US new vehicle sales rose 2.7% last year as prices and interest rates dropped a little

New vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 2.7% last year as prices and interest rates eased a bit, making SUVs, cars and trucks a little more affordable. Industry analysts say discounts, such as rebates and low-interest financing, should get even better as 2025 rolls along. They see the biggest deals coming from dealerships representing automakers that had trouble selling in 2024. Motorintelligence.com says automakers sold just over 16 million vehicles in the U.S. last year. That despite high sales prices that averaged more than $47,000. It was the best year for sales since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.