As AutoNation announced that June’s new-vehicle sales soared for the retailer by double digits year-over-year, the American International Automobile Dealers Association reported this past month’s SAAR pushed past 14 million.

Driving higher than expected this June, the seasonally adjusted annual rate came in at 14.08 million units — up from 11.56 million a year ago — according to numbers provided by Autodata Corp.

“Demand for new cars isn’t softening,” said AIADA president Cody Lusk. “All indications are that the automotive industry’s recovery is both solid and lasting.”

And specifically, AutoNation’s results go hand-in-hand with this upward trend.

The company revealed it sold 22,862 retail new vehicles this past month, marking a 38 percent year-over-year increase.

And it seems vehicles in the retailer’s import business segment  were drumming up the most shopper interest at AutoNation.

Breaking it down further, the company noted it sold 7,066 domestic units (up 25 percent year-over-year), 11,579 import (up 56 percent year-over-year) and 4,217 premium luxury (up 20 percent year-over-year).

The retailer is also seeing rises in sales for the second quarter as a whole.

In fact, for the second quarter of 2012, AutoNation’s retail new vehicle unit sales  increased 31 percent, with domestic up 18 percent, import up 47 percent, and premium luxury up 18 percent, in each case as compared to the second quarter of 2011.

A Better June Than Expected

As June’s SAAR moved past 14 million, sales among international brands led the way, reported AIADA,

“International brands maintained their share of the U.S. market in June, capturing 53.6 percent of the U.S. market,” AIADA officials noted.

“Although the share was down slightly from the 54.5 percent they held the previous month, overall sales showed a year-over-year improvement as international brands sold 688,794 vehicles; last June they sold 525,907 units,” they continued.

And which international brands held the most market share this past month?

Honda and Toyota led sales growth in June, up 45.6 and 57.5 percent respectively.

“The Japanese manufacturers appear to be fully recovered from last year’s tsunami and subsequent production interruptions,” officials added.

The two brands also held a significant piece of the market pie —Toyota held a 13.8 percent share, up from the 10.5 percent share it held in June of last year. Honda had a 9.7 percent share, up from 8 percent.

Breaking international sales down further, Asian automakers held a 44 percent share of the U.S. market, down slightly from the 45.5 percent share they held in May of this year, but up more 34.4 percent over last June, “which was at the height of production issues following Japan’s spring tsunami and earthquake.”

Specifically, Asian automakers sold 565,302 units, AIADA reported.

Next up, European brands sold 123,492 units totaling 9.6 percent of the market, up from 9.1 percent in May.

Domestic brands finished the month with 46.4 percent of the market, selling 596,761 units; sales are up 13.2 percent year-over-year.

Interest in Gas Suppers Wane as Fuel Prices Fall

AIADA also reported that the top ten selling vehicles in June reflect current falling gas prices, with sales of less fuel-efficient vehicles picking up.

“Although the Toyota Camry maintained its lead as the top selling car in the U.S., it slipped to third place behind the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado pickups,” officials shared.

And international brands occupied four of the top ten selling vehicle spots in June, down from five last month.

The Honda Accord came in at No. 5 on the list, followed by the Honda Civic in seventh, and the Toyota Corolla/Matrix in the eighth position.

At No. 10 last month, the Honda CR-V dropped to the 11th spot in June, “although sales for the popular crossover were up 50.3 percent over last June,” officials added.

Also reflecting the fall in gas prices, the SUV/Crossover segment was up 23.7 percent in June, selling 387,597 vehicles.

That said, the mid-size car segment was up the most — sales were up 31.6 percent, selling 331,599 vehicles in June.

Pickup trucks were up 7.9 percent, selling 162,740 vehicles.

And even though prices are coming down at the pumps, the small car segment still “made a strong showing”, selling 237,839 vehicles and up 22.1 percent over last June, AIADA reported.

AIADA also offered the following charts to illustrate their report: