Fact #770: March 11, 2013 Changes to the Top Ten Vehicles Sold over the Last Five Years

When reviewing the top ten vehicles sold in calendar years 2008 through 2012, the year 2011 stands out. Likely due to Japan's tsunami/earthquake and Thailand's flood, both of which disrupted the automotive supply chain for many manufacturers in 2011, the top ten vehicles sold in that year were different than previous years. In 2011, the Honda Civic and CR-V were not even on the top ten list for the first time in many years, and the Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord were near the bottom of the list. The Ford Escape and the Chevy Cruze made the top ten in 2011 for the first time in the five-year period. The top three vehicles have been nearly identical in each year, with the exception of 2009, where the Toyota Camry outsold the Chevy Silverado. The U.S. economy was in a recession that year, and the 2009 Cash for Clunkers Program which favored fuel-efficient vehicles also had an effect on sales in that model year. For 2012, the top ten vehicles sold resembles those of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The fuel economy in miles per gallon (MPG) is shown to the right of each vehicle name.

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