Tag Archives: auto sales

Global Light Vehicle Sales Slow in February to 79.7 Million SAAR

Global light vehicles sales slowed in February for a seasonally adjusted annualized rate or SAAR of 79.7 million units. Some of the decrease was due to the timing of the Chinese New Year during the month instead of January. The consultancy LMC Automotive claimed that the first two months taken together are running as 82.7 million units per year, and is likely a more stable measure of recent demand levels. Continue reading

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GM Posts August Sales Record in China as Its Biggest Maker

General Motors and its government-mandated joint ventures set a new August sales record in China as sales increased rose 7% from the previous August and 11% from July to 220,996 units. All three of GM’s large manufacturing joint ventures set sales records for the month. Shanghai GM’s domestic sales were up 12% on an annual basis to 110,209 units. SAIC-GM-Wuling’s sales in China rose 3% to 106,500 units. FAW-GM’s domestic sales increased 17% to 4,117 units. Continue reading

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Five of the Top Ten Sellers Are Now Detroit Three Vehicles

Five of the Top Ten selling vehicles in the U.S. during May came from the Detroit Three as strong pickup truck sales continued and the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion had solid months. As it has for 30 years, the F-150 led the list, and strong sales of the Chevrolet Silverado allowed it to nudge Honda out of third place with the Toyota Camry still in second place as it was in April. The Dodge Ram also reappeared in the Top Ten for the first time since February. All of the other spots were taken by Honda and Toyota, each with three models in the Top Ten. Continue reading

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EU Car Sales off 7% in January, Fifth Year of Declines?

EU car sales dropped yet again in January by 7.1% compared to a year ago, a troubling trend since car sales have declined for four straight years in the moribund European Union. The latest sales data from ACEA, the trade group of EU automakers, confirm what individual car company financial results have been indicating – the European economy continues to contract, and at rates greater than automakers anticipated as recently as last quarter or the quarter before that.

In total, 968,769 new registrations were recorded in the 26-nation EU region during January, which had on average one more working day than January 2011. Particularly hard hit were France (-20.7% for the second largest market) and Italy (-16.9% for the third largest market), with large negative consequences at PSA Group (-14.9%), Renault Group (-25.2%) and Fiat Group (-16.2 %.)

Germany (-0.4% for the largest EU market) and the United Kingdom (0% or flat for the fourth largest market) remained stable, with beneficial results for the biggest automaker in Europe, VW Group with its commanding 24% market share. Continue reading

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U.S. New Auto Sales to Drop in January for Third Month

Retail transactions are thought to be the most accurate measurement of underlying consumer demand for new vehicles, so the New Year starts for automakers with mixed results. A weak recovery of some sorts is underway, but auto sales are nowhere near their pre Great Recession levels where the retail SAAR was routinely above 14 million units. Continue reading

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Pickups, Compacts and Crossovers Lead Top Ten U.S. Sales

Three of the models, including the Ford F-Series – the top-volume model in the U.S. for the 30th straight year – were Ford products, while General Motors and Toyota Group each produced two of the 10 models with the highest sales volumes in the US market last year. Renault-Nissan Group and Fiat-Chrysler’s Ram each built one of the best-sellers. Continue reading

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Toyota Cuts 2012 Forecast as Yen and Thailand Floods Hurt

Toyota Motor Corporation today drastically cut its fiscal year 2012 forecast based on the ongoing negative effects of the strong Yen and the production disruptions caused by the Thailand floods. As a result, Toyota has revised down its 2012 full year profit forecast by -¥250 billion to ¥200 billion. Continue reading

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November U.S. Auto Sales Up – 11.3 Million Retail SAAR?

New-vehicle retail sales in November are increasing at a rate that could mean deliveries of 791,900 cars and light trucks, which represents a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 11.3 million units. Continue reading

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U.S. September SAAR Projected at Weak 10 Million Vehicles

September could be the first time that new-vehicle retail sales have remained strong throughout the month in the U.S. since the stronger selling rates at the beginning of 2011 before the economy stalled, according to projections from consultancy J.D. Power and Associates. Continue reading

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August Auto Sales Down Again, Below Recent Predictions

Hurricane Irene only added to ongoing auto sales woes, as consumer confidence declined yet again. Housing prices also dropped and not only the ones under water; the Federal government admitted, finally, that real GDP growth for the first half of 2011 was less than 1%; while Federal Reserve Board meeting notes showed that the governors were at a loss as to what to do next to stimulate a stalled economy. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Continues Growth in July. China Largest Market

Despite ongoing EU economic woes and profligate government debts, Volkswagen deliveries in Europe totaled 1.02 million models to customers in July (0.94; +8.1%), of which 556,500 (541,500; +2.8%) were delivered in Western Europe excluding Germany. Deliveries on the home market of Germany were, not surprisingly, better, with 352,700 (325,100; +8.5%) vehicles handed over to customers. Continue reading

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Porsche Sales Down in July, But Set New Record in China

Porsche said it had record sales in the Chinese market in July with deliveries of 2,484 vehicles, the best monthly result in China ever. In total the sports car manufacturer delivered 14,751 vehicles in the current financial year in what is now Porsche’s second largest market. This marks a 72.6 % increase compared with the period January to July 2010. The Cayenne especially is in strong demand in Asia. Continue reading

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BMW Group Posts Record Global Sales for July

BMW was the best-selling premium automobile brand in the US market, although incentive costs were rising to almost $3,000 a unit and Lexus was effectively shut out of the market because of earthquake shortages. Continue reading

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Debt Causes U.S. Treasury to Suspend Reinvestment in Exchange Fund. Last Stopgap Measure Taken before Default

The fund is a crucial financial tool because it includes purchasing or selling foreign currencies to stabilize international financial markets and thereby prevent damage to U.S. exports and the national economy.

Automakers had no immediate comment, but the uncertainty surrounding the effects of a default on U.S. debt – potentially turning the “almighty dollar” into a third world currency – has left executives cautious about predicting sales for the remainder of the year. U.S. sales declined in June for the second straight month. Continue reading

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U.S. Auto Sales Decline in June as Shortages and Cautious Consumers Result in a Weak Market and Overall Economy

U.S. auto sales in June declined for the second straight month but increased 7% compared to an admittedly weak 2010. Earthquake induced inventory shortages at major Japanese automakers continued to be a major factor in sluggish sales even though marketing executives denied what could be the beginning of another recession. Continue reading

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