Experian Automotive today announced that midrange cars were the highest-selling vehicle segment in the first half of 2012, according to its latest vehicle registration analysis.
The analysis also showed that the Toyota Camry topped the list of best-selling vehicles for the first half, with the Ford F-150 coming in a close second. In the first half of 2011, the F-150 was the best-selling vehicle, with the Camry coming in second.
High-level findings from the analysis showcase the top-selling vehicle segments for the first half of the year and highlight the top vehicle brands in each category.
“The first half of 2012 showed a significant increase (11.9 percent) in vehicle registrations compared to the previous year,” said Jeffrey Anderson, director of consulting and analytics for Experian Automotive.
“Lower interest rates and dealer incentives have certainly been great motivators for consumers in need of a new vehicle to purchase one. Additionally, higher gas prices and new model redesigns could be pushing consumers to look at small to midrange cars, instead of the larger vehicle segments.”
The complete top 10 best-selling vehicles for the first half of 2012 include:
- Toyota Camry
- Ford F-150
- Honda Civic
- Nissan Altima
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda CR-V
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Ford Fusion
- Chevrolet Malibu
Interestingly, the analysis also showed that while the Ford F-150 was the second highest-selling vehicle in the first half, it was the top seller in 19 states, with Texas making up more than 17 percent of its total sales. The Toyota Camry claimed the second most states (13), with California accounting for the largest percentage of sales (13 percent).
When looking at growth comparing the first half of 2012 with the first half of 2011, the fastest-growing segment was hybrid cars, with a 61 percent increase. On the vehicle level, the Kia Optima saw a 92.7 percent increase in registrations in the same time frame.
For more information about Experian Automotive’s industry trends research or leading products and services, please visit ExperianAutomotive.com or follow us on Twitter at @Experian_Auto.