Supply Chain Research

Sales of imported cars and trucks did better than domestic vehicles in the U.S. in January, having risen 2.6% vs. a 1.6% drop in total sales. However, it was light trucks that led the way with a 14% surge to a new record of 2.6 million on an SAAR basis, whereas cars fell to the second lowest since at least 1996. While there isn’t a one-to-one relationship between imports and sales – forecourt wait-time being the biggest uncertainty – the confidence in further growth from manufacturers looks weak. There was a 12% rise in seaborne imports in the fourth quarter that may have reversed to a 1...