Sport-utility vehicles and hybrids helped Honda Motor Co. increase sales in 2024. The automaker, which bases several North American operations in and around Marysville, recently announced its December and full-year sales. For the year, sales rose 8.8% to 1.42 million Honda and Acura vehicles. December sales were up 9.9%

Ford Motor also benefited from an increase in hybrid sales, which helped the automaker's total vehicle sales rise 4.2% in 2024. The Dearborn, Michigan, company's total hybrid sales roughly doubled that of its EVs, with 187,426 hybrids sold and 97,865 EVs.

U.S. new-car sales in 2024 continued to rise from their pandemic lows, bolstered by replenished inventories, higher incentives and surging demand for hybrid vehicles, automakers reported on Friday. Automakers are projecting strong sales will continue into 2025,

While sales improved, consumers are taking on bigger financial burdens to buy new cars, or turning to the used car market.