U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #281: August 18, 2003
Historical Light Vehicle Market Share

More than half of light vehicles sold in the United States in 2002 were light trucks, which include sport utility vehicles, pickups, and vans. The graph below shows that the shift in market share from cars to light trucks began in the early 1980s.

Light Vehicle Market Share, 1976–2002
Graph: Light Vehicle Market Share, 1976-2002

Supporting Information

Light Vehicle Market Share, 1976–2002
Year Cars Light Trucks
1976 80.1% 19.9%
1977 80.8% 19.2%
1978 79.0% 21.0%
1979 79.4% 20.6%
1980 80.4% 19.6%
1980 80.4% 19.6%
1982 78.2% 21.8%
1983 76.5% 23.5%
1984 73.9% 26.1%
1985 72.1% 27.9%
1986 71.0% 29.0%
1987 69.4% 30.6%
1988 68.6% 31.4%
1989 68.1% 31.9%
1990 67.1% 32.9%
1991 67.4% 32.6%
1992 64.9% 35.1%
1993 62.4% 37.6%
1994 60.9% 39.1%
1995 59.5% 40.5%
1996 58.1% 41.9%
1997 55.9% 44.1%
1998 53.1% 46.9%
1999 51.9% 48.1%
2000 51.9% 48.1%
2001 50.9% 49.1%
2002 49.0% 51.0%

Note: Light vehicles are less than 8,500 lb gross vehicle weight rating.
Source: ORNL MPG and Market Shares Database System, 2003.

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