FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors each reported single-digit annual sales increases in 2015 compared to 2014, due to lower gas prices and gains in employment and personal income.
FCA reported a 7 percent increase in sales in 2015 when compared to 2014, the automaker’s sixth consecutive year of annual sales growth.
“For the second straight year, the company has topped 2 million in U.S. sales,” says Reid Bigland, head of U.S. Sales for FCA US.
Bigland says the Jeep brand reported a 25 percent increase in sales in 2015 when compared year over year, its best annual U.S. sales ever. The Grand Cherokee had its best annual sales in 10 years, while the Wrangler, Cherokee, Compass, and Patriot each posted their best annual U.S. sales ever.
He says the Ram truck saw its best annual sales since 2005, with sales up 3 percent for 2015 when compared to 2014.
FCA posted a 13 percent increase in sales (217,527 units) in December compared with the same month in 2014, marking the automaker’s best ever December.
Jeep brand posted a 42 percent increase in sales in December compared to the same month last year, the largest sales gain of any FCA brand. Eight FCA US vehicles set records in December, including the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Compass, and Jeep Renegade, who saw their best monthly sales ever. The Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Patriot each recorded their best December sales ever.
Ford reported an annual sales increase of 5 percent (2,613,162 units) when compared to 2014, its best annual sales performance since 2006.
Ford sold 780,354 F-Series trucks in 2015, and sold a total of 220,586 vans in 2015, an increase of 32 percent compared to 2014. Sales of the Ford Edge and Explorer increased by double digits in 2015, while annual sales of the Escape remained relatively unchanged and sales of the Fusion and Taurus decreased.
Ford reported an 8 percent increase in sales (239,242 units) in December when compared year over year.
“December capped off six straight months of year-over-year sales gains for F-Series, with strong increases coming from both retail sales and the strength of commercial fleet orders, as we closed out 2015,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service at Ford. “Ford-brand SUVs delivered their best sales results in more than a decade, with our newest SUVs leaving dealer lots in a matter of days.”
LaNeve says F-Series sales were up 15 percent in December compared year over year, while Ford-brand SUVs reported a 13 percent increase compared to a year ago, its best December since 2003.
GM reported a 5 percent annual increase in sales in 2015 compared to 2014.
“The momentum that the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have carried all year, hits like the Chevrolet Trax and Colorado, and innovative designs like the GMC Canyon and Buick Encore, have had a tremendous positive impact on our sales results,” says Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations at GM.
McNeil says in the crossover market, the Chevrolet Equinox has increased its sales for seven consecutive years. Five other crossovers, the Chevrolet Traverse, the Buick Encore, the GMC Acadia and Terrain, and the Cadillac SRX had their best-ever annual sales. Chevrolet had its best sales year since 2007, while GMC had its best year since 2005.
GM reported a 6 percent increase in sales in December (290,230 units) compared to December 2014. Chevrolet had its best December sales since 2006, while Cadillac had its best December sales since 2007.
