How Many Cars Are Sold Each Year in the U.S.?
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Millions of new and used automobiles are sold in the U.S. every year — over 52.2 million in 2022, to be exact. While car sales fell hard during the pandemic, inventory seems to have rebounded, and car sales are expected to rise overall as the U.S. and global economies continue recovering. Unfortunately, Americans will likely pay more for their vehicles, thanks to higher interest rates on car loans that could render many cars unaffordable.
As of 2024, the best-selling vehicles by volume in the U.S. are light-duty trucks, followed by crossover SUVs.
Jump to insightAs of December 2023, the top-selling vehicle model in the U.S. is the Ford F-Series, a light and medium-duty pickup truck model that sold 750,789 units in the past year. Sales are up 14.81% from the previous year.
Jump to insightUsed vehicle prices have fallen over the past couple of years, dropping from an average of about $28,000 per unit in December 2021 to about $26,000 per unit in December 2023.
Jump to insightOver 660,000 electric vehicles (EVs) were sold during the first six months of 2023, which represents a year-over-year increase of 57%. By September 2023, that number had exceeded one million, a record milestone in the EV market.
Jump to insightGeneral car sales statistics by year
Total sales of new, light-duty vehicles in the U.S. reached about 13.6 million units in 2022, while total used sales were just under 39 million units that year. All in all, about 52.2 million vehicles were sold in 2022.
Used vehicle prices have dropped in the past couple of years. In December 2021, the average used vehicle sold for about $28,000, which fell to about $26,000 per unit by December 2023. However, these lowered prices, coupled with the rise in the price of new vehicles, have created a supply shortage of used vehicles.
Sales by vehicle type
The Ford F-Series has been the top-selling vehicle in the U.S. for 42 years and the best-selling truck for 47 years.
Best-selling models by vehicle type in 2023
| Vehicle type | Make/model | Units sold |
|---|---|---|
| Compact | Toyota Corolla | 232,369 |
| Mid-size sedan | Toyota Camry | 290,649 |
| Minivan | Chrysler Pacifica | 120,665 |
| Pickup truck | Ford F-Series | 750,789 |
| Crossover SUV | Toyota RAV4 | 434,943 |
| Mid-size SUV | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 244,597 |
| Large SUV | Chevrolet Tahoe | 110,326 |
Electric vehicle sales
Electric vehicle sales in the U.S. reached approximately 1.56 million units in 2024, accounting for about 10% of all new light-duty vehicle sales. EV adoption has grown rapidly in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of 47% between 2020 and 2024.
Such numbers suggest an increase in both vehicle access and popularity. EV sales made up about 11% of the total light-duty vehicle sales in the U.S. in September 2023, a 3% increase from 2021. Currently, there are 103 models of electric vehicles for sale in the U.S., ranging from passenger cars to commercial vans.
- Tesla sales dominate the EV market. It’s the best-selling EV brand in the U.S., making up half of the EV models sold in the third quarter of 2023. It ranked 12th in the total number of unit sales among all auto producers in the U.S. from the second quarter of 2021 to the fourth quarter of 2023.
- EV brands still have work to do if they hope to solidify their foothold in the auto market, given the limited electric charging network in the U.S. While most charging occurs at home, the current public charging network can not support all EVs on the road. About one-third of public vehicle charging infrastructure in the U.S. is located in just one state: California.
Consumers may also be put off by the price of EVs. By June 2023, the average cost of a new light-duty vehicle was approximately $48,800, while the average price of a new EV was approximately $53,400. However, EV prices have been declining since 2022, while the average cost of a new light-duty vehicle is rising.
Cost of new vehicles by type
| Vehicle type | June 2021 | June 2022 | June 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV | $49,785 | $65,977 | $53,438 |
| New light-duty (non-luxury) | $42,334 | $45,927 | $48,808 |
| Used | $26,700 | $28,000 | $27,300 |
Top 10 best-selling vehicle makes and models over time
As of December 2023, the overall top-selling vehicle model in the U.S. is the Ford F-Series’ light and medium-duty pickup trucks.
Toyota holds three spots among the top 10 vehicle models sold in the U.S. as of December 2023, which is more than any other automaker.
- Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota have consistently been the top three auto sellers since 2021. Toyota is the biggest seller overall as of the fourth quarter of 2023.
- Globally, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car as of the first quarter of 2023.
California has been a steady leader in EV sales trends, and by mid-2023, about 26% of the new car sales in California were EVs. Several other states have emerged as EV market share leaders as well, including Washington state, Oregon and Nevada.
Sales trends
Labor and supply-related issues will likely keep new-vehicle prices high overall in the coming years, but EVs will become increasingly more affordable.
