NEW YORK--U.S. light-vehicle sales declined 1.4% year-over-year in July to an estimated 1.38 million units, while the seasonally adjusted annual selling rate eased to 16.5 million vehicles from 16.7 million in June, according to preliminary estimates from GlobalData.
Retail sales fell 1.3% to 1.17 million units, while fleet sales declined 2% to approximately 206,000 vehicles, GlobalData reported.
GlobalData said General Motors retained the top spot among automakers with an estimated 228,000 sales and a 16.6% market share, followed by Toyota Group with 216,000 units and a 15.7% share. Hyundai Group edged Ford Group for third place for the first time since March, excluding Ford's medium-heavy pickup trucks. At the model level, the Ford F-150 reclaimed the nation's best-selling vehicle title for the first time since December 2025, ahead of the Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Silverado.
"Overall, July's sales were still robust despite affordability challenges, boosted by returning lessees and demand for hybrids," David Oakley, manager of Americas sales forecasts at GlobalData, said in a statement.
Oakley said hybrid demand continues to benefit automakers with broad electrified lineups and added there was little evidence that higher gasoline prices or geopolitical tensions significantly dampened consumer vehicle purchases during the month.
Despite the modest July decline, GlobalData left its 2026 U.S. light-vehicle sales forecast unchanged at 16 million units, which would represent a 1.7% decline from 2025. The firm said sales have averaged a healthy 16.4 million annualized pace over the past five months, although slower activity late in July suggests the market could soften during the remainder of the year.