Could We See Sales of 3,000,000 Pickups in 2018?
If you read only the headlines about the auto industry, you'd think auto sales have peaked and that we're likely to see lower overall auto sales numbers for the next several years. But if you read the stories and pay attention to pickup truck sales numbers, you'd see the opposite is true and that pickup sales may be gaining momentum. All the full-size pickup players are doing well and are likely to continue that trend for the foreseeable future.
There's no question 2008 and 2009 were a low point for the auto industry, when the country was hit by an economic recession and the total annual vehicle sales hovered around 10 and 11 million units. Sales are on track to be more than 17 million for 2017.
We've been keeping track of U.S. pickup truck sales for decades. Let's look at the numbers from the last five years to see how pickups have been doing. The numbers below are rounded total sales for the year.
- 2013: 2,175,000 (13 different pickup trucks on sale for the year)
- 2014: 2,320,000 (11 pickup trucks on sale)
- 2015: 2,544,000 (11 pickup trucks on sale)
- 2016: 2,692,000 (11 pickup trucks on sale)
- 2017 projection: 2,750,000 (2,537,000 by November 2017 vs 2,420,000 by November 2016)
- 2018 projection: 3,000,000
With all-new vehicles such as the popular Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 pickups coming to market in 2018 — we'll see both up close for the first time at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January — as well as rumors that Ford will have a new diesel and possible early entrance for the mid-size Ranger, you can see why we're optimistic about total sales for pickups continuing an upward trajectory for the next several years. And don't count out what Toyota and Nissan have planned either.
Manufacturer images
Comments
People are slowly realizing that pickups are more than just work trucks; they're well rounded family vehicles for every situation.
Watch for Ford to sprinkle some of that special magic fairy dust on their military grade trucks for 2019 so that they appear to be better than the competition.
If GM puts that ugly Chevy they debuted in Texas in production, you can count them out of this number.
What's up with those front fenders?
That truck is awful!
The rumor on the net is that the world economy is supposed to crash big time in 2018, if that is true we won't see 3 million trucks sold in 2018. Personally I hope that that doesn't happen and that the automakers sell 3 million trucks next year, with 900K of those trucks being RAM sales! LOL I know, wishful thinking.
Mark I like the new website, this is much better than the last one!
Military grade- you may want to change that name unless you feel the same way about GM who is using aluminum now anyways. That ship has sailed, but anyway, Military sounds better anyway than professional grade. Gm marketing has never been real good at attracting people with ads. I love how the cars now they try to compare to lexus, or BMW. Everyone knows if you can afford a bmw, you wont even look at the gms.
The economy will be fine, big tax cuts coming for corporations, more jobs and and increasing economy on the way, it will be well over 3M trucks sold.
-CT
@me
People always love to predict disaster in the middle of a bullish economy. That's not new.
Here's what's new:
*Since early November of 2016 over 50 companies listed on the Dow and the Standard & Poors indexes have increased their market capitalization by over 100 percent.
*Unemployment is at its lowest point in fifteen years.
*Consumer confidence is off the charts
*Consumers are paying down credit card debt at the highest rate in over 10 years.
*Major American industrial companies like GM, CAT, 3M and Cummins are having their best growth in a long time.
Learn to love it. The good times are back.
That new Chevy is ugly! Are you listening GM?
That new Chevy is ugly! Are you listening GM?
Posted by: Old GM Guy | Dec 21, 2017 1:08:47 PM
They are not.
Judging by the comments on this site, even some of the fans of other trucks have given it a nod.
There will be plenty of trims that will give you options. You haven't even seen the GMC design yet, which tends to always look better to me.
Relax bud!!!
You can rest assured that as always, GM will be the biggest contributor to the 6 million sales milestone.
I am by no means a chevy fan but the new model is a great looking truck. Still would be my last choice of the big 4.
@GMS.
Three words that are seldom true- Always, Every and Never.
As The Lawn Ranger says- Post responsibly.
@GMS.
Three words that are seldom true- Always, Every and Never.
As The Lawn Ranger says- Post responsibly.
Posted by: FXDX1450 | Dec 21, 2017 2:28:27 PM
Sounds a little pot meet kettle.....
WITH THAT NEW SILVERADO THE SALES FOR IT ALONE WILL BE A MILLION. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING TRUCK. GUESS THE UGLY FORD JUNK WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE BACKSEAT IN SALES, SOMEWHERE UNDER THE TOYOTA RIDGELINE.
WITH THAT NEW SILVERADO THE SALES FOR IT ALONE WILL BE A MILLION. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING TRUCK. GUESS THE UGLY FORD JUNK WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE BACKSEAT IN SALES, SOMEWHERE UNDER THE TOYOTA RIDGELINE.
