U.S. auto sales will hit 17 million in 2015 for the first time since 2001, the two consultancies also said.

And they said this year's total U.S. auto sales will be 16.5 million, up 5.8 percent from 2013.

For December, U.S. auto sales will reach 1,498,200 vehicles, JD Power and LMC Automotive said.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)