FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Sales Down, SAAR Up in November

New-vehicle sales fell by 0.5% in November, but dealers remain on pace to exceed the 17 million-unit mark by the end of 2018.

Tariq Kamal
Tariq KamalFormer Associate Publisher
Read Tariq's Posts
December 4, 2018
Sales Down, SAAR Up in November

Ram dealers sold nearly 58,000 new units in November, a 43.5% year-over-year gain that led all mass-market manufacturers.

Photo courtesy Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2 min to read


U.S. new-vehicle sales declined on a year-over-year basis in November, but the seasonally adjusted annualized rate for 2018 improved to 17.55 million new units, according to manufacturer data compiled by Automotive News. Assuming dealers can maintain that pace in December, they will exceed earlier forecasts by more than 200,000 units.

Total sales declined by 0.5% compared with November 2017, led by Genesis, which watched its numbers fall by an alarming 76.5% as it pivots away from parent company Hyundai. Other factories reporting year-over-year declines included Fiat (-24.5%), Nissan (-21.6%), and Chrysler (-20.7%).

Ad Loading...

Among the big gainers were Ram (43.5%), Alpha Romeo (35.9%), and Land Rover (25.7%). Infiniti sales improved by 8.1% year-over-year, good enough to set a new November record for Nissan’s luxury brand.

New-car sales now stand at 15,695,288 through the first 11 months of the year. Analysts agreed that, among U.S. drivers, cars are out and SUVs, CUVs, and trucks are in.

“Initial results for November sales affirm the new normal of consumer preference for utility vehicles. The recent L.A. [auto] show demonstrates that automakers continue to invest in utility vehicles which provide the strongest volume opportunity going forward,” said Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at IHS Markit. “Sedans and passenger cars remain an important part of the market, though diminished compared with prior years. The market remains at a healthy level, with variability in automaker performances as companies search for the right balance between incentives, production adjustments, and work through a faster-than-expected decline in passenger-car sales.”

Topics:Showroom

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Showroom

Green road sign that says California Ave
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 21, 2026

California Sees Quarterly Gains

California’s new-vehicle market saw a boost in hybrids in the third quarter and its first overall quarterly market gain of the year.

Read More →
Silver Subaru STI parked in lot.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 14, 2026

New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put

Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

Read More →
White electric vehicle parked at charging station.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 12, 2026

EV Buyer Consideration Shifts

What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Door handle in interior of new-looking vehicle
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own

A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.

Read More →
Interior of BMW ix3 electric SUV with hilly landscape seen through windshield
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 28, 2026

Slow to Robo

Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.

Read More →
Photo of red SUV parked outside a car dealership after dark
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 9, 2026

Dealers a Little Down

A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Silver car driving down road with graphic that says “Europe Plugs In”
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•September 9, 2026

European EV Sales Skyrocket

The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.

Read More →
Mitsubishi shadow line-up
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 25, 2026

Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan

The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.

Read More →
A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•July 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →