North America’s 1.34 million units accounted for 20.2% of global results in the month, bringing the region’s year-to-date deliveries to 14.5 million, up 13% from prior-year.
Increasing used-car prices, Sandy payback sales and positive economic indicators have WardsAuto looking for U.S. auto makers to deliver 1.12 million light vehicles this month.
An earlier WardsAuto forecast called for a strong sales period, but October U.S. light-vehicle deliveries will suffer as this week’s super storm sweeps away end-of-month selling days for East Coast dealers.
With Asia/Pacific sales up just 1%, and vehicle deliveries dropping 7.1% in Europe, year-over-year global vehicle sales declined for the first time since January.
Vehicles rated higher than 30 mpg on the WardsAuto Fuel Economy Index accounted for more than 10% of ’12-model-year sales, contributing to a 4.5% rise in average fuel economy for the period.
Europe accounted for just 18.8% of global deliveries in the month, the region’s smallest share since at least 2005, and possibly the lowest share in any month excluding the two world wars.
The increase was spurred by small-car sales, which accounted for more than 20% of the market for the first time since March. Large cars made up just 1.38% of LV deliveries, the segment’s lowest share ever.