New vehicle registration is down 16.5% compared to 2019, according to a Colorado Automobile Dealers Association report released Thursday.

The report looks at vehicle registration from January to August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This year, new vehicle registrations totaled 139,717 vs. 2019’s 167,414.

The report also found that car registrations fell 36.1% and light truck registrations decreased 11%.

“The pandemic continues to restrain the U.S. economy and specifically disrupt auto sales,” CADA President Tim Jackson said. “In Colorado, new vehicle registrations through August are still in negative territory, although the percentage of decline has improved from a month ago.”

The report found a sharp downturn in the car market. Nationally, the new vehicle retail market is down 19.8% and Colorado’s used vehicle market declined 18.1%

Some foreign car markets are taking the hardest hits, with Japanese and European brand registrations down 19.3% and 18.7%. Domestic brand registrations are down 14.5%.

Lincoln and RAM are the only vehicle brands whose registrations have increased compared to 2019, rising 5.9% and 1%, the report said.

Jackson said struggling car sales are a result of tighter inventories of new models and manufacturers’ decreased incentives on new vehicle sales because of COVID-19.

“On the upside, Colorado’s consumers are benefitting from steady gas prices, historically low interest rates and innovations by new car dealers,” Jackson said. “Showrooms are open and dealers are actively selling online and at the dealership, while offering test drives and home deliveries when requested.”

Colorado’s market share leaders are Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Chevrolet and Jeep. Toyota’s share is higher in Colorado than in the U.S., exceeding national share levels by 1.1 points.

Registration numbers versus sales numbers run about two months behind. Monthly registration figures can fluctuate because of processing delays by governmental agencies.