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Houston-area dealers sold 385,835 new cars, trucks, and SUVs in the 12 months ending February ‘26, according to TexAuto Facts published by InfoNation Inc. Sales climbed 6.8 percent from the same period last year, driven by a 9.7 percent jump in trucks and SUVs that tempered the 4.3 percent decline in car sales, as consumer preferences continue to shift toward larger vehicles.

The first two months of ‘26 started out the year almost on par with ’25. The 61,148 vehicles sold represent a slight 0.6 percent decrease from the 61,514 sold last year. Trucks and SUVs continued to dominate across the board, representing 81.9 percent of sales in the two-month period.

Overall vehicle prices dropped year-over-year in February, alongside declines in both segments of the market:

• The average retail price for all new vehicles was $51,886, down from $52,513 in February ’25.
• The average retail price for a new truck/SUV was $54,539, down from $54,754 in February ’25.
• The average retail price for a new car was $41,127, down from $42,631 in February ’25.

Prepared by Greater Houston Partnership Research

Clara Richardson
Research Analyst
[email protected]