17 mln cars sold in the US in 2005, US automakers had 56.9% share

Chevrolet was the best-selling brand in the US market in 2005, outpacing Ford for the first time in 19 years, General Motors said. The Big Three US automakers' sales were down 2% overall, while Asian brands' sales climbed 7% and European brands fell 3%. US automakers' US market share fell to an unprecedented low of 56.9%, from 61.7% just three years ago, according to Autodata. Asian brands' US market share rose to 36.5%, up from 34.6%. The total number of vehicles sold in the United States was nearly 17 mln, about the same as the year before.