2016 set to be record year for US auto sales

Research from Autodata shows auto manufacturers reported the strongest US January sales in a decade.

The data indicates General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Nissan all reported surprise sales gains instead of the predicted declines, while drops at Ford, Toyota and Honda were smaller than expected.

The industry’s annual sales rate was 17.6 million, the highest January since 2006, Autodata calculated, amid forecasts that 2016 is shaping up to be a record year.