After a disastrous end to 2008, the U.S. auto industry slid 21% in 2009. New car sales were down from more than 7 million (53.2% of the overall market) to 5.7 million in 2009 (54.6% of the overall market).
Two Toyotas led the way for the first time since 2006. There were three Toyotas in the top ten for the third consecutive year. The top-selling Camry fell below 400,000 annual sales for the first time since 2001, itself a year of great tumult. Total Corolla/Matrix volume slid below 300,000 units for the first time since 2002. This was nothing abnormal.
• Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America – 2008 Year End
• Top 10 Best-Selling Cars In America – 2010 Year End
• All Vehicles Ranked By 2009 Year End U.S. Sales
Only one member of this group of America’s ten most popular cars produced year-over-year improvements in 2009. That car, the Fusion, was the only one of Ford’s five car model’s to post an improvement, and it was heavily revised for MY2010. Total Ford/Lincoln/Mercury car volume was down 11%. Chrysler Group car sales plunged 46%. Passenger car sales at General Motors was down 30%.
Aside from cars which weren’t available throughout 2008 (and thus produced exaggerated YOY gains in 2009) big gains were produced by the Audi A5 (up 56% to 9800), Hyundai Accent (up 35% to 68,086), and Nissan Z (up 27% to 13,117).
|
Rank
|
Best-Selling Vehicle
|
2009
|
2008
|
% Change |
|
#1
|
Toyota Camry
|
356,824
|
436,617
|
– 18.3%
|
|
#2
|
Toyota Corolla/Matrix
|
296,874
|
351,007
|
– 15.4%
|
|
#3
|
Honda Accord
|
290,056
|
372,789
|
– 22.2%
|
|
#4
|
Honda Civic
|
259,722
|
339,289
|
– 23.5%
|
|
#5
|
Nissan Altima
|
203,568
|
269,668
|
– 24.5%
|
|
#6
|
Ford Fusion
|
180,671
|
147,569
|
+ 22.4%
|
|
#7
|
Chevrolet Impala
|
165,565
|
265,840
|
– 37.7%
|
|
#8
|
Chevrolet Malibu
|
161,568
|
178,253
|
– 9.4%
|
|
#9
|
Ford Focus
|
160,433
|
195,823
|
– 18.1%
|
|
#10
|
Toyota Prius
|
139,682
|
158,884
|
– 12.1%
|
Source: Automakers & ANDC