@GMS.
Three words that are seldom true- Always, Every and Never.
As The Lawn Ranger says- Post responsibly.
Posted by: FXDX1450 | Dec 21, 2017 2:28:27 PM
Sounds a little pot meet kettle.....
Posted by: andrwken | Dec 21, 2017 2:56:52 PM
DITTO!
@GMS.
Three words that are seldom true- Always, Every and Never.
As The Lawn Ranger says- Post responsibly.
Posted by: FXDX1450 | Dec 21, 2017 2:28:27 PM
Sounds a little pot meet kettle.....
Posted by: andrwken | Dec 21, 2017 2:56:52 PM
DITTO!
@GMS.
Three words that are seldom true- Always, Every and Never.
As The Lawn Ranger says- Post responsibly.
Posted by: FXDX1450 | Dec 21, 2017 2:28:27 PM
Sounds a little pot meet kettle.....
Posted by: andrwken | Dec 21, 2017 2:56:52 PM
DITTO!
We'll make 3,million trucks sales, as the last Ford retards will wake up and trade in for the new and better GM and Ram trucks. Watch to see Ford fall to 3rd place as no one wants the eco turd booster junk that keeping breaking down!
I dont even care who sells more trucks,,I want electric one such as Workhorse or Tesla
https://youtu.be/cmGz7HPgyJ8
I know the new 2019 Silverado is reallly nice...just trying to stir things up. I was just being sarcastic.
The economy will continue to do well thru out 2018. The new Silverado/Sierra and Ram to be introduced later in 2018 will provide even more sales. Ram is smart to continue to produce the old model as a value buy--this will increase Ram sales and provide more capacity. I doubt F sales will be drastically hurt even if they went down they would not go down by much and that would probably be temporary. I see more factory incentives including no to low financing and leasing to expand sales even more. Ram might not take the No 2 position from Chevy but they will come very close to it. I do see the economy eventually slowing down but that is part of the normal economic cycle of boom and bust and that is hard to know exactly when that will happen. I believe that when the Ranger is introduced that it will increase midsize truck sales overall renewing an interest in this segment. Most of the new pickups that I see on the road whether they are full size or midsize are well optioned crew cabs. Many families are buy crew cab trucks as a second family vehicle replacing the family sedan.
MAGA
Morons Are Governing America
Supposed to be 2.8 million Pickup sales by 2025 outside NA going by b the spectacular increaes in sales Globally. . Ww will see
Ford can't make the F-150's fast enough
once new customers take the Ecoboost for a test ride they are in love
Ford can't make the F-150's fast enough once new customers take the Ecoboost for a test ride they are in love. Posted by: Ecoboost Rules | Dec 24, 2017
@Ecoboost Rules
In another week you'll see the sales stats for 2017, and it will be another Number 2 finish for Ford. GM will outsell Ford in 2018 too.
In another week you'll see the sales stats for 2017, and it will be another Number 2 finish for Ford. GM will outsell Ford in 2018 too.
Posted by: papajim | Dec 24, 2017 4:10:52 PM
Yep. Ford will have to be happy being #1 in full size sales until the Ranger makes it to the market. Until then GM brings 8 trucks to the fight -vs- 4 for Ford and gets a very slim margin of victory in sales. Good job GM bring the mid size market back to the U.S. sooner than Ford.
GM will utilize a fail proof strategy in 2019. Everything in the lineup will wear the Silverado name tag, therefore making it count in truck sales under one class. The Silverado-Canyon, Silverado-Colorado, Silverado-Cruze, Silverado-Malibu, Silverado-Tahoe, Silverado-Equinox.....etc.etc. That would mean Silverado out sells Fords 2 different truck brands, F-150 and SuperDuty. Prove my point wrong! Aww man I can't wait!!
@Twilight Zone
Hey I'll take your tax break money if you don't want it....
I agree 100% with Old GM Guy. The ugly front fenders and front bumper of the new Silverado look like have been designed by a failed first year design student. It is crazy how a big company like GM can jeopardize their future putting for sale such abominable newly designed truck. Pickup truck buyers are mostly conservative regarding the design, just need to see the low sales of the Tundra with its funky fake front look and its plastic front bumper.
I do not know how we are expected to pay 50k for a pick up truck. This is now out of my reach. My '09 is at 128k and need another 100k. Next vehicle will not be a full size truck to much money
GM will never out sell the Ford F150 that truck only outsells Gm's silverado and GMC sierra crap combined. I help build that Gm Crap not proud of it! I stop buying Gm before they took a crap in 2009 never looked back.
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