United States: light vehicle sales by manufacturer YTD 2021-2022

Between January and December 2022, General Motors was the leading automotive manufacturer based on sales in the United States. The Detroit company sold nearly 2.3 million passenger cars and light trucks in the U.S., which was some 1,250 fewer vehicles compared with the same time period one year earlier. Most other manufacturers also felt the effects of the semiconductor shortage in 2022, with sales dipping for traditional manufacturers. Tesla and other electric vehicle manufacturers, such as Rivian and the Lucid Group, were the only segments reporting a sharp year-over-year sales increase.

Electric sales continue growth

In 2022, electric vehicles have fared better than conventional vehicles so far. Tesla’s vehicle sales are indicative of this trend, as U.S. motorists purchased nearly 536,100 new Tesla vehicles in 2021. Tesla's worldwide deliveries broke records in 2022. However, competition is beginning to gain momentum, and manufacturers such as General Motors are continuing to add new electric vehicle models into their range of vehicles offered. Newcomers such as the Lucid Group and Karma Automotive are also gaining speed, with the Lucid Air Dream Edition Range being the electric vehicle from Model Year 2022 with the longest range.

Vehicle market trends stabilize

Annual retail sales of new light vehicles in the United States peaked in 2016, when the industry sold over three million units more than in 2020. The declining trend took place during a period of stagnation in the global automotive market, which saw light vehicle sales decline by around 14.4 percent between 2019 and 2020 and are expected to drop by some 5.2 percent between 2021 and 2022. During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, transport modes that minimize contact with other people have become more attractive. U.S. vehicle sales have been relatively stable across 2022, though they were lower than 2021 monthly sales as the industry was hit by inflation and a decreased vehicle output.