FCA outsells Ford in September; most automakers post lower numbers

(October 3, 2018) Major automakers posted lower sales in September compared to the same month in 2017, and for the first time since 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles outsold Ford Motor Company. FCA's sales were up 14.7 percent over last year at 199,819. Ford was off 11.3 percent slipping to 196,496 sales in September.

Overall, U.S. light-vehicle deliveries last month fell about 5.6 percent, slightly better than analysts' forecast for a 7 percent decline compared to September 2017, when sales spiked as consumers replaced vehicles destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.

FCA's spike in sales came with strong performances from Jeep (up 14 percent),  Ram (up 9 percent) and Dodge (up 41 percent). Ford's sales fell behind the industrywide slump in car demand and lower light-truck volumes. Ford's pickup/van sales slipped nearly 10 percent and SUV/crossover sales dropped 2.7 percent.

General Motors no longer releases monthly sales results, but the company said third-quarter deliveries fell 11 percent to 694,638 with every brand down during the period. For the year, GM said its U.S. sales have dropped 1.2 percent.

Demand was also off at the big 3 Japan automakers. Toyota volume dropped 10 percent in September with car sales plunging 25 percent. Toyota division sales slipped 11 percent and Lexus was off 6.1 percent. Total sales for the month were 203,098.

Nissan sales slipped 12 percent with car deliveries falling 36 percent and light-truck sales rising 6.6 percent. Honda reported sales of 132,688, a decline of 7 percent reflecting a 20 percent drop in car deliveries.

September sales at Kia declined 1.9 percent at Kia, 17 percent at Mazda, 8.6 percent at Mitsubishi, and 7.4 percent at Mini. Hyundai sales were up 3 percent. Volkswagen's eight-straight months of sales gains ended with volume off 4.8 percent. Subaru extended its streak of monthly gains to 82 as sales rose 3.5 percent. 

Sources: Automakers, Automotive News