Greater demand and increased prices for new vehicles
Automotive experts believe that sales of new light-duty vehicles exceeded 15 million units in 2023.
As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic, the demand and affordability of new vehicles are expected to increase. Increasing financial incentives for consumers have made it favorable to purchase new vehicles in the current market. Sales incentives for buyers increased by 136% from November 2022 to 2023, with sales incentive packages now making up 5.2% of vehicles’ transaction prices on average.
New-vehicle prices remain elevated, but signs of relief have emerged. As of early 2025, the average transaction price (ATP) for new vehicles decreased year over year, with rising vehicle inventory and manufacturer incentives improving buyer affordability. According to Cox Automotive, incentives reached an average of 6.4% of the vehicle’s price before March 2025, a level not seen since before the pandemic. Despite sustained demand, price growth has slowed significantly, and the market is increasingly favoring buyers.
Paradoxical trend for used vehicles
Auto manufacturing slowed down significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to low used car inventories for many dealerships, which is expected to continue for years to come. But despite this tight supply, prices of used vehicles have fallen by about 7% since October 2022, and they are expected to keep dropping.
Greater sales of EVs
EVs made up about 7% of vehicle sales in 2022. That market share is expected to increase to between 48% and 63% by 2035 due to new legislation and other economic incentives.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offers tax credits to individuals, businesses and other entities as an incentive to switch to clean energy products, including EVs. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in 2021, allotted over $7 billion in grants to build more charging stations for EVs over the remainder of the decade.
FAQ
What is a light-duty vehicle?
Light-duty vehicles are defined as passenger vehicles that have a gross weight of less than 8,500 pounds. Light-duty trucks have a gross weight of 8,500 pounds or less.
What is an electric vehicle (EV)?
EVs are low-emission motor vehicles that are powered by electricity. An EV can be either an all-electric vehicle that runs exclusively on electricity or a hybrid vehicle that is powered by both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine.
Why isn’t there as much data on used vehicles?
Accurate used vehicle data is difficult to compile due to vehicle titles constantly changing hands, vehicles falling in and out of registration and the lack of a paper trail for many vehicles, especially those that were sold privately. Information for used vehicles is more likely to be sourced through consumer reporting than information for new vehicles, so it is often incomplete or inaccurate.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts, and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Statista, “Electric Vehicles - United States.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- Alliance for Automotive Innovation, “Get Connected: Electric Vehicle Quarterly Report Second Quarter, 2023.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- Internal Revenue Service, “Clean Vehicle and Energy Credits.” Accessed December 4, 2024
- International Council on Clean Transportation, “Analyzing The Impact Of The Inflation Reduction Act On Electric Vehicle Uptake In The United States.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- Atlas EV Hub, “One Million EVs Sold Through September 2023.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- GoodCarBadCar, "2023 U.S Auto Sales Figures – By Model (All Vehicle Ranked).” Accessed July 24, 2025.
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- Kelley Blue Book, “Is Now the Time To Buy, Sell, or Trade-In a Car?” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- NPR, "UAW Reaches Tentative Deal with Stellantis to End the 6‑Week Strike." Accessed July 24, 2025.
- U.S. Department of Energy, “Electric Vehicle Registration Counts by State.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- U.S. Department of Energy, “Vehicle Registration Counts by State (2023).” Accessed Sept. 29, 2025.
- GoodCarBadCar, “2023 U.S Large SUV Sales Figures (With Rankings).” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- TransportPolicy.net, “US: VEHICLE DEFINITIONS.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- Cox Automotive, “Used-Vehicle Inventory Remains Constrained Throughout Year.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- Reuters, “China was top market for Tesla Model Y, world's best-selling car in Q1.” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- F&I Tools USA, “Car Sales by State.” Accessed Dec. 19, 2023.
- Cox Automotive, “Used‑Vehicle Inventory Drops Slightly as Sales Hold Steady (June 2025 Live Market View).” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- GoodCarBadCar, “2023 U.S Best Selling Vehicles (All Segments).” Accessed July 24, 2025.
- International Council on Clean Transportation. “U.S. Passenger Electric Vehicle Sales and Model Availability Through 2024.” ICCT. Evaluated July 24, 2025.
- Cox Automotive. “New‑Vehicle Average Transaction Price Decreases Year Over Year and Incentives Increase.” Cox Automotive Inc. Evaluated July 24, 2025.
- TireReview, “U.S. BEV Sales Achieve 12% Growth in 2024, PHEV Sales Improve 39%.” Accessed Sept. 27, 2025.
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