(January 4, 2019) U.S. auto sales rose 2.2 percent in December and overall volume rose 0.6 percent for the year even as automakers endeavored to counter slumping car demand with higher light-truck deliveries. December was the second-best month of the year on a volume basis with with sales of 1.639 million.

The seasonally adjusted annualized rate of sales in December — 17.72 million — was a high for the year, providing automakers with some momentum and optimism heading into 2019. The final sales tally for 2018 of 17.33 million cars and light trucks also makes it the fourth-biggest year on record.

The top three companies based on sales in the U.S. — General Motors, Ford and Toyota — all showed sales declines in December compared to 2017. On the other hand, sales at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Honda and Nissan all rose in December.

FCA US said December sales rose 14 percent, driven by gains of 10 percent at Jeep, 37 percent at Ram and 17 percent at Dodge. For the year, FCA's U.S. deliveries jumped 9 percent. At Ford, December sales dropped 8.8 percent, with volume off 9.6 percent at the Ford division but rising 8.5 percent at Lincoln. For the year, Ford sales dropped 3.5 percent behind an18 percent decline in car deliveries.

GM's U.S. sales dipped an estimated 3.7 percent last month. GM said Thursday it sold 785,229 light vehicles in the fourth quarter, a decline of 2.7 percent from the last three months of 2017.

Overall, GM's U.S. sales fell 1.6 percent to 2.95 million last year, with every brand posting lower volume. Buick, down 5.6 percent, led the decline. GM said its U.S. car sales slid 24 percent in the fourth quarter and 21 percent for the year, while light-truck demand rose 2.4 percent in 2018.

At Toyota, December volume dropped 0.9 percent, with sales down 1.1 percent at the Toyota brand but rising 0.2 percent at Lexus. For all of 2018, Toyota's U.S. sales edged down 0.3 percent, with car demand falling 12 percent and light-truck shipments up 7.9 percent.

It was the third straight drop in annual U.S. sales at GM, Ford and Toyota.

Nissan volume rose 7.6 percent in December, including a 7.2 percent gain at the Nissan brand and 10 percent rise at Infiniti. The company's overall 2018 sales dropped 6.2 percent behind a move to lower discounts and fleet business.

American Honda said December sales rose 3.9 percent, with volume up 3 percent at the Honda brand and 11 percent at Acura. But total 2018 volume slipped 2.2 percent, with the Honda brand down 2.8 percent but Acura sales rising 2.8 percent.

Sources: Auto manufacturers, Automotive News