Share of Import Cars Declines to less than 30% of Car Sales in 2013

In 1970, about 15% of all cars sold were imported (built outside of North America) and about 5% of all light trucks sold were imported. These import shares grew during the 1970’s and the early 1980’s. Following sharp declines in the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, import shares of both cars and light trucks rebounded, with import cars reaching a peak of just over 34% in 2009. Import light trucks reached their peak share in 1981 at almost 27% but accounted for just 16% in 2013. Import medium and heavy trucks have always represented a small percentage of the medium and heavy truck market totaling just 3.1% in 2013.