Category Archives: sales

Offshore Brands Take 56% of U.S. Auto Market in March

Six of the top ten vehicles were international brands. At number six, the Toyota Prius made its strongest showing in history with sales of 28,711 units – a 54.3% increase over March 2011. As the top selling car in America, the newly revised Toyota Camry continued to sit in second place behind the Ford F-Series pickup truck; sales for the sedan were up 35.3% over March 2011. The aging Nissan Altima also remained strong at Number Three; Altima sales were up 27.1%. The new Honda CR-V held the fifth position – with sales up 54.3% – while the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic took the ninth and tenth spots, respectively. Continue reading

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U.S. Auto Sales Shift to Efficient and Less Profitable Cars

One potentially negative result because of the downsizing and easier credit trends is declining profits at automakers. The shift to smaller vehicles—in addition to the increase in financially less-qualified new–vehicle buyers, who tend to be younger and with less money to spend—means the average transaction price for new vehicles has dropped substantially in the recent quarter. Continue reading

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Chrysler, Ford and GM U.S. March Sales Continue Rebound

All of the Detroit Three continue to have weak spots as they face the resurgent Japanese and hard charging Korean automakers. However, all have critical car launches this year, which should keep the momentum going. One thing is becoming clearer as the year progresses – the offshore brands are coming back and the loyalty of their buyers remains as impressive as it remains a huge marketing challenge to the Detroit Three. Continue reading

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March U.S. Auto Sales Tracking 6% Higher than a Year Ago

he 2012 outlook for vehicle sales remains positive, as the first quarter selling rate is expected to come in at 11.6 million units for retail and 14.4 million units for total light vehicles. This sales tempo is ahead of the Power forecast for the full year of 11.4 million units for retail light-vehicles and 14.1 million units for total light vehicles. Continue reading

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Electric Sales for Prius C Hybrid after Three Days

While Detroit Three Automakers concentrate on increasing the transaction prices of their new models, Toyota Motor Sales is proving that price matters. In the first three days since the small Prius C went on sale it sold 1,201 units, bypassing sales of the much more expensive – two times the price – Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf for the entire month of February. The Volt plant in Detroit suspends production for five weeks starting next Monday because of slow sales. Continue reading

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February Car Sales Drop 10% as Eurozone Crisis Goes On

The dismal sales data, which has potential implications for the U.S. presidential election since all the Detroit Three companies are mired in losses from their European operations and previous taxpayer assistance remains controversial, confirmed what ACEA President Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat S.p.A. said two weeks ago. Continue reading

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Volkswagen Group February Sales Up 15%, Europe Weak at 1%

Still, executives are cautious. “We are very satisfied with the Group’s noticeably positive performance. However, we will remain vigilant over the coming months in spite of this clear upward trend and are keeping a very close eye on the markets – especially in Western Europe,” said Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales, in Wolfsburg on Friday. Continue reading

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Ford China Sales Up 28% in February, But Down 15% YTD

The new Focus, built at Changon 2 is the first of 15 new or revised models due from Ford China by 2015. If the downward sales trend continues, Ford Motor will be in financial trouble because three additional new manufacturing facilities are scheduled to open by the end of 2013. Continue reading

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GM Posts February Sales Record in China, Up 30%

The makes February the third highest for any month in GM’s history in China where it has led sales among foreign automakers for seven straight years. In January, GM sales dropped 8% year-over-year, and Ford’s plummeted 42%, leading to speculation that the Chinese economy is slowing down. Continue reading

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Volt Production Halted. Workers Laid Off for Five Weeks

The announcement of the setback to employees came Thursday after GM released February sales results that showed 1,023 Volts were sold in the U.S. GM has sold 1,626 Volts so far this year. Earlier in the day, a Chevrolet sales executive claimed that Volt sales would pick up now that it is approved for California HOV lanes and tax credits as a plug-in hybrid. Continue reading

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Only Nissan of Japanese Big Three Grows with Overall Auto Market in February. Toyota and Honda Lag Industry Slightly

Nissan North America reported record February U.S. sales of 106,731 units versus 92,370 units a year earlier, making for an increase of 15.5% over last February’s record total. Toyota Motor Sales moved 159,423 vehicles in February for a 12.4% increase in volume. American Honda reported February 2012 monthly new-vehicle sales of 110,157, an increase of almost 13%.

Since the overall light vehicle sales market grew by 16%, only Nissan actually kept pace with the slow recovery in auto sales that saw the best February since 2008, although Nissan also has the highest incentives in the group. Economic indicators – from consumer confidence to the stock and job markets, are showing the best results in four years. This is good news for automakers since sales are off to their strongest start industry-wide since 2008 at a strong seasonally adjusted annual selling rate or SAAR of 13.3 million light vehicles.

The difference among the Japanese Big Three was more pronounced in the higher-margin luxury segment. As usual, Lexus easily led the way with almost 17,000 luxury cars and trucks, followed by Acura at 11,000 and Infiniti at 9,000 vehicles. Continue reading

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Chrysler Group February 2012 U.S. Sales Up 40% as the Strong Comeback Continues for the Fiat Controlled Automaker

in February every Chrysler Group model posted a year-over-year sales gain, where the comparison was available. The Chrysler brand led the way with a 114% increase. The Fiat brand finished its first year of sales with its best month ever. Sales of the Fiat 500 were up 69% in February compared with the previous month. In 2011 Fiat sold 26,000 vehicles in the U.S. after predicting 50,000. Continue reading

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General Motors U.S. February Sales Up 1% as Last Year’s Incentives Are Claimed to have Hurt Results

General Motors Company today reported total sales of 209,306 vehicles in February, up 1.1% compared with the company’s February 2011 results, which were boosted by high incentive levels. Overall the industry was up almost 16% based on preliminary numbers. A question remains whether GM’s recovery has stalled in the face of a strong seasonally adjusted annual selling rate or SAAR of 13.7 million light vehicles. Continue reading

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Ford Motor February U.S. Sales Increase 14%

Leading the way at Ford was the F-Series pickup truck sales totaled 47,273 pickups, up 26% – V6 engines made up 57% of F-150 retail sales in February; the expensive EcoBoost option accounted for 43% of mix. Trucks continue to be the real strength at Ford with trucks up 21%. Cars were up 16%, utilities up 5%. Continue reading

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U.S. Light Vehicle Sales in February Trending Up 5%

Total light-vehicle sales in February are projected at 1,064,700 units, only a 3% increase from February 2011. After a fleet mix of 25% in January 2012, levels are expected to be in the 19% range in February, slightly below levels one year ago, according to J.D. Power and Associates. Continue reading

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