OEMs Report 2022 Gains & Losses: Q4 Results Roundup

As the new year kicks off and the industry continues to grapple with continued supply chain issues, several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) reported 2022 year-end results. Here are the highlights.

BMW

On Jan. 4, BMW reported ending 2022 strong as Q4 sales increased 9.4% over Q4 2021 and brand sales in the U.S. totaled 101,738 vehicles. However, total year 2022 sales were down by 1.3% compared to 2021. 

GM

General Motors also announced its Q4 and 2022 sales results. Last year, GM and its dealers delivered 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S., leading in total sales and extending its leadership in key market segments including full-size pickups and full-size SUVs, according to the company. GM saw 623,261 in U.S. sales — up 41% YOY — and over 2.2 million for the year, ending 2022 up 3% over the prior year.

GM said it plans to build on this momentum in North America in the coming year, growing its EV market share with nine EV models on sale, including the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, which both delivered the best sales year ever.

For its BrightDrop business, sales to small businesses were up 20% in 2022, and GM said it was the best year for commercial deliveries since 2006.

GM estimates 2023 sales of 15 million with improved availability and fewer supply chain impacts. The 2024 Chevrolet Trax arrives this spring with a starting MSRP of $21,495. Production of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado and 2023 GMC Canyon midsize pickups are slated to begin early this year, while the new 2024 Silverado HD and Sierra HD models aim to launch in Q1.

Honda

American Honda posted its best sales month since March as Honda and Acura combined to nearly 1 million units in 2022. Honda posted its second-best month and quarter of 2022, taking the brand above 880,000 in annual sales.

The Civic and Accord achieved their best sales of 2022 in December, with an annual record for Accord Hybrid. Honda said the all-new CR-V and HR-V remain in hot demand with strong December sales. Acura sales reached 102,000 units for the year. And the all-new Integra posted its third straight month topping 2,100 units to lead the luxury gateway segment in 2022.

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor America reported total December sales of 72,058 units, a 40% increase compared to December 2021 and the highest December sales in Hyundai history. Retail sales were up 27% last month, marking the fifth consecutive month of record-setting retail sales. SUVs were 74% of retail sales with more than 47,800 units sold, according to the company.

December saw the best-ever retail and total sales for the Venue, Elantra HEV, Elantra N, IONIQ 5, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson HEV, Santa Cruz, Kona EV, and Kona N. Eco-friendly vehicle retail sales grew 72% to December 2021.

In Q4, Hyundai sold 195,967 units, a Q4 total sales record, and an increase of 29% compared to Q4 2021. Eco-friendly vehicle retail sales for the quarter grew 40% compared to Q4 2021. For the year, Hyundai sold 724,265 units, a 2% decrease compared to 2021. However, it outperformed the industry with forecasts predicting a drop of 8.4% in total sales when adjusted for selling days.

Kia

Kia America announced its best-ever December sales of 60,422 units, an increase of 11.2% over the previous December record set in 2016 and up 25% YOY. With the close of 2022 sales, Kia also marked its best-ever Q4 performance, with annual retail sales volume of 654,554, an increase of 1.7% compared to the previous retail record in 2021.

Sales of Kia’s SUVs and utility vehicles represented 66.8% of the brand’s overall 2022 sales total lead by the Sportage, Telluride and Sorento. Three SUV models achieved new full-year records – Sportage, Telluride, and Niro.

Sales of Kia’s electrified offerings increased by 142% over the same period last year. Kia’s electrified models posted double- or triple-digit sales gains in six of the past 12 months.

Mazda

Mazda North American Operations reported total December sales of 27,292 vehicles, an increase of 40.5% over December 2021. Full-year sales totaled 294,908 vehicles, a decrease of 11.4% from 2021. With just 27 selling days in December, the company posted an increase of 40.5% on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

Mazda began sales of its CX-50 in the U.S. in April and began exporting the U.S.-assembled CX-50 to Canada and Colombia.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. reported fourth quarter 2022 sales of 20,756 and annual sales of 85,810 vehicles. Its fleet volume in Q4 represented the single-lowest percentage of total sales ever, and full-year fleet volume at its lowest ever as well, attributed to the brand maximizing dealer inventory for retail deliveries.

