CHICAGO: US auto sales dipped in September after a summer of slow growth, according to figures released.
As the summer driving season drew to an end, the pace of sales slowed 0.5 percent over September 2015, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 17.8 million units, according to figures from Autodata.
Among major auto makers, Ford fared the worst. Overall sales at the second largest US producer were down 8 percent year-on-year at 204,447 vehicles for the month.
General Motors boasted of growing market share and strong retail sales but also recorded a 0.6 decline, with 249,795 units sold, putting total sales for the year to date down 3.8 percent from 2015.
GM said monthly retail sales for flagship brands were up, with Chevrolet posting a 0.9 percent gain in deliveries to individual customers while retail sales for Buick and Cadillac also rose 6.7 percent and 4.7 percent respectively.
Toyota in September saw a 1.5 percent year-on-year gain, selling 197,260 units. Its luxury brand Lexus saw a 2 percent rise in sales, with 25,801 units sold.
“Toyota outpaced the industry to be the No.1 retail brand in September, led by Camry, RAV4, and Corolla, and the fourth quarter outlook is strong thanks to our best light truck supply of the year,” Bill Fray, group vice president at Toyota, said in a statement.—APP
