Two of the four Orange County-based automakers beat the national sales pace for new vehicles in April, according to New Jersey-based market researcher Autodata Corp.
U.S. auto sales grew 4.6% last month, adding up to 1.45 million cars and light trucks, and are on pace to reach 16.5 million for the year.
Hyundai Motor America in Fountain Valley sold 68,009 vehicles nationwide, a 2.9% increase over the same period last year. The automaker’s sales so far this year are up 6.2% to 240,038 cars and light trucks.
Kia Motors America Inc. in Irvine reported selling 53,282 cars and SUVs, about the same as a year earlier. Its year-to-date sales totaled 194,382, up 4.1%.
Mazda North American Operations’ sales were up 7.5% to 24,123—its best April in the past 20 years. The Irvine-based automaker is up 1.7% for the year, with 102,167 vehicles sold.
Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. sold 8,216 vehicles—a 25.6% increase and its best April in the past seven years. The automaker’s year-to-date sales totaled 32,006, a 21.3% uptick over the same period last year.
“In March, we finished the first quarter of 2015 with an incredible sales pace, and that momentum carried over into April with our core models continuing to lead the way,” Mitsubishi’s Executive Vice President Don Swearingen said in a statement. He said the company’s cars’ pricing and low cost-of-ownership attracting buyers.
U.S. auto dealers have sold 5.4 million vehicles so far this year, a 5.4% increase compared with the same four-month period last year.
