TivoBuddy,
I think you are wrong on the definition of car sales. Car sales are recorded when it sold to a consumer (whether it is a person, a company or a fleet co (car rental)) AND a title is created. Based on your definition, every car on a dealer's lot is SOLD. <--- I Don't think so. Besides, the cars on dealer lots are not paid for, but they (mfg) do charge a finance fee (called a floor plan) to the dealer.

Car sales month are not calendar months. Many times, the first weekend of the next month is part of previous month's sales...And the month always ends on a Monday...don't know why...So a June 1 sale to you may in fact be in May's sales #. But it has nothing to do with when the dealer ordered the car from the OEM.