February Pickup Sales

Best-Selling Pickup Trucks: February 2016

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Although the first two months are typically some of the slowest sales months of the year, February 2016 is shaping up to be one of the best Februarys in 10 years for some truckmakers.

Some analysts predicted that because of winter storms that hit much of the country in January, February could be a strong month because of pent-up demand. Others predicted the up-and-down volatility of the stock market might make buyers take a pause from dealer lots, but that prediction did not turn out to be accurate. With the exception of Chevrolet, GMC and Honda, all the other truck brands had a good month. Additionally, the fact that fuel prices remain low for most of the country seems to be helping pickup sales as well.

The big winner for February is Ram with an almost 25 percent gain over last year at this time and double-digit gains so far this year. Ford also had a solid sales result, beating the combined total of Chevy and GMC's full-size truck lineup. It's also worth noting that Nissan is gaining traction with the all-new full-size Titan XD turbo-diesel as it gets into more dealerships, posting yearly and monthly gains of more than 25 percent with momentum building.

Chevy is the biggest question mark on the chart, with February sales percentages well behind the industry average, although it should be noted it did have a strong February 2015. Conversely, the Colorado had a strong sales month, outselling its arch rival, the Frontier, by more than 500 units. GMC sales were flat.

Tacoma sales continue to be strong, up double digits for the year and almost 15 percent for the month. Since the Tacoma and Tundra are built in the same production facility, if Toyota determines it needs more of one model than the other, then production of one truck goes up while production of the other goes down. And that's what we're seeing as Tundra sales aren't keeping up with the 2015 pace. We're guessing that trend will continue through the summer.

March tends to be the beginning of the strongest part of the pickup-selling season for full-size pickups (summer through fall), but much is likely to depend on continued market instability and/or fuel-price changes; then again, a contentious presidential election and predicting how new-vehicle buyers might react make sales predictions anyone's guess.

PickupTrucks.com

First, thanks for posting these every month Greg.

Second, Ram is kicking some tail and doing well. Any idea what may be driving the sales?

Third, how does the Ridgeline go negative?

Last, the Titan is doing a lot better than previous but with numbers that low up is about the only way to go.... I wonder how many are with the Cummins.

On a side note, if the 5.9 and now to a lesser extent the 6.7 in Rams is such an icon as an inline 6, why does Cummins keep coming out with V engines for other applications? Space limitations maybe?

Not all sales are created equal.  Lost in the drivel PUTC analysis of GMC

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GMC sales were flat

Not from PUTC wrote:

GMC continues to earn the highest average transaction prices (ATPs) among its competitive set. February ATPs of $42,300 were a record for the month (entire brand portfolio).

Denali trim penetration was the highest ever at 24 percent.

High trim, high content trucks are commanding high price points.  Don't believe this is confined to GMC.

The two people that bought Ridgeline's in January returned them in February.

7,394 Colorado units, is only second to December '15.

Comparatively to December '15 Ford and GM both are down 20k units.

The month to month swings are normal.  December '15 Ram sold 43,136, February '15 they sold 31,298.  Sustaining a baseline for three or more months, that would be a significant trend.

Inline sixes are a pain to package and force compromises that V block equipped vehicles don't have to content with.

Non-truck related.

Not from PUTC wrote:

Suburban, Tahoe were up 36 percent, 22 percent, respectively.  Suburban and Tahoe had their best February since 2008.

At the price point, these units are serious cash generators.

Ford sold 4941 Expeditions and Navigators, the Tahoe alone covered that plus 2k additional units.

theshyguy wrote:

First, thanks for posting these every month Greg.

Not a problem. Just trying to keep this boat afloat.

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how does the Ridgeline go negative?  

Editor's note: The Honda Ridgeline monthly sales numbers were updated on March 1 to correct information from the manufacturer.