Automakers on Jan. 4 began releasing new-vehicle sales figures, showing a strong year-over-year increase across the board in December sales, but, for some, a drop for the entire year compared to 2021.
GM
General Motors reported a sales gain for the fourth quarter and all of 2022 in what has been a turbulent year as parts shortages kept inventory levels low, hobbling new car sales in the first half only to recover later in the year to help the automaker hang onto its U.S. sales crown.
GM said its fourth-quarter U.S. sales, when compared with the year-ago period, were up 41% to 623,261 new vehicles sold. For the full year, GM's new vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 3% to 2,274,088 new cars sold compared with 2021. A large part of those gains came on replenishing inventory of pickups and SUVs, which are GM's big sellers and profit-makers. GM said it sold a total of 1.1 million full-size pickups, midsize pickups and full-size SUVs for the year.
To read more, see the Detroit Free Press.
Mazda
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) reported total December sales of 27,292 vehicles, an increase of 40.5% compared to December 2021. Full-year sales totaled 294,908 vehicles, a decrease of 11.4% compared to 2021. With 27 selling days in December, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 40.5% on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.
CPO sales totaled 5,080 vehicles in December, an increase of 33% compared to December 2021.
Toyota
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) reported year-end 2022 U.S. sales of 2,108,458 vehicles, a decrease of 9.6% on a volume basis and a decrease of 9.9 percent on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis compared to 2021.
The company reported U.S. fourth quarter 2022 sales of 536,740 vehicles, an increase of 13.1% on a volume basis and DSR basis compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.
U.S. December 2022 sales totaled 180,147 vehicles, an increase of 3.5% on a volume basis and DSR basis compared to December 2021.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America reported total December sales of 72,058 units, a 40% increase compared to December 2021 and the highest December sales in Hyundai history. Retail sales were up 27% in December, marking the fifth consecutive month of record-setting retail sales. SUVs were 74% of retail sales with more than 47,800 units sold.
December saw the best-ever retail and total sales for Venue, Elantra HEV, Elantra N, IONIQ 5, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson HEV, Santa Cruz, Kona EV and Kona N. Eco-friendly vehicle retail sales grew 72% compared with December 2021.
In Q4, Hyundai sold 195,967 units, a Q4 total sales record, and an increase of 29% compared with Q4 2021. Eco-friendly vehicle retail sales for Q4 grew 40% compared with Q4 2021. Growth in eco-friendly total sales were headlined by Elantra HEV (+431%), Santa Fe HEV (+85%), Tucson HEV (+38%), IONIQ 5 (+2835%) and KONA EV (+35%).
For the year, Hyundai sold 724,265 units, a slight 2% decrease compared with 2021. Hyundai outperformed the industry with forecasts predicting a drop of 8.4% in total sales when adjusted for selling days. Due to strong consumer demand, Hyundai established a new annual retail sales record with 708,217 units sold, a 2% increase over the previous high set in 2021. During the year, Hyundai fleet sales were among the lowest in the industry at 2.2% of total volume.
Kia
Kia America, which celebrated its 30th year in business in October, announced best-ever December sales of 60,422 units, an increase of 11.2% over the previous December record set in 2016 and up 25% year-over-year. With the close of 2022 sales, Kia also marked its best-ever fourth quarter performance, which pushed the brand's annual retail sales volume to 654,554, an increase of 1.7% compared to previous retail record in 2021.
Sales of Kia's SUVs and utility vehicles represented 66.8% of the brand's overall 2022 sales total lead by Sportage, Telluride and Sorento. In addition, three SUV models achieved new full-year records---Sportage, Telluride and Niro. In December, Sportage, Seltos, Telluride, Niro, Soul, Sorento and Carnival all noted triple- or double-digit year-over-year sales increases compared to the same period last year.
Sales of Kia's electrified offerings increased by 142% over the same period last year. Kia's electrified models posted double- or triple-digit sales gains in six of the past 12 months.
Abby Andrews