- Jan 7, 2002
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Honda Civic is May's top seller, trumping trucks and SUVs
The Detroit News
Major automakers today reported hybrid models and fuel-sipping small cars were snapped up in May, while sales of trucks, SUVs and luxury vehicles mostly languished.
The top seller for the month was the Honda Civic, at 53,299 units.
For the first time, the Civic and Honda's Accord, as well as the Toyota Corolla and Camry, each outsold Ford Motor Co.'s F-Series pickups.
For May, Corolla sales totaled 52,826; Camry sales were 51,291; Accord sales were 43,728 and F-Series sales were 42,973, as reported by the automakers.
Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jim Farley described the drop in pickup sales and boost in car sales as "a sign of the times," in a conference call with reporters, adding that it was a "significant development" for the industry.
General Motors Corp. reported the steepest drop in sales at 27.5 percent for May. The company earlier today said it would shutter four truck and SUV plants by 2010.
The Detroit-based carmaker said poor truck sales were not offset by a gain in demand for its crossover models and popular smaller cars such as the Malibu sedan and Chevrolet Aveo.
GM also said it lost 15,000 to 18,000 sales in May due to production slowdowns caused by the strike at American Axle Manufacturing Holdings Inc. That strike, which affected the flow of parts and caused several GM plants to shut down, ran from February 26 to May 22.
Overall, the automaker shipped 272,363 units in May, compared with 375,682 in the same month a year ago.
Chrysler LLC said its May sales of 148,747 units was a 25-percent dip from 199,393 vehicles in May 2007.
The Auburn Hills auto maker, which is attempting to lure consumers with a fixed gas-price guarantee, said sales of most models dipped. Those that did attract more buyers included the Jeep Patriot, Dodge Caliber and Chrysler Aspen.
"There is an unprecedented shift in the industry that is challenging, but we are determined to provide customers what they need and want," said Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press.
Chrysler also said its sales to daily rental fleets were down 40 percent in May.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. reported May sales were off 4.3 percent. The company sold 257,404 units for the month, compared with 269,023 in 2007.
Truck sales posted double-digit losses while fuel-efficient models like the Yaris and Corolla gained.
Sales for Toyota's Prius hybrid were off from 24,009 units a year ago to 15,011 vehicles in May -- but the drop was due to limited availability of the Prius, Toyota said.
Ford Motor Co. also reported strong demand for its hybrid offerings, telling analysts and reporters that production of the Escape and Mariner small SUVs could barely keep pace with demand.
Ford said overall May U.S. sales dropped 16 percent compared with the same month a year ago, despite stronger demand for smaller sedans like the Focus and Fusion.
The company delivered 217,998 units for the month, down from 259,470 a year ago.
Reflecting the industrywide large-vehicle malaise driven by high fuel prices, Ford said SUV sales were down 44 percent while trucks and vans were off 29 percent.
Sales to daily rental car fleets were down 30 percent. Ford, like its rivals, has been deliberately withdrawing from such sales.
The Dearborn-based automaker said sales of its Focus compact were up 53 percent compared with a year ago, while demand for the Fusion rose 27 percent.
"Our dealers are selling the Focus at unprecedented turn rates," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president for marketing and communications. "Our small and midsize cars are outperforming the industry, and we're only just beginning.
Sales of Ford's iconic F-series pickup trucks, however, were off 30 percent compared with a year ago.
Today Ford begins offering employee pricing to all customers on all F-Series p trucks. The deal runs until June 30 and applies to F-150, F-250 and F-350 models.
"We've been 31 years running the leading vehicle in that segment," Farley said. "We see this as an important merchandising strategy."
Ford plans to introduce a new version of the F-150 this fall.
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. was among the few automakers reporting robust May gains.
Honda said it sold 167,997 units for the month -- up more than 15 percent from 145,367 a year ago.
Gainers included the Fit, Accord and Civic models, all of which posted double-digit sales gains.
