The US automotive industry is going through one of the most brutal slumps in recorded history.

The reason for this is a severely strained supply chain. Manufacturers can't build enough cars to fill dealership demand, leaving most lots empty. And the dealer system isn't doing itself any favors by slapping hefty markups on cars. A few manufacturers have implemented procedures to keep this from happening, but it's still pretty much the status quo.

How bad is the situation? It's tough to paint a complete picture since only six manufacturers still report sales figures. But the figures from these six manufacturers provide an excellent sample representing what's most likely happening in the rest of the sector.

The total number of vehicles sold during May 2022 by Ford, American Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Mazda NA, Subaru of America, and Toyota Motor NA is 431,092. In May 2021, the number was 691,774 vehicles. That's a 37.7% drop. The year-to-date sales look less harsh, however. Compared to the same period last year, the decline in sales for the first five months of 2022 is 22.1%.

Comparing 2021 to 2022 figures, Mazda took the most brutal hit. In May 2021, it sold 42,187 units, but it only managed to move 15,312 units in May this year. That's a significant 63.7% drop. In the year-to-date sales column, Honda took the hardest knock. So far this year, Honda has sold 435,159 cars. Over the same five-month period last year, it sold 630,388 units. That's a 36% drop.

Doing well is a relative term these days. Subaru and Toyota did quite well, though both slipped by double digits. In May 2021, Subaru sold 56,558 units, and this year it flogged 42,526. That's a 24.8% drop, which is the best out of the lot. When it comes to year-to-date figures, Toyota managed to mitigate its losses, only slipping by 19.3%.

The leading manufacturer in combined sales for the year is Hyundai-Kia. It dipped by a significant 30% in the month-to-month comparison. Looking at all the combined car sales over the last five months, the picture is less bleak. Over the same period in 2021, these two brands combined sold 659,939, and so far this year, they sold 570,136. That's a 13.5% drop, which is the least out of the lot.

In terms of sheer volume, Toyota remains the market leader. So far this year, it has sold 1,084,548 cars. American Honda is in second place with 680,388 units sold and Hyundai-Kia in third with 659,939 vehicles.

The main driving force behind Toyota's success continues to be the RAV4, with the Honda CR-V and Hyundai's Tucson doing the same for their respective brands.