Eight automakers, including General Motors, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi, reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year sales in the U.S. to finish out 2023.
According to Cox Automotive, higher deliveries, supply chain improvements and stronger dealer incentives fueled the jump in new vehicle sales. U.S. auto sales reached an estimated 15.5 million units in 2023, an 11.6% jump from 13.9 million vehicles sold in 2022, Cox said.
On Wednesday, GM reported sales of 2.6 million vehicles in 2023, a 14% increase from 2022. GM reported that Buick sales were up 61% in 2023 and 57% in Q4, with sales of the Encore GX SUV up 92% in 2023.
GM’s EV sales are also up, despite the automaker’s decision to scale back the rollout of new electric vehicles as it adjusts to market demand. Still, 2023 was a record year for Bolt EV and EUV sales, with combined sales up 63% to 60,045 units. Despite strong Bolt sales, GM has ended production of both current Bolt models but plans to replace the Bolt with a new electric crossover.
Hyundai reported an 11% jump in sales in 2023, which the automaker says is its best sales year ever. It’s the third year in a row of setting a new annual retail sales record, according to the company. The automaker's December 2023 sales reached 75,164 vehicles, which is the highest December sales total in company history. Sales of the electric Ioniq 5 SUV jumped by 48% year over year to 33,918 vehicles. For December, Ioniq 5 sales were up 90% compared to last year.
Kia also reported record-high sales for 2023, selling 782,451 vehicles. It’s a YoY increase of 13% and the highest annual U.S. sales total in the company’s history. Six Kia models set all-time annual sales records in 2023, including the Carnival minivan, with sales increasing by 93%.
Toyota, meanwhile, sold over 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2023, a 6.6% YoY increase. Q4 sales reached 619,661 vehicles, an increase of 15.4%. Electrified Toyota models also sold well. The automaker sold 657,327 electrified vehicles in 2023, which includes its luxury brand Lexus. Electrified vehicles accounted for around 29.2% of the company’s total sales volume.
Mazda also had a big year thanks to strong compact crossover sales. The Japan-based automaker sold 363,354 vehicles in the U.S. in 2023, an increase of 23.2% from 2022 when it sold 294,908 vehicles. Sales of the Mazda CX-50 crossover reached 44,595 units in 2023, a jump of 109.1% from 2022. Sales of the compact CX-30 were up 46% from 2022.
Subaru of America also posted double-digit sales increases in the U.S. for 2023 with sales of 632,086 vehicles, a 13.6% increase compared with 2022. Subaru has now posted 17 consecutive months of sales gains, with 57,764 vehicles sold in December 2023, a 1.8% increase compared to a year ago. The Subaru Crosstrek achieved its best-ever yearly sales since launching in 2012, with 159,193 units sold.
Nissan also posted sales gains in the U.S. market in 2023. The automaker’s calendar year sales reached 898,796 vehicles, an increase of 23.2% from 2022. Sales of the Nissan Pathfinder SUV were up 23.9% in 2023, while sales of the Rogue crossover increased 45.6% from 2022.
Mitsubishi Motors North America reported Q4 2023 sales of 19,604 vehicles. The automaker’s full-year sales reached 87,340 units, an increase of 1.8% from 2022.
