February’s New-Car Sales Fueled by Pickups

February new-vehicle sales rose 3.7% year-over-year, with Autodata reporting that 1.19 million cars were sold last month. 

Sales were boosted by consumers continuing to purchase more fuel-efficient cars and an uptick in home construction, which resulted in companies replacing aging pickups with newer models. However, February sales were lower than expected because of gas prices increasing and stock market uncertainty.

Among the major manufacturers, General Motors and Ford Motor Co. reported some of the best monthly numbers. The former sold 224,000 units last month, a year-over-year rise of 7.2%, while the latter moved 195,000 vehicles, a 9.3% increase from February 2012.  

Each of GM’s domestic brands – Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick – also saw a rise in year-over-year sales, with Cadillac posting a 20% increase due to robust sales from its new ATS compact sedan. GM’s largest gains, though, came in pickup trucks as the Chevy Silverado increased 29%, and the GMC Sierra rose 25%.

Ford’s increases came largely from sales of sport-utility vehicles and the redesigned Fusion midsize sedan, which had a 28% gain over February 2012 sales. Like its fellow Detroit-based rival, GM, high pickup truck demand pushed sales as the automaker moved 54,000 F-series trucks, a 15.3% increase from last year. On the flip side, sales of Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln declined 29%.

Meanwhile, sales at Chrysler slowed after healthy postings the past several months. The company sold 139,000 cars in February, and though that rate marked a 4.1% year-over-year increase — and the maker’s best February in five years — it was Chrysler’s smallest gain in recent months. Passenger cars like the new Dodge Dart were the best performers, while Ram pickups increased 3% and Jeep SUVs declined 16%.

Results from non-U.S. automakers were varied. Japan’s biggest carmaker, Toyota, sold 166,000 units last month, roughly a 4.3% increase from last year. Unlike previous showings where its passenger cars were big sellers and its trucks smaller, Toyota’s SUV and trucks increased 16% and its cars dropped 3%.

With 107,000 units sold, Honda’s sales dropped 2% year-over-year, partly due to heavy winter storms that hit the Northeast, one of its strongest areas. Nissan sales declined 6.6% to 99,000 cars.

Volkswagen had an 8.4% increase from 2012, moving 42,000 units, mainly boosted by the German company’s luxury brand Audi, which had a 28% gain.