (“SAAR”) basis declined to 16.68 million units in the month from 17.46 million units in May 2016 and 17.01 million units in Jun 2015.

Product segments like trucks and utility vehicles recorded higher sales in June. However, car sales declined in the month.

General Motors Company GM was the leader in terms of sales volume for Jun 2016. Among the six major American and Japanese automakers, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. NSANY recorded the maximum year-over-year sales improvement in the month.

General Motors

• 1.6% decrease y-o-y in June
• 1.4% decline in the first half y-o-y

Ford

• 6.4% increase y-o-y in June
• 4.6% increase in the first half y-o-y

Fiat Chrysler

• 7.0% increase y-o-y in June
• 6.0% increase in the first half y-o-y

Toyota (remember: Toyota just announced it was dumping its Prius due to plummeting sales)

• 5.6% decrease y-o-y in June
• 2.7% decrease in the first half y-o-y

Honda

• 3.2% increase y-o-y in June
• 5.2% increase in the first half y-o-y

Nissan

• 13.1% increase y-o-y in June
• 8.4% increase in the first half y-o-y

Outlook: U.S. auto sales are expected to improve in the second half of 2016, backed by high employment levels, rising personal income, stable fuel prices and easy availability of credit. Moreover, the high average age of cars on the U.S. roads should continue to boost replacement demand for cars.