US auto sales fall 4 per cent in August
DETROIT — U.S. sales of new cars and trucks fell in August, ending summer on a low note for the auto industry and making it less likely that this year’s auto sales will match the record set in 2015.
General Motors’ sales dropped 5 per cent from last August while Ford’s sales were down 8 per cent. Toyota’s sales were down 5 per cent, Honda’s fell 4 per cent and Nissan’s dropped 6.5 per cent. Volkswagen’s sales dropped 9 per cent. Hyundai’s sales were flat.
Fiat Chrysler bucked the trend with a 3 per cent increase in sales, while Subaru’s were up 15 per cent. Both companies benefited from consumers’ increasing preference for SUVs. Sales of Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand rose 12 per cent.
Overall industry sales dropped 4 per cent to 1.5 million vehicles, according to Autodata Corp. Total sales through August are up less than 1 per cent over last year.