• Americans Love Trucks!

    Pickup Trucks Overtake Econoboxes, Return To Top Sales Spot In October

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  • sales figures

    Car Industry Carnage: October Sales Wrap-Up

    Sales results released yesterday confirmed October was another month of dismal vehicle sales in the U.S. market. Of the top players, General Motors fared worst, seeing sales plunge 45.4% from the same month a year earlier. Chrysler was down 34.9%, while Ford was down 29.2%. Of the import "big three," Nissan dropped 33% year-over-year, while Honda was down 25.2% and Toyota saw sales drop just 23%, no doubt saved by zero. The total light vehicle sales drop across the board comes out to just under 32%, which explains why crazy ideas like a GM/Chrysler merger are suddenly making sense. Sort of. [WSJ]

    8:30 AM on Tue Nov 4 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    1,358 views, 28 comments

    Most discussed junkman: Despite the carnage, the Ford F series still is number one. It's remarkable how we've been conditioned to buy products more »

  • Financiapocalypse

    Volvo Trucks Posts 99.7% Decline In Euro Truck Orders Over Last Quarter

    One of the behemoths of the global heavy trucking industry, Volvo Trucks, has reported a truly shocking decline in sales for the third quarter of this year. Volvo claims a 99.7% reduction in demand compared to the same period a year ago. That means orders went from 41,970 trucks in the third quarter of 2007 to just 115 in the third quarter of 2008. No, that's not a typo, one hundred fifteen trucks on order across Europe. Global sales for Volvo have declined 55% and its partners Scania, Renault and Mack are reporting sharp declines in orders as well. Ladies and gentlemen, if you ever wanted an indication of what things may come, this may be the strongest one we've seen yet. Financiapocalype, ho! [ThisIsMoney]

    8:40 AM on Tue Oct 28 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    2,274 views, 14 comments

    Most discussed DoctorNine makes tires squeal in terror: And yet, today we hear that VW has just passed Exxon as the corporation with the most valuable portfolio in more »

  • toyota sales

    Toyota: Credit Not Responsible For Current Sales Slump, But Please Hurry Up And Fix!

    Jim Lentz, Toyota's US sales chief, told the Detroit News yesterday that consumer financing isn't their challenge right now; rather, low consumer confidence is keeping buyers out of showrooms. "The vast majority of our customers are able to get approved for loans," said Lentz, claiming that a record number of consumers are postponing car purchases. Dealers across the country are singing a similar tune, saying that well-qualified buyers can still get financing, but continuing bad economic news is keeping buyers out of showrooms. As the report notes, though, consumer confidence isn't an easy ship to right once it begins to list. More »

    10:00 AM on Fri Oct 10 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    858 views, 15 comments

    Most discussed al_beaton: Even placing my grocery order for the week, I cut back spending a bit - some kind of weird "decadence more »

  • auto sales

    Maserati May Set All-Time Sales Record In 2008

    Believe it or not, Maserati is on track to set an all-time sales record for 2008. We know it's hard to believe, what with products that are criminally gorgeous and an explosion of golden parachutes to pay for them. Sales are up 40% year-over-year, with the bulk coming from the Maserati Quattroporte (you know, the one you decided was best not in the JFG), set to sell over 7,000 units this year. That doesn't mean the Maserati Gran Turismo isn't holding up its end, especially now that they're apparently hot with the gay community.

    [MotorAuthority]

    9:40 AM on Wed Oct 8 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    750 views, 31 comments

    Most discussed Lawrence: I personally like Maserati - it's a good, exotic daily driver. It shares the same gene pool as Ferrari, yet it's more »

  • chrysler sales

    Chrysler Reports 32.8% September Sales Decline

    Chrysler LLC is reporting September sales declines of 32.8% over the same period a year earlier, with results battered by the same economic forces other automakers are up against. Chrysler Finance also discontinued leasing at the end of July, marking September as another month Chrysler dealers had to find alternative sources of lease financing; Chrysler has tried to provide interest rates and loan terms that provide payments similar to lease payments consumers have been used to.

    5:15 PM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    794 views, 12 comments

    Most discussed my favorite car is a motorcycle: Last month would have been a great time to buy ... the entire company. Now that congress gifted the more »

  • toyota sales

    Toyota September Sales Down 32%; Honda Drops 24%

    As clear proof that today's recession is an equal-opportunity unemployer, Toyota has posted a September sales decline of 32% from a year earlier — one of the worst results in the company's 50 years of US sales — while Honda sank 24% in the face of the consumer credit crisis. The declines at Toyota and Honda reinforce analysts' perceptions that auto sales are now being affected more by the US economic crisis than they are by high fuel prices. More sales numbers as we get them.

    3:25 PM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    1,444 views, 17 comments

    Most discussed NiceNurseRatched: Interesting. Mercedes Benz sales were down only 16.4% for the month - and that excludes Smart. And Ferrari is predicting no more »

  • GM Sales

    GM September Sales Drop 15.6%

    General Motors reported a 15.6% decline in September sales versus the same period a year earlier. While still posting a decline, GM topped analysts expectations of an approximately 25% drop. GM was hurt by the same market forces affecting other manufacturers, but the company likely stemmed some of the bleeding by extending its "Employee Pricing for Everyone" incentive through the end of September. More sales numbers as we receive them.

    2:40 PM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    928 views, 14 comments

    Most discussed NiceNurseRatched: GM didn't do all that bad compared to other brands. Look at Porsche - down 45% for the month. And the more »

  • Ford Sales

    Ford Sales Drop 34% In September

    Ford is reporting a 34% drop in sales from the same period a year earlier within its core Ford/Lincoln/Mercury brands. Total sales were 116,734 for September 2008 versus over 175,361 during September 2007. The results make September the lowest sales month this year for Ford and the tenth consecutive month of declining sales. On a related note, Volvo, while not included in Ford's 34% drop, reported a nearly 52% decline in sales from September 2007. More numbers as they come in.

    1:18 PM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    819 views, 33 comments

    Most discussed Adam2010: Screw FORD!!! go outsource some more jobs. More and more imports are bringing their production facilities to the U.S. more »

  • sales numbers

    September Auto Sales To Seriously Suck

    Automotive News is reporting a bleak day in the making as automakers report their September sales numbers, expected to be off 20% from a year earlier. Shriveling credit markets, continued high fuel prices and a general lack of confidence in the economy are all contributing to push the annualized sales rate down to an estimated 12.5-13.5 million vehicles from 16.2 million last September. If predictions hold, the resulting new vehicle sales numbers could be the lowest in more than a decade. So how do dealers on the front lines see the situation? More »

    11:20 AM on Wed Oct 1 2008
    By Andrew Stoy
    1,530 views, 58 comments

    Most discussed JoSCh: Well thus far the reported bits of the economic downturn/recession/depression have only hurt the most deserving, car salesmen, day traders more »