July US Auto Sales Disappoint Big 3

Auto sale volume for July was mixed, with the largest manufacturers slipping in volume year-over-year and most of the smaller ones gaining by single digit percent but still below analyst estimates. FCA US picked up just 0.3 percent over July 2015, while GM sales dipped 1.9 percent, Ford dropped 3 percent, and Toyota sales decreased 1.4 percent.

July was still a strong month for auto sales, just not at the record setting pace that the U.S. auto industry has become accustomed to. Analysts polled by Reuter expected sales for July to be between just under 1.5 million and 1.54 million vehicles. WardsAuto puts the final July sales tally at 1.514 million vehicles compared to 1.507 million a year ago. Year-to-date volume is 10.1 million, 1.1 percent of the same period in 2015, said WardsAuto.