Last year set two notable vehicle records. First, the most cars ever sold, at 17.54 million. Second, light trucks accounted for almost 61 percent of all sales. Sales of more fuel efficient car fell, though electric vehicle sales increased.
"The strength of new 'car' sales was actually driven by light trucks, which reached a record 60.9 percent of all sales," reports Lawrence Ulrich, The Drive’s chief auto critic. Cheap gas, by historic standards, played a significant role.
Pickups and SUVs [led by crossovers] flew out of dealerships as fast as people could pump them full of affordable unleaded. Light truck sales leapt up 7.4 percent, even as traditional cars slumped by 8.9 percent in the face of the SUV onslaught.
Fuel economy and emissions
As a result of the major increase in SUV purchases and decrease in more efficient cars, "the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in 2016 was 25.2 mpg, down 0.1 mpg from 2015," according to an email by Michael Sivak, director of Sustainable Worldwide Transportation for the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, who referenced the group's latest data on vehicle fuel economy and emissions.
The drop in fuel economy translates to higher emissions. "The average new-vehicle driver produced 17% lower emissions in October 2016 than in October 2007, but 4% higher emissions than the record low reached last time in November 2015," Sivak adds.
Electric vehicle (EV) sales also set a record last year according to sales data provided by Jay Cole for Inside EVs.
In the United States, sales of all plug-in electrical vehicles (PEVs: any vehicle that has a plug and batteries so it can run on electricity, even if for only a short distance) was 159,139 last year, compared to 116,099 in 2015, an increase of 43,040 vehicles, or 37 percent. Not bad considering the price of gas!
But how does this good news compare with the total amount of vehicles sold? Less than 1 percent (0.91 percent, to be precise), not so good, but compared to last year's PEV share of 0.66 percent, it's an increase of 38 percent!
At that rate of progress, will EVs become more mainstream in the near future? One thing that will make a difference would be a significant increase in oil prices, but that appears unlikely in the near term.
FULL STORY: American Car Sales Just Set Another Record in 2016
Climate Concerns Largely Absent in Auto Showrooms
A consumer survey found that less than a third of respondents considered carbon emissions or the environment when they last purchased a motor vehicle, yet three-quarters of Americans consider climate change a major problem or crisis.
Fuel Efficiency Just Became Much More Important
Two widely cited University of Michigan transportation researchers urge consumers to drive more fuel efficient vehicles to reduce their own carbon emissions as President Trump works to relax vehicle fuel economy standards.
Hybrid and Electric Cars Take a Downturn in the Used Car Market
It's not just Americans favor SUVs and light truck over compact cars, but that a majority of EV and hybrid owners who have traded in their cars are opting for all-gas vehicles, and that spells trouble for meeting President Obama's climate goals.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service