New auto registrations in Los Angeles County surged 13.2 percent in January from the year prior, according to new data from Auto Outlook Inc. published by the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association.

The numbers could signal good news for the local market’s 2018 prospects after car sales decreased 4.7 percent last year from 2016.

Analysts expected the new car market to continue to soften this year after 2017 ended six years of record-breaking sales following the Great Recession.

That wasn’t the case in the opening month of the year, as sales of light trucks – including pickups and SUVs – fueled the overall increase in local sales in January, representing almost half of the more than 51,000 new autos registered in the county.

That’s an increase of 24.1 percent for light trucks, to almost 25,000 in January.

Low gas prices and models with improved mileage have created more demand for such light trucks in recent years.

Two luxury vehicles, Toyota Motor Corp.’s mid-size crossover Lexus RX, a sport utility vehicle, and Daimler AG’s compact Mercedes-Benz C-Class, cracked the top 10 best-selling models in L.A. County, which only included entry-level cars last year.

January’s market share for European brands, including Mercedes-Benz, nevertheless dipped slightly to 23.3 percent from 23.6 percent in January 2017.

The market share for South Korean brands also declined to 7.1 percent from 7.9 percent.

Brands posting including each of the three domestic automakers, which combined for 19.5 percent of the L.A. County market, up from 19.3 percent a year earlier. , Japan-based automakers strengthened their combined hold on the market to 50.1 percent from 49.2 percent.