FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

January Sales Pace at 15.29 Million Annual Rate

January's SAAR came in at 15.29 million units, Autodata reported this week. That’s up from last January’s SAAR of 13.98 million.

by Staff
February 5, 2013
3 min to read


With the exception of Mazda, manufacturers across the board realized steady sales growth in January. According to research firm Autodata, sales paced at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.29 million units, up from last January’s 13.98 million SAAR.

BMW: The German carmaker posted modest gains, with sales for BMW and MINI combined totaling 20,195 units, up 2.3 percent from the 19,739 units retailed in January 2012. BMW brand sales were up slightly (0.7 percent) over last year, with 16,513 units sold in January.

Ad Loading...

Chrysler: The domestic automaker reported sales of 117,731 units in January, a 16 percent increase from the year-ago period. The feat marked the 34th consecutive month of monthly sales gains. It also marked the best January for the automaker in five years.

Ford: Sales for the domestic automaker were up by 8 percent vs. the same month in 2012, with sales totaling 16,197 units. The bump in sales resulted in Ford posting its best January in 10 years, the company announced. Overall car sales were up 24 percent in January, with 3,634 unit sold in January 2013 vs. 2,928 sold in January 2012.

General Motors: The domestic automaker sold 16 percent more vehicles in January vs. the same month last year, with sales totaling 194,699 units. Year-over-year sales were up 32 percent at Buick, 23 percent at GMC and 11 percent at Chevrolet. Cadillac sales shot up 47 percent for the month, marking the brand’s best January in 23 years.

Honda: American Honda posted sales of 93,626 units, up 12.8 percent vs. January 2012. The Honda division reported 84,137 units retailed, up 12.7 percent from one year ago, while Acura posted sales of 9,489 units, up 13.2 percent over the same month last year. The Honda Accord was the marque’s top seller, with sales increasing 75 percent from last year.

Hyundai: Hyundai posted record sales gains in January, selling 43,713 total units, up 2.4 percent versus the same month in 2012. Sales of the Elantra, Santa Fe, Azera, Tucson, Veloster and Genesis were all up from January 2012.

Ad Loading...

Mazda: The manufacturer’s January sales fell 11.2 percent from a year ago, with sales totaling 21,319 units. Car sales came in at 13,959 this past month vs. the 18,649 posted for the same month last year, dropping car sales totals by 25.1 percent. Truck sales were up 37.6 percent, with 7,360 trucks sold in January vs. the 5,347 units sold last year.

Mercedes-Benz: The automaker’s USA brand realized its highest January sales on record, posting total sales of 24,059 units for the month. The total represented a 10.7 increase over the 21,726 vehicles retailed in January 2012. The Mercedes-Benz model line realized its highest January numbers, with sales increasing 10.8 percent vs. a year ago to 22,501 units sold.

Nissan: Nissan North America posted slightly increased sales of 2 percent vs. a year ago, with 80,919 units sold. Nissan Division sales totaled 73,793 units, up 1.8 percent over one year ago, making it the division’s best January ever. Infiniti sales retailed 7,126 units, up 4.9 percent from last January.

Toyota: Toyota Motor Corp.’s January sales rose 27 percent from a year ago to 157,725 units. Car sales totaled 93,873 units, while light truck sales totaled 63,852 units, according to Autodata. "The sales pace we saw in the fourth quarter of last year rolled into January, exceeding our expectations for the industry," said Bill Fay, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager of Toyota Motor Sales.

Volkswagen: Volkswagen realized its best January sales month since 1974, with company officials reporting a sales increase of 47.9 percent vs. January 2012. Sales for the German automaker totaled 27,209 units. Jetta Sedan sales totaled 9,564 units for the month, making it the third best January ever for the vehicle.

More F&I

Man holding magnifying glass over sales volume paper.
F&IMay 29, 2026

Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You

Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.

Read More →
Photo of woman typing on a laptop as she sits on a couch
F&Iby Hannah MitchellMay 29, 2026

Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity

A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.

Read More →
Dustin Gingerich standing on stage giving a presentation
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceMay 28, 2026

Humble and Hungry: 12 Rules for an F&I Life

Dustin Gingerich, with a decade in the F&I business under his belt, shares his thoughts on leadership, building trust with customers, and the importance of learning and innovation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of businessman's hands resting on files on a desk
F&Iby John TabarMay 27, 2026

Focus on the Opening

F&I managers must learn as much as possible about their customers, starting before they walk into their offices. The bulk of today’s consumers expect that, and good results will follow.

Read More →
Photo of a three-seat vehicle back seat
F&Iby Hannah MitchellMay 22, 2026

F&I Reaches for the Sky

The increasingly important profit center continued making gains in the first quarter, according to StoneEagle data, ancillary products proving more popular as consumers hold onto their buys longer.

Read More →
Cover image for a BOK Financial report titled “Timing the market: How avoiding volatility entirely can hurt long-term reinsurance program performance.” The image shows several road construction barricades with flashing amber warning lights lined up in a nighttime work zone. Beneath the image, red text explains that avoiding volatility can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long-term surplus growth. The BOK Financial logo appears at the bottom right.
SponsoredMay 8, 2026

Timing the Market Can Hurt Long-Term Program Performance

For dealer-owned reinsurance entities, avoiding volatility entirely can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long term surplus growth. Missing just a handful of strong market days can materially impact cumulative returns—an important reminder for long horizon trust and investment strategies.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Ryan Ruff, The 90/10 Rule, Automotive Training Academy, Sales Series
F&IMay 6, 2026

The 90/10 Rule

In this video, Ryan Ruff explains the rule that elite sales professionals use to turn ordinary conversations into unforgettable customer experiences.

Read More →
Photo of essential oil diffuser on desk next to laptop
F&IMay 4, 2026

Your Office Is Talking

What’s the atmosphere saying about you to your customers? You can make minor adjustments and additions that transform your space into one that creates trust with the people on the other side of the desk.

Read More →
"Effective training ensures the customer’s needs remain at the heart of everything we do. When that is the focus, both sales and profits naturally improve." by Rick McCormick with F&I and Showroom logo and picture of Rick McCormick
F&IMay 1, 2026

F&I Training Fundamentals

How can auto dealerships help F&I managers fulfill their vital role in the most effective ways? Industry expert Rick McCormick shares his insights on the best ways to train these professionals and help them maintain good habits.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of car tire and the tread mark it left in snow
F&Iby Hannah MitchellApril 29, 2026

Not Just Any Tire Will Do

More consumers and businesses are opting for all-season options for various reasons as safety, sustainability and convenience push practical change.

Read More →