2023 Ford Tremendous Obligation F-350 Restricted
Ford
DETROIT – America maintained its love affair with pickup vehicles in 2023 — however a top-selling automobile from Toyota Motor almost ruined their tailgate social gathering.
Gross sales of the Toyota RAV4 compact crossover got here inside 10,000 models of Stellantis’ Ram pickup truck final 12 months, a near-No. 3 rating that may have marked the primary time since 2014 {that a} non-pickup claimed one of many high three U.S. gross sales podium positions.
The RAV4 has quickly closed the hole: In 2020, the automobile undersold the Ram truck by greater than 133,000 models. Final 12 months, it lagged by simply 9,983. Stellantis offered 444,926 Ram pickups final 12 months, a 5% decline from 2022.
“Vehicles are at all times on the high as a result of they’re purchased by not solely people, but additionally fleet patrons and we noticed heavy fleet shopping for final 12 months,” stated Michelle Krebs, an government analyst at Cox Automotive. “The RAV4 exhibits that folks need reasonably priced, smaller SUVs, and the truth that there’s additionally a hybrid model of that makes it in style with folks.”
At 750,789 models offered, Ford Motor’s F-Collection pickups, which embody the F-150 and its bigger siblings, led the trade for the forty second consecutive 12 months. They had been adopted by Normal Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado pickup with gross sales of 543,780 models.
Rounding out the highest 5 had been the RAV4 at 434,943 models offered and the Tesla Mannequin Y at 394,497, in line with knowledge and gross sales estimates from Motor Intelligence. (Tesla doesn’t disclose regional gross sales by automobile.) The Mannequin Y moved up one place within the rankings in contrast with 2022.
Toyota RAV4
The success of the RAV4 is notable. It aligns with Toyota’s rising lead as America’s second bestselling automaker, behind GM however outselling Ford every year since 2020.
Toyota first overtook Ford throughout the coronavirus pandemic and has continued to extend its gross sales lead since, outpacing the Detroit automaker by greater than 250,000 models in 2023.
The Japanese automaker additionally notably bested GM to turn out to be the nation’s top-selling automaker for the primary time ever in 2021 amid main manufacturing and provide chain disruptions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. GM has since reclaimed its crown and outsold Toyota by lots of of 1000’s of automobiles in 2022 and 2023.
Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, stated the RAV4 in addition to the Honda CR-V, which ranked sixth final 12 months in gross sales, supply one thing utterly completely different than American pickups: Small, economical automobiles that match many American’s existence and budgets amid excessive rates of interest and financial uncertainty.
“It is all these different issues that we have skilled all through the final 12 months that form of drive folks into sensible purchases,” he stated. “I believe these automobiles communicate to probably the most sensible buy you should purchase.”
General gross sales
New automobile gross sales had been stronger and extra constant than anticipated all through 2023, notching the trade’s finest 12 months of gross sales since 2019.
Motor Intelligence stories automakers offered 15.6 million automobiles within the U.S. in 2023, a 12.3% improve from 2022. That compares with greater than 17 million automobiles offered in 2019 earlier than the coronavirus pandemic upending the worldwide auto market.
December gross sales, which had been reported this week, had been surprisingly robust, as automakers upped incentive spending to maneuver merchandise.
Auto gross sales to finish the 12 months elevated 13% in contrast with December 2022, greater than double some analyst forecasts.
Automotive analysts and forecasters count on gross sales this 12 months to be between roughly 15.6 million and 16.1 million automobiles. GM stated Wednesday it expects the trade to hit 16 million models offered in 2024.
Listed here are the ten bestselling automobiles within the U.S. by unit gross sales for 2023, in line with Motor Intelligence.
1. Ford F-Collection: 750,789 models – up 14.8% from 2022
2024 Ford F-150 Raptor
Ford
2. Chevrolet Silverado: 543,780 – up 5.9%
2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2
GM
3. Ram pickup: 444,926 – down 5%
A RAM automobile is displayed on the New York Auto Present, April 13, 2022.
Scott Mlyn | CNBC
4. Toyota RAV4: 434,943 – up 8.8%
5. Tesla Mannequin Y: 394,497 – up 56.5%
Tesla Mannequin Y
Courtesy: Tesla
6. Honda CR-V: 361,457 – up 51.8%
7. GMC Sierra: 295,737 – up 22.4%
2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Final
GM
8. Toyota Camry: 290,649 – down 1.5%
9. Nissan Rogue: 271,458 – up 45.6%
10. Jeep Grand Cherokee: 244,594 – up 9.5%
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk PHEV Idea
Jeep