Auto market check in: Production uneven despite stronger late sales

Ahead of second-quarter earnings season and with a full six months of sales data available, government production and inventory figures provide an opportunity to assess how the US automotive manufacturing sector has performed through the first half of 2026.

While retail sales strengthened late in the period, production, inventories and import flows present a more nuanced picture of the automotive end market.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.