Hot pace, fresh products point to near-record year for auto industry - Crain's Detroit Business
Light trucks and heavy summer promotions drove up July auto sales to their second strongest pace in nearly 10 years. And as the U. S. industry awaits a wave of new and updated product, that performance is lifting hopes that 2015 could near the industry's all-time sales record. Among the fresh offerings are a refreshed Nissan Altima, a redesigned Honda Civic, Toyota's updated Tacoma pickup and the redesigned Lexus RX, the luxury brand's top-selling model. General Motors Co. , which reported strong sales of full-size and midsize pickups, expects to see its midsize car sales jump when it begins shipping the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, due in showrooms in the fall. After July's sales were tabulated, Caldwell raised her 2015 sales forecast to 17. 2 million vehicles from 16. 8 million. The industry's record is 17. 4 million cars and light trucks, set in 2000. There's still more coming in some hot and high-volume segments: Lincoln's new MKX crossover is landing in dealerships now, and a refreshed Honda Accord is scheduled to roll... In July, light-vehicle sales rose 5. 3 percent, paced by light-truck sales, which jumped 13 percent, offsetting a 2. 7 percent drop in car sales. Source: www.crainsdetroit.com
