Tag Archives: february sales

Boom or Bubble as US February Auto Sales Soar?

Posted on 4 March 2016 by Ken Zino

So be careful, really careful what you wish for! Not first rate strategic thinking in our view. More like the old Detroit ‘Ten Day Sales’ mentality. The most delicious aspect here in AutoInformed’s view is that you now have Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, threatening to impose tariffs on Ford Motor Company for exporting jobs and importing vehicles back into the U.S. Politics is Job One over in Dearborn these days for the government affairs and corporate P.R. staffs, but you never know because they are not going to say much in public other than these plans were in place and they are rebalancing production. Good luck with that. Maybe Ford should build where they sell? Continue reading →

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Frost Bit! Winter Weather Hurts U.S. February Auto Sales

Posted on 5 March 2014 by Ken Zino

With the exception of Chrysler, a frigid stormy February hurt car sales in the U.S. The other two of the Detroit Three, Ford Motor and GM were off -6/1% and -1% respectively. Among the major offshore brand sellers, Honda was down -8%, Toyota down -5.8%, Hyundai down- 6.3%, and the politically fraught in Southern anti-union politics Volkswagen was down -13.8%. Continue reading →

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Weather Whacks U.S. February Sales. Recovery Predicted

Posted on 21 February 2014 by Ken Zino

Conventional wisdom has it that the rate of sales will increase toward month end, with an increase from President’s Day holiday weekend promotions and a normal increase in sales at month’s end as dealers try to move metal. Continue reading →

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Rising Truck Sales Cause Offshore Brands to Lose Share in February

Posted on 4 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Five of the Top Ten selling vehicles in February were offshore nameplates. These leading vehicles experienced an average sales improvement of 11.1%. The Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado pickups maintained their first and second positions. In third and fourth place, respectively, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord continue to be the most preferred cars in the U.S. The Nissan Altima moved into the sixth position, up from number eight last month. The Toyota Corolla/Matrix, in number seven, Ford Escape in eight, Ram pickup in ninth and Honda Civic, number ten, completed the Top Ten Seller list. Continue reading →

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Toyota Motor February Sales Increase 4%

Posted on 1 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor today reported February 2013 sales results of 166,377 units, an increase of 4.3% over the year-ago month, perhaps behind U.S. overall market growth projected at twice that rate. Part of the reason for the slowing of growth at TMS goes back a month. U.S. vehicle sales in January were surprisingly strong, with no automaker stronger than Toyota Motor’s three brands, which increased sales almost 27% in a retail light-vehicle market that grew by 14% to more than 1 million units. It’s payback time. Continue reading →

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Ford Motor U.S. Sales Up 9%, Pacing Market Recovery

Posted on 1 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company’s U.S. February sales increased 9% to 195,822 vehicles, its best February in six years. Cars were up 6%, sport utility vehicles rose by 21%, while trucks increased 4%. The only bad news was moribund Lincoln, which saw sales decrease 30% to 4,900 vehicles in spite of an expensive brand-image advertising campaign that doesn’t have a flagship vehicle to promote. Continue reading →

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GM U.S. Sales Increase 7% in February. Retail Share Up

Posted on 1 March 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors said today that it sold 224,314 vehicles in the United States in February, up 7% compared with a year ago. Retail sales and fleet sales were both up 7%, matching expected overall market growth. GM’s fleet sales were 25% of the total, equal to a year ago.GM estimated its retail market share at more than 17%, well above its 2012 calendar year share at 15%. This was best February since 2008 at 268,737 units when the market was trending down and GM was headed for bankruptcy. The Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate back then was about the same as today at 15.6 million light vehicles. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Group February U.S. Sales Increase 4% as Growth Rate Slows

Posted on 1 March 2013 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group today posted U.S. sales of 139,015 units, a 4% increase compared with sales in February 2012 of 133,521 units. While it was the Group’s best February since 2008, the overall market was predicted to grow at a 7% to 9% rate, if so Chrysler is not keeping up with the auto sales recovery. The comeback car company has been consistently outpacing market growth, as has been Toyota Motor, which also posted a 4% sales gain. Continue reading →

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U.S. February Auto Sales Projected Up Again as Recovery Continues

Posted on 22 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Retail sales of new vehicles in the U.S. during February are forecast to increase from February 2012, as the tentative recovery of the U.S. economy continues. However, sales at 931,000 cars and light trucks or a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 12.1 million units will dip below an unexpectedly strong January SAAR of 13.1 million, a normally slow selling month. U.S. vehicle sales in January were surprisingly strong, with no automaker stronger than Toyota Motor’s three brands, which increased sales almost 27% in a retail light-vehicle market that grew by 14% to more than 1 million units. Continue reading →

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February Car Sales Drop 10% as Eurozone Crisis Goes On

Posted on 15 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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%

Posted on 9 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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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GM Posts February Sales Record in China, Up 30%

Posted on 6 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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

Posted on 2 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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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Ford Motor February U.S. Sales Increase 14%

Posted on 1 March 2012 by Ken Zino

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%

Posted on 23 February 2012 by Ken Zino

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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