Detroit, Michigan – US light vehicle sales grew 3.3% in 2021 to 14.9m units. However, sales were down 27% in December compared with the same month in 2020.
In total, 1.19m light vehicle were sold in the month, compared with December 2020 which LMC Automotive said was the strongest month that year with 1.6m units.
This is the fifth straight month that sales have fallen in the US. The consultants said: 'General Motors’ sales for the year not only fell more than those of any other automaker, but the company also saw its top selling position tumble for the first time in more than 80 years.' Toyota outsold GM for the first time ever.
Augusto Amorim, senior manager for Americas vehicle sales forecasts at LMC, said: 'We estimate that a total of 2.3m units were lost in North America in 2021 due to the lack of chips and other disruptions.'
He added that LMC Automotive forecasts total US sales of 15.9m in 2022. This could rise to 16.8m units in 2023, and it could be higher.
