Automotive Sales Data: Best Selling Cars In The US [Updated 2023]

There is nothing quite like owning a brand new car. You know what I mean. 

That smell of leather seats, that have never been sat in. That feeling of new trimmings – the expensive kind – covering the dashboard and center console. Not a single scratch in the paint. No dents in the bodywork. Not a single mile on the rubber. 

The excitement of everyone in the family when you drive that new car off the showroom floor is something to be proud of and cherish.

Each year hundreds of thousands of new cars are sold in the USA. But not all are the same. Some people like the appeal of owning a big four-wheel-drive truck. Others love the idea of an electric car that leaves no footprint and blends in with the urban jungle. And then you have that kind of person that wants the best of both worlds – a crossover vehicle – to be soccer mom Monday to Friday and weekend warrior after hours.

What drives US car sales? What is the most popular brand amongst consumers? And how does your car compare with what’s currently out there? Let’s take a closer look at these points in this article.

Car Models Statistics: Overview 

1. Light trucks remain a firm favorite. 

Despite the drop in sales for the last two years, light trucks are still the favorite for American consumers. In the last year there were 2,842,479 light trucks sold, and 2022 saw a drop to 2,702,515 units.

2. Don’t bet against the F-series.

The coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm in early 2020. While many consumers closed their wallets tightly, not knowing what the future would bring, Ford still had 787,372 car sales in 2020 and 726,003 units in 2021.

3. Americans are warming up to Japanese brands.

According to Statista, crossover vehicles have now become the most popular type of vehicle on American roads, accounting for 45% of car sales in June 2021. The most popular models are Honda’s CR-V, Nissan’s Rogue, and Toyota’s RAV4.

4. Tesla outshines the competition

In recent years Tesla has enjoyed successful auto sales of their electric vehicles (EV). But that doesn’t mean that there’s a demand in the sector as a whole. In recent years Tesla has accounted for 79% of the market share.

Model vs Make: Comparison

With pickup trucks dominating the market in recent years, we’ve compared some of the most vital specifications of two of the most sought after trucks in the US: Ford’s F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado:

As the data suggests, there isn’t much in it when these two ultra-popular vehicles go head to head. 

But what does the car sales data say? How many cars were sold last year?

According to one source, 520,936 Chevrolet Silverado 1,500 units were sold in 2021. That might seem impressive at first glance but it pales in comparison to the 653,957 units Ford sold of the F-150 in the same period.

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Car Sales Statistics By Model

Ford sales steady

Although this proudly American manufacturer has noted a decrease in sales from previous years, Ford still recorded total unit sales figures of 1,837,603 for the 2022 calendar year. Here are it’s top 3 most popular models:

Ford F – Series pickup

Sales numbers were down 10% year on year, but Ford still sold 653,957 units of this familiar favorite amongst American consumers.

Ford Explorer

This is a second consecutive year where Ford Explorer is facing a decrease in sales. The crisis in the automotive industry is still there, and that can be seen from sales figures that are 207,763.

Ford Escape

This compact crossover remained competitive in 2022, ranking eight overall in its segment when based on total sales. 137,370 ‘Escapes’ were driven off the showroom floor last year.

Toyota reigns supreme

After a significant rise in sales during 2021, Toyota got a major decrease in sales in 2022 of 9,6%, selling a reported 2,108,458 units. Here’s a closer look at their three flagship models:

  Toyota Camry

After a rise in sales in 2021, Toyota and its model Camry had a slight decline in sales. Sales were down from 313,795 in 2021 to 295,201 in 2022.

Toyota Rav4

Like many other vehicle sales figures in 2022, Rav4 also saw a decline in sales. The sales had fallen from 407,739 in 2021. to 366,741 in 2022. 

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander had a major success in 2021. but like the rest Toyota models, had a decline in sales. The decline is noticeable, because the sales numbers have fallen from 264,128 in the last year to 222,805.

Bang for your buck Honda

Honda for long has cemented its second place of Japanese manufacturers in the US behind Toyota. The year 2022, however, was bad for this giant from Japan. Honda suffered a massive decline in sale from 1,308,476 to 881,201 Consider three of its models:

Honda CRV

This compact crossover that is a favorite in its class, had a major decrease in sales. From 361,271 in 2021. to 238,155 shows that there is a problem in Honda that shouldn’t be overlooked.  

Honda Civic 

Reliable and smoothly designed the Civic couldn’t avoid the downfall of Honda in the last year. The sales went down from a respectable 263,787 to 133,932 in 2022. 

Honda Accord

The Accord is one of the favorites in the sedan class, and taking it down is not that easy. It had a down in sales, like the rest of Honda models, but not as drastic. In 2022. 154,612 Accords were sold, following a decrease from 202,676 in the last year.

Highest Selling Electric Car in USA (Plus electric car sales statistics)

Tesla is continuing its expansion in the US. In the last year, their best seller was Model 3 with 121,610 units sold. This year that number is surpassed by another Tesla, Model Y with 191,451 units sold. 

The California-based vehicle manufacturer Tesla did their homework and their bestseller with impressive performances is a hit. Model Y with 3.6 seconds needed for 0 – 60 miles acceleration is the biggest surprise on the list.

Well known Model 3 is still on the rise. From last year’s 121,610 they went to an impressive 156,357. But in the top 5 are not only Tesla’s. There are Mustang’s and Chevy’s, which is proving that the EVs market is on the rise.

The overall share of new EVs sold in the US increased from 3,2% in 2021. to 5.8% in 2022. 

15 Most Popular Vehicle In America (By State and Model)

Here’s a list of the most popular vehicles in the US, measured by car sales. The list has been arranged to start with the most popular brands:

The following table shows the most popular vehicles per State.

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New Car Sales and Used Car Sales

New car sales and used car sales figures were down slightly over 2021. 

After better results in 2021. there was hope that the auto market was on the mend. But results from 2022. showed there’s still a long way to go before the car market (and us auto sales) recovers from the shortage of semiconductor chips and the global coronavirus pandemic.

The US car market suffered a 9-year low in 2020 with a total car sales of only 14,697,837. 2021 saw 14,954,805 car sales which gives one hope that the auto sales market is on the mend.

But then came 2022. and another decrease in sales. There were 13,899,871 cars and light trucks sold, which is a drop of 7,8% when compared with 2021.

The average price of used vehicles in the US have increased significantly in the past three years, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. The reason is the high demand for used vehicles and the lack of second-hand stock. 

New cars aren’t produced fast enough due to a shortage of vital components such as microchips used in the electrical setup of vehicles. 

With too few cars going around it has become a seller’s market. New car prices have increased by about 8.9% and pre-owned vehicle prices have increased by nearly 40% since March 2020.

FAQs

Final Considerations

The American consumer is spoilt for choice when it comes to personal preference in cars.

Are you a blue-collar worker that needs to drive dirt roads or transport building material? Go for a medium-duty pickup. An environmentally conscious artistic person? Why not consider an electric vehicle? Soccer mom? There’s an SUV out there for you.

The US car market is the biggest in the world and ranges from brand new to quality pre-owned vehicles. We’re currently witnessing a shift in the preferred manufacturers, with Asian brands making their presence felt in the USA. But the American household still can’t seem to get enough of the trusty American-made pickup truck. 

While car sales in recent years have struggled to cope with the effects of the pandemic and the shortage of microchips, there does seem to be an upswing in car sales. That trend is likely to continue into 2023.