2014 Top Selling Cars - USA

China might have stolen the limelight from the United States of America as the world’s largest automobile market, but the significance of American consumers and their buying preferences are extremely important to the well-being of the industry. No, we aren't going overboard. If not for the fantastic recovery of the American market that contributed significantly to their profits, it wouldn't have been possible for many global automakers to mitigate the difficult business conditions in Europe, Russia and some markets in the Asia Pacific region.

It’s business as usual for Ford Motor Company with the ‘Blue Oval’ emerging as the most popular automobile brand in America, selling 2.37 million units. Just behind Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet slugged it out, with the Japanese manufacturer managing to pip the bow-tie brand by just 30,000 units with a sales tally of 2.06 million units. Honda and Nissan finished a distant fourth and fifth, posting 1.37 and 1.26 million units respectively.

Moving on, let’s take a look at the cars and trucks that the Americans embraced in 2014. Just like the Indian market, the top ten best-selling automobiles in America are pretty much a carbon copy of 2013 with a lone exception and some models interchanging positions.

Enough has been said about the dominance of Ford’s F-Series trucks in the American market last year and the year before and in 2011 and so on. Nothing changed in 2014. F-Series topped the sales charts for a 33rd year running with more than 750,000 customers putting their money on the truck. 2013’s runner-up Chevrolet Silverado finished second last year as well, but posted a big jump in sales at 529,755 units. With cumulative sales of 439,789 units, Ram’s light duty pickup trucks posted an ever bigger jump of almost 25% and closed the gap to leaders handsomely. In all this, the 2014 podium became an all-truck affair, proving a well-known point to the analysts again.

If 2014 was a good year for trucks in the American market, the reducing gas prices and positive buyer sentiments could make 2015 an even better one for these so-called gas guzzlers. But for now, cars outnumber trucks and utilities in the top ten list. Swarmed by sedans all around, Honda’s CR-V is the only other truck/utility apart from the top three, finishing the year in eighth position with 335,000 odd units.

Despite a healthy improvement over 2013, Toyota’s Camry has been pushed off the podium, but just. With 428,606 Americans reposing their faith in the midsize sedan and a further 339,498 customers signing up for the Corolla, Toyota is as strong as ever in the US of A. Sandwiching the two Toyotas at number five is their arch-rival from Japan, the Honda Accord. This, along with the Civic that’s the ninth largest-selling car with 325,981 units sold, makes Honda the brand with the most number of entries in the top ten list. Posting a sales figure of 335,644 units, Nissan Altima adds to the Japan tally. Rounding off the list is Ford’s Fusion that replaces its stablemate Escape in the list.

2014 Top Selling Cars in America:

1. Ford F-Series - 753,851

2. Chevrolet Silverado - 529,755

3. Ram 1500-3500 - 439,789

4. Toyota Camry - 428,606

5. Honda Accord - 388,374

6. Toyota Corolla - 339,498

7. Nissan Altima - 335,644

8. Honda CR-V - 335,019

9. Honda Civic - 325,981

10. Ford Fusion - 306,860

Source for sales figures: www.forbes.com

| Stars of 2014 - The Big Three Pickup Trucks |

| Promise of 2015 - Ford F150 |

Amidst hues and cries to shift to smaller, more efficient and less polluting cars, Americans reaffirmed their affinity towards trucks and Ford, Chevrolet and Ram were there to capitalize with either generation changes or mid-cycle refreshes. That makes the big three trucks the stars of 2014. Having gone on sale recently, the groundbreaking all-aluminium F150 is not just gambling on the lightweight metal, but is hoping to be a trendsetter of sorts in the truck segment. That’s where we place our bets for 2015. Will the F-Series increase the gap at the top further? Let’s wait and watch.

Considering the sheer size of the market and the number of models on sale, restricting the top selling cars to just ten isn't fair. But then, most of the next ten best-selling cars are all again from Ford, Toyota and Chevrolet. Hyundai and GMC are the only new brands out there, with the Elantra, Sonata and Sierra slotting in commendable positions.

In the battle of supremacy in the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz has posted highest sales of 356,136 units. The caveat here is that number includes commercial vehicles too. That could make BMW, with a sales tally of 339,738 cars, the most popular luxury brand in America. Lexus comes a close third while Audi is a distant fourth followed by Acura and Infiniti.