These are the top selling US auto sellers - See who has the top spot

The big three U.S. automakers remain dominant among the top US auto sellers in the third quarter, but high gasoline prices pushing people to hybrids are bringing a new player into the fold. 

What we know:

Despite a dip in sales during the third quarter, General Motors remained the top auto seller in America. Along with GM, the market share for them and the other members of the Detroit Three, Ford Motor and Stellantis, could slide nearly 36%, according to industry research. 

Dig deeper:

Cox Automotive says Asian brands including Toyota and Honda are expected to account for over half of all new car sales in the third quarter. With Toyota leading the way in the hybrid market, accounting for nearly half of all hybrid sales in the U.S. in the first part of the year, the electric cars are emerging as a top choice for consumers. 

What they're saying:

"September new-vehicle sales should maintain the path the market has been on since March, which is a low-mid 16 million pace. Strong fleet sales, wealthier vehicle buyers, and more access to credit are all keeping this market relatively strong in the face of many headwinds," said Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist at Cox Automotive. "High inflation and historically low consumer confidence have not discouraged buyers as much as might be expected. New-vehicle buyers today are more affluent, so they may not be as impacted by inflationary pressures as other consumers."

With sales of the popular Corolla hybrid at 633,223, up just over 13,000 from just one year ago, analysts say Toyota is the most likely automaker to get a boost from the shift. 

Big picture view:

Cox says the average price for a new car is up in August 1.9% to $50,089 from the previous year. GM has pushed out affordable models such as the Trax crossover, to help the dip in third quarter sales. 

Sales for Honda have gone up, even though they have stuck with their leasing strategy.

 

Cars and Trucks