Low gas prices, interest rates push auto sales to 2014 records
Nissan and Honda reported auto sales gains last month, pushing both Japanese automakers to record numbers for 2014. Nissan's auto sales grew 11 percent for the year to 1.39 million to set an annual record for the company. Honda says its sales rose 1 percent for the year to 1.54 million cars and trucks.
Nissan and Honda reported auto sales gains last month, pushing both Japanese automakers to record numbers for 2014. Nissan's auto sales grew 11 percent for the year to 1.39 million to set an annual record for the company. Honda says its sales rose 1 percent for the year to 1.54 million cars and trucks.
Fiat Chrysler,聽Nissan and Honda reported U.S.聽sales聽gains in December, helping to push both Japanese automakers to record numbers for 2014.
The figures are signs that car and truck聽sales聽finished the year strongly. For all of 2014, analysts are predicting聽sales聽of 16.5 million vehicles, up 6 percent from last year and a return to pre-recession levels.
Fiat聽Chrysler聽was led by the Ram pickup truck, with sales up 24 percent for the year. Pickup truck sales rebounded for nearly all automakers through 2014 as small businesses regained confidence in the economy and gas prices fell, making the trucks more attractive. Sales of the Jeep Cherokee small SUV were seven times larger than last year, reaching nearly 179,000. Jeep brand sales rose 41 percent for the year to more than 692,000 vehicles, an annual record.
SUVs of all sizes also were hot sellers last year as buyers went for higher seating positions and better cargo-hauling space.
Nissan said its sales grew 11 percent for the year to 1.39 million to set an annual record for the company. Nissan brand sales were up 12 percent for the year, while the Infiniti luxury brand gained just under 1 percent. Nissan was led by the redesigned Rogue small SUV with sales up 22 percent.
Honda says its sales last year rose 1 percent to 1.54 million cars and trucks. That was enough to post the second-best results in company history and a record for the Honda brand. Acura luxury brand sales rose 1.5 percent for the year. Honda was led by the CR-V small SUV with a 10 percent sales gain to 335,000. That broke the SUV's annual sales record.
Nissan's聽sales聽grew 11 percent for the year to 1.39 million to set an annual record for the company. Nissan brand聽sales聽were up 12 percent for the year. The full Nissan press release on December sales is below:聽
Honda says its聽sales聽rose 1 percent for the year to 1.54 million cars and trucks. That was enough to post the second-best results in company history and a record for the Honda brand.
All major automakers report US sales聽on Monday.