The Outback SUV was Subaru's top performer in November, when the brand led Asian carmakers in sales.
IMAGE: Subaru
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IMAGE: Getty Images/Fahroni
November U.S. sales by most Asian carmakers surged, led by Subaru, whose sales skyrocketed 52% year-over-year, followed by Hyundai, whose deliveries jumped 43%.
Mazda’s rose 31% and Kia’s 25%, breaking that brand’s November record set in 2016.
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Honda sales were the outlier, dropping 6% year-over-year, its 16th straight month of sales declines.
Most carmakers no longer report sales monthly. Ford will release its November results on Friday.
Sales are being buoyed by improved retail inventories.
A J.D. Power-LMC Automotive forecast shows retail and nonretail November sales are projected to be up 5.6% year-over-year. Not adjusting for the number of selling days translates to a 10% increase. Retail sales alone are forecasted to be flat; the unadjusted comparison translates to a 3.8% increase.
“November results demonstrate that vehicle production is continuing to improve, with available retail inventory exceeding one million units for a second consecutive month and a larger share of manufacturers’ production being allocated to fleet customers,” said J.D. Power Data and Analytics Division President Thomas King in a press release.
Trade relations between the European Union and the U.S. are at risk, causing the European Automobile Manufacturers Association to push lawmakers to make a decision.
China easily reigns in the segment, but European countries’ adoption rates are growing. The U.S., probably due to market size, has the second biggest EV fleet.
Fast charging of electric vehicles provides a solution for range anxiety, but it also poses a risk to battery cycle life due to increased temperatures, according to an EV supply chain data provider.
The automaker says its movement of some electric-vehicle work to the S.C. factory is part of a more tailored product focus. It also plans to add a new hybrid model to the plant’s itinerary.