(January 6, 2016) The Ford F-150 pickup and the Toyota Camry retained their sales crowns as the U.S. auto industry recorded its best sales year in history in 2015. The annual tally was 17,470,659 vehicles sold edging out the previous high set in 2000. December sales were strong at 8.9 percent higher than December 2014.

Among the largest automakers, Nissan was the biggest gainer with a 19 percent jump over last December. Fiat Chrysler was up 13 percent to record the best year in its 90-year history. Toyota sales grew 11 percent, Honda sales were up 10 percent, Ford increased 8.3 percent and General Motors was up 5.7 percent.

The Ford F-150 retained its title as the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for the 34th straight year with total sales of 780,354. a 3.5 percent gain over 2014. “We’re very pleased with F-series performance and look forward to building on that in 2016,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president for U.S. marketing, sales and service.

The Camry retained its title as the nation’s top-selling car for a 14th consecutive year, with sales up 0.2 percent to 429,355. That compares with a 2 percent decline for the midsize sedan segment. “Camry was a great industry story because we actually sold more Camrys this year than we did last year in a declining segment,” said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division. “Going forward we’re in a great position.”

BMW claimed its fourth U.S. luxury sales crown in five years finishing with 346,023 vehicles sold. Lexus moved into second place with 344,601 sales and Mercedes-Benz was third at 343,088.

Among smaller automakers, December sales rose 18 percent at Mazda on strong truck volume, and 21 percent at Mitsubishi. Volvo saw volume surge 90 percent in December and 24 percent for the year.

Subaru's U.S. sales advanced 13 percent last month, helping the brand to another annual milestone of 582,675 cars and light trucks sold, up 13 percent.

Hyundai and Kia also set all-time highs for U.S. deliveries in 2015.

Trucks, SUVs and crossovers continued to set the pace, jumping 19 percent in December and 13 percent in 2015. Car demand remains weak, falling 3.8 percent last month and 2.3 percent for the year.

The final sales tally for 2015 marks the longest streak of annual gains since the 1920s and caps a spectacular comeback for the industry. The sharp downturn of 2008-09, when sales slumped to a three-decade low of 10.4 million in 2009, rocked the industry and saw two U.S. automakers, General Motors and Chrysler Group, seek bankruptcy protection under government supervision.

Sources: Automotive News, auto manufacturers