Expectations For December Auto Sales: The Big 6

Analysts Rod Lache, Mike Levin and Robert Salmon noted that the rate is close to last month's 17.8 million-unit rate and the 17.4 million-unit rate for the year-to-date period. The analysts broached the possibility of potential upside to the high 17-million range, provided retail sales improve with year-end discounts. Retail sales were currently lagging fleet in the month, the analysts noted.

For 2017, Deutsche Bank expects U.S. light vehicle sales of 17.4 million units, flat with last year, with higher fleet sales being the bright spot. Notwithstanding incentives rising to 10.6 percent of the ATP versus 9.9 percent in 2015, the firm noted that retail sales have lagged. Although the firm expects a sales decline in 2017 to 17 million units, it believes the risks of an industry downturn for the next year or two has reduced, given that the prospects for U.S. economic growth have improved.

Here are Deutsche Bank's growth estimates for individual automakers for December:

• Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV FCAU: (-9.8) percent, implying a market share of 11.5 percent versus 12.8 percent in 2015.
• Ford Motor Company F: +1.1 percent, implying a market share of 14 percent versus 14.7 percent in 2015.
• General Motors Company GM: +7.3 percent, implying a market share of 18.7 percent versus 14.5 percent in 2015.
• Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) HMC: + 4.7 percent, implying a market share of 9.5 percent versus 9.1 percent in 2015.
• Nissan Motor Co Ltd (ADR) NSANY: +9.9 percent, implying a market share of 9.2 percent versus 8.5 percent in 2015.
• Toyota Motor Corp (ADR) TM: +1.6 percent, implying a market share of 14.5 percent versus 14.4 percent in 2015.