Since its spring 2022 launch, the Outlander remained the company’s top seller and record breaker, with 40,942 units sold through the full year, the best single year in the nameplate's history. Meanwhile, the 2023 Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) began arriving in dealerships in late November and set a new all-time single-month sales record, nearly 20% above any other single month in the history of the model. PHEV sales were up 200% year-over-year in its first full month.

Nissan

Nissan Group announced total U.S. Q4 sales for 2022 of 191,012 units, a decrease of 2% versus the prior year, as well as total calendar year 2022 U.S. sales of 729,350 units, a decrease of 25.4% percent compared to the prior year.

Its vehicles performed well over 2021, though: Sales of the Pathfinder were up 40% for the calendar year; Altima up 34.9%; and Frontier up 25.5% for the calendar year.

Stellantis

FCA US LLC shared sales of 347,669 vehicles in the fourth quarter and 1,547,076 vehicles for 2022. Overall, total U.S. sales for Q4 declined 16% while full-year results decreased 13%.

The company's total PHEV U.S. sales increased 26% YOY and 21% in the fourth quarter versus last year. Stellantis said it is setting the course for 50% passenger car and light-duty truck battery-electric vehicles (BEV) sales mix in the U.S. by the end of this decade.

Stellantis also said the Jeep Wrangler 4xe remains America’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle, with 43,176 (24%) of total Jeep Wrangler sales in 2022. Sales of the Wrangler 4xe increased 46% year over year, and 22% during the fourth quarter versus the same period last year. 

Two of the first all-new electric SUVs that will launch in North America, the all-electric Jeep Recon and Wagoneer, were revealed in September.

The Ram brand’s total U.S. sales within its commercial fleet channel increased 28% versus 2021; up 72% in total sales in the fourth quarter versus same period last year. Strength of demand for Ram commercial fleet vehicles gave the Ram ProMaster van its best-ever fourth quarter total U.S. sales, up 33% versus the same period last year.

Subaru

On Jan. 4, Subaru of America said its December sales were up 11% from 2021, with 56,760 vehicle sales for December 2022. With five consecutive months of sales increases, Subaru ended CY-2022 4.7% below CY-2021.

In 2022, Crosstrek was the brand’s top performer by volume with 155,142 annual sales, achieving its best year ever. Outback followed closely with 147,262 vehicle sales, while Forester added 114,096 annual sales in 2022.

Toyota

Toyota Motor North America also reported year-end 2022 U.S. sales of 2,108,458 vehicles, a decrease of 9.6% on a volume basis and 9.9% on a daily selling rate basis compared to 2021. However, its fourth quarter 2022 sales increased 13.1% on a volume basis and DSR basis compared to same quarter in 2021. December 2022 sales in the U.S. totaled 180,147 vehicles, an increase of 3.5% on a volume basis and DSR basis compared to December 2021. Toyota’s 2022 electrified vehicle sales of 504,016 represent nearly 24% of total sales volume.

It said the Corolla is the No. 1 compact car in America; Camry is the No. 1 passenger car for the 21st consecutive year; Tacoma is top small pickup for the 18th consecutive year; and RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in the U.S. for the seventh consecutive year.

Toyota also announced an additional $2.5 billion investment at its North Carolina manufacturing plant to produce batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles. It’s expected to start production in 2025.

ICYMI: Ford’s F-Series

In other OEM news, Ford announced its F-Series has surpassed 640,000 trucks in 2022, and is America’s best-selling vehicle for 41 years after selling an average of at least one truck every 49 seconds last year. For more details, visit the news story on our sister site, Work Truck.