Only one of four Orange County-based automakers exceeded the national sales pace for new vehicles in February, according to New Jersey-based market researcher Autodata Corp.
U.S. auto sales were up 6.9% for the month, adding 1.34 million cars and light trucks, and are on track to reach 17.54 million for the year.
Kia Motors America Inc. in Irvine, part of Hyundai Motor Group, reported selling 49,737 cars and SUVs, a 13% increase. The brand’s 10th-consecutive monthly sales record was led by sales of its Soul and Optima models, with 11,842 and 9,630 units respectively. The automaker’s year-to-date sales total 88,042, up 6.9%.
“With our Super Bowl ad, Presidents’ Day Sales Event and prominent role in the NBA All-Star Game, February was a huge month for Kia,” Michael Sprague, Kia’s chief operating officer and executive vice president, said in a statement.
Two other OC-based brands trailed the national pace of sales increases while another posted a decline from a year earlier.
Hyundai Motor America in Fountain Valley, with 53,009 units sold, was up 1%. Sales of the South Korea-based Hyundai Motor Co. subsidiary have increased 1% so far this year to 98,020 cars and SUVs.
Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. sold 7,870 vehicles, up 4.5%. It sold 14,134 year-to-date, about the same as in January and February of 2014.
Mazda North American Operations in Irvine was down 16% to 21,544 vehicles. The automaker’s 2016 sales added up to 41,247, a 10.2% decrease.
U.S. auto dealers overall have sold 2.49 million vehicles so far this year, a 3.5% increase compared with the same two months in 2015.
