Automakers on Sept. 4 began reporting sales results for August, showing an across-the-board increase compared to August a year ago.
Honda
American Honda sold 139,950 vehicles in the U.S. in August, up 25% compared to last year, led by strong passenger car sales, best-ever August light truck sales and an all-time record sales month for electrified models.
The Honda brand topped 127,900 vehicles in August, its seventh straight month above 100,000 units. The Acura brand scored its second best month of the year, with strong sales of 11,997 units in August.
Honda electrified sales set an all-time record with 35,886 units, led by hybrid-electric versions of the CR-V and Accord combined with the newly launched Civic hybrid and Prologue EV, which recorded its best sales since launch with 5,401 units. For Acura, all-electric ZDX SUV sales reached a monthly best of 1,003 units; ZDX Type S represented nearly 20% of sales in August.
Honda sold 88,726 light trucks, the segment's best-ever August performance, boosted by all-time record monthly sales for HR-V (15,711), best Pilot sales since July 2021 (14,093) and best-ever August for Ridgeline (5,030).
Civic sales were over 20,000 units for the seventh straight month as the Civic hybrid jumped out of the gate with sales of 2,304 in its first full month on the market.
Subaru
Subaru of America, Inc. reported 63,053 vehicle sales for August, an increase of 11.8% compared with August 2023 (56,407). SOA also reported year-to-date sales of 437,198 a 6.4% increase compared with the same period in 2023.
In August, Crosstrek achieved its best sales month of all time with 20,396 vehicles sold, surpassing the record of 16,092 set in September 2022, a 47% increase compared to August 2023. Outback was the second-highest selling carline in August with 16,435 vehicles sold. Forester had strong demand with 13,456 vehicles sold, but was down year over year as production ramps up to full capacity, and Solterra continued to see sales growth, achieving its best August ever, up 55% over the previous year.
Mazda
Mazda North American Operations reported total August sales of 41,259 vehicles, an increase of 36.7% compared to August 2023. Year-to-date sales totaled 283,611 vehicles sold, an increase of 16% compared to the same time last year.
Certified pre-owned sales totaled 7,481 vehicles in August, an increase of 30% compared to August 2023.
August 2024 sales highlights included best-ever sales of CX-50 with 8,668 vehicles sold, CX-90 with 6,024 vehicles sold, and CX-70 with 1,352 vehicles sold.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America reported record total August sales of 79,278 units, a 22% increase compared with August 2023. Hyundai set total sales records in August for IONIQ 5 (+33%), Santa Fe HEV (+120%), Tucson (+14%), Tucson PHEV (+6%) Tucson HEV (+97%) and Palisade (+84%).
Hyundai's eco-friendly retail sales were up 49% in August, representing 25% of retail. Hybrid-only retail sales jumped 81% and retail EV sales climbed 27% with the IONIQ 5 increasing 74%. Retail sales for Tucson ICE (+36%), Tucson HEV (+113%) and Palisade (+65%) also performed exceptionally well. Fleet sales for the month were 7% of total sales.
Kia
Kia America closed August with record-breaking retail sales, higher than any other month in company history. The addition of the EV9 SUV led to a 27% increase in EV sales over the same period last year, while PHEV models increased 43% year-over-year, resulting in a 9% growth in sales of Kia's electrified models over August 2023. Also, the sales of Kia's SUV models posted a 9% gain.
Kia America August sales totaled 75,217 units, posting best August sales in company history, with SUVs accounting for 75% and electrified models 18% of the overall total. Four Kia models -- Seltos (+30%), Sportage (+23%), Telluride (+5%) and Forte (+13%) -- set best-ever August sales records.
