Carmakers Enter 2016 Facing Slower Growth After Record U.S. Year
- Discounts seen needed to beat 2015's 17.5 million auto sales
- Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo led gains in year aided by cheap fuel
Cars are displayed for sale in of Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 2.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
With record U.S. vehicle sales now on the books for 2015, automakers are propelling into the new year with a sense that they’ll have to work harder to see more growth ahead.
Carmakers dialed up discounts in 2015’s second half to win market share as Americans surged into showrooms amid cheap gasoline and a growing job base. The gambit paid off: Full-year sales beat the standard set 15 years ago, rising 5.7 percent to 17.5 million cars and light trucks. Analysts and executives alike project another record this year -- although with slower growth -- provided that the dealmaking keeps pace.