US light vehicle sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.3 million units in March 2026, up from 15.8 million in February. The gain reflected stronger demand for light trucks, climbing to 13.6 million units (vs. 13.1 million in February), while auto sales were largely unchanged at 2.7 million units. On a not-seasonally-adjusted basis, total vehicle sales reached 1.433 million units in March, up from 1.224 million in February. The improvement marks a steady recovery following early-year softness, as buyers adjusted to market conditions and seasonal buying patterns. Autos accounted for 237 thousand units in March, while light trucks totaled 1.167 million units, contributing to a light vehicle total of 1.404 million units. source: Wards Intelligence

Total Vehicle Sales in the United States increased to 16.34 Million in March from 15.76 Million in February of 2026. Total Vehicle Sales in the United States averaged 14.84 Million from 1976 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 21.71 Million in October of 2001 and a record low of 8.57 Million in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Total Vehicle Sales - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Total Light Vehicle Sales - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Total Vehicle Sales in the United States increased to 16.34 Million in March from 15.76 Million in February of 2026. Total Vehicle Sales in the United States is expected to be 14.90 Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Total Light Vehicle Sales is projected to trend around 14.60 Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-03 11:00 PM
Total Vehicle Sales
Feb 15.8M 14.9M 15.2M
2026-04-03 12:00 AM
Total Vehicle Sales
Mar 16.3M 15.8M 15M
2026-05-04 06:00 PM
Total Vehicle Sales
Apr 16.3M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Total Vehicle Sales 16.34 15.76 Million Mar 2026


United States Total Light Vehicle Sales
In the United States, Total Light Vehicle Sales measures the annualized number of new vehicles sold domestically in the reported month.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
16.34 15.76 21.71 8.57 1976 - 2026 Million Monthly
AR, SA

News Stream
US Light Vehicle Sales Rise in March
US light vehicle sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.3 million units in March 2026, up from 15.8 million in February. The gain reflected stronger demand for light trucks, climbing to 13.6 million units (vs. 13.1 million in February), while auto sales were largely unchanged at 2.7 million units. On a not-seasonally-adjusted basis, total vehicle sales reached 1.433 million units in March, up from 1.224 million in February. The improvement marks a steady recovery following early-year softness, as buyers adjusted to market conditions and seasonal buying patterns. Autos accounted for 237 thousand units in March, while light trucks totaled 1.167 million units, contributing to a light vehicle total of 1.404 million units.
2026-04-03
US Light Vehicle Sales Tumble on Tariff Fears
US light vehicle sales dropped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.65 million units in May 2025, falling short of market expectations of 16.3 million and marking the steepest monthly decline in nearly five years. This was down sharply from a downwardly revised 17.25 million in April, the largest monthly decrease in sales pace since the COVID-19 shock in April 2020. The decline followed a surge in March, when sales hit their highest level since March 2021 as buyers rushed to get ahead of anticipated price hikes linked to President Trump’s proposed tariffs on imported vehicles.
2025-06-03
US Light Vehicle Sales Above Forecasts
U.S. light vehicle sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 17.27 million units in April 2025, down from a four-year high of 17.83 million in March but well above market expectations of 15.7 million. Over the past two months, sales averaged an annualized rate of 17.6 million, driven largely by tariff-related buying—significantly higher than the estimated 16.0 million rate without such effects. According to Wards Intelligence, there were signs the surge began to lose momentum by the end of April, likely as tariff-driven "exuberance" faded and inventories tightened. Demand remained notably stronger for full-size and luxury trucks, while sales of more affordable vehicles—including cars and small to midsize CUVs and SUVs—lagged behind.
2025-05-02