"The dramatic increase in car sales appears to be one of the most profound shifts in automotive buying patterns in more than a decade," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb...80603/AUTO01/806030438
The Detroit News
Major automakers today reported hybrid models and fuel-sipping small cars were snapped up in May, while sales of trucks, SUVs and luxury vehicles mostly languished.
The top seller for the month was the Honda Civic, at 53,299 units.
For the first time, the Civic and Honda's Accord, as well as the Toyota Corolla and Camry, each outsold Ford Motor Co.'s F-Series pickups.
For May, Corolla sales totaled 52,826; Camry sales were 51,291; Accord sales were 43,728 and F-Series sales were 42,973, as reported by the automakers.
Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jim Farley described the drop in pickup sales and boost in car sales as "a sign of the times," in a conference call with reporters, adding that it was a "significant development" for the industry.
General Motors Corp. reported the steepest drop in sales at 27.5 percent for May. The company earlier today said it would shutter four truck and SUV plants by 2010.
The Detroit-based carmaker said poor truck sales were not offset by a gain in demand for its crossover models and popular smaller cars such as the Malibu sedan and Chevrolet Aveo.
GM also said it lost 15,000 to 18,000 sales in May due to production slowdowns caused by the strike at American Axle Manufacturing Holdings Inc. That strike, which affected the flow of parts and caused several GM plants to shut down, ran from February 26 to May 22.
Overall, the automaker shipped 272,363 units in May, compared with 375,682 in the same month a year ago.
Chrysler LLC said its May sales of 148,747 units was a 25-percent dip from 199,393 vehicles in May 2007.
The Auburn Hills auto maker, which is attempting to lure consumers with a fixed gas-price guarantee, said sales of most models dipped. Those that did attract more buyers included the Jeep Patriot, Dodge Caliber and Chrysler Aspen.
"There is an unprecedented shift in the industry that is challenging, but we are determined to provide customers what they need and want," said Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press.
Chrysler also said its sales to daily rental fleets were down 40 percent in May.
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. reported May sales were off 4.3 percent. The company sold 257,404 units for the month, compared with 269,023 in 2007.
Truck sales posted double-digit losses while fuel-efficient models like the Yaris and Corolla gained.
Sales for Toyota's Prius hybrid were off from 24,009 units a year ago to 15,011 vehicles in May -- but the drop was due to limited availability of the Prius, Toyota said.
Ford Motor Co. also reported strong demand for its hybrid offerings, telling analysts and reporters that production of the Escape and Mariner small SUVs could barely keep pace with demand.
Ford said overall May U.S. sales dropped 16 percent compared with the same month a year ago, despite stronger demand for smaller sedans like the Focus and Fusion.
The company delivered 217,998 units for the month, down from 259,470 a year ago.
Reflecting the industrywide large-vehicle malaise driven by high fuel prices, Ford said SUV sales were down 44 percent while trucks and vans were off 29 percent.
Sales to daily rental car fleets were down 30 percent. Ford, like its rivals, has been deliberately withdrawing from such sales.
The Dearborn-based automaker said sales of its Focus compact were up 53 percent compared with a year ago, while demand for the Fusion rose 27 percent.
"Our dealers are selling the Focus at unprecedented turn rates," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president for marketing and communications. "Our small and midsize cars are outperforming the industry, and we're only just beginning.
Sales of Ford's iconic F-series pickup trucks, however, were off 30 percent compared with a year ago.
Today Ford begins offering employee pricing to all customers on all F-Series p trucks. The deal runs until June 30 and applies to F-150, F-250 and F-350 models.
"We've been 31 years running the leading vehicle in that segment," Farley said. "We see this as an important merchandising strategy."
Ford plans to introduce a new version of the F-150 this fall.
American Honda Motor Co. Inc. was among the few automakers reporting robust May gains.
Honda said it sold 167,997 units for the month -- up more than 15 percent from 145,367 a year ago.
Gainers included the Fit, Accord and Civic models, all of which posted double-digit sales gains.
"The dramatic increase in car sales appears to be one of the most profound shifts in automotive buying patterns in more than a decade," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb...80603/AUTO01/806030438
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