The holiday season is expected to drive full-year auto sales within a short reach of a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 2014 new car sales in the U.S. of 17 million. One industry firm, TrueCar, has already predicted a SAAR of 17 million, while WardsAuto is predicting 16.95 million. The analysts at Kelley Blue Book (KBB) are being more cautious with a predicted SAAR of 16.7 million.

The month of December is expected to close the year with a bang. Edmunds.com says the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day will see sales rise 78% compared with an average December 2014 week. This year December has one more selling day than last December. According to Edmunds, December is one of the most popular months for luxury car buying due to pointed marketing targeting a closing out older model year inventory.

WardsAuto is forecasting total December sales of 1.51 million light vehicles, the second highest total since 1980 and not far behind December 2004’s total of 1.53 million units sold.

KBB forecasts December sales of light vehicles at 1.49 million units, up 9.8% year-over-year for the month and up nearly 15% over November 2014.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU) is expected to post a year-over-year sales increase of 20.5% to 194,000 units for a market share increase from 11.9% to 13.0%, according to KBB. Consumer demand for the company’s Jeep Cherokee and Ram pickups just doesn’t not seem to quit. For the full year, Chrysler sales are forecast to rise to more than 2 million units, growth of more than 16% over 2013. Chrysler sold about 171,000 units in November.

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KBB estimates General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) will sell 246,000 units in December, up 6.9% year-over-year but down 0.5% in market share to 16.5%. In November, GM sold about 226,000 units

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) is expected to sell 225,000 units in December, up 3.9% year-over-year, but a drop of 0.9% in market share. Ford’s November sales totaled about 186,000, and the big jump in unit sales is likely due in part to the new F-150 aluminum-bodied trucks finally beginning to reach dealer lots.

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) is forecast by KBB to sell 212,000 units in December, up 11.1% compared with December 2013 and up to 14.2% market share. In November, Toyota sold about 183,000 units.

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) is expected to sell 149,000 units in December, up 10.2% from 135,255 a year ago. Honda sold nearly 122,000 units in November, according to KBB.

KBB also forecast a 14.2% sales jump for Volkswagen Group, with sales totaling 62,000 units, up from 54,274 a year ago. VW’s November sales totaled about 53,000, so the KBB estimate is a big turnaround for VW in December.

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