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Suppliers to the Skoda Superb |
June caps a dismal first half
Time to assess the damage. For starters, the first half was the worst the U.S. auto industry has seen since the January-June period of 1993. This year, sales totaled 7,414,295, down 10.1 percent from a year ago. June was the capper. Sales plunged 18.3 percent from last year to 1,189,577, the lowest for that month since 1991. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | July 7
Used prices rise for small cars, plunge for trucksWhile wholesale prices of big used trucks continued their free fall last month, prices of smaller cars increased, the nation's two largest auction companies report. But those boosts were not enough to prevent overall used-vehicle prices from dropping 5.7 percent in May from year-ago levels. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Mexico light-vehicle sales decline slightly in May
Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico fell 1.5 percent to 83,503 in May from May 2007. The price of gasoline and diesel fuel is subsidized in Mexico. So Mexicans, unlike Americans, are not reeling from expensive fuel. A gallon of gasoline in Mexico costs $2.66. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30
Chrysler looks to alliances to get through turbulent timesWhen Automotive News ran its last Chrysler future product forecast on Oct. 22, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.82. Now, eight months later, the average price per gallon exceeds $4. This stomach-churning climb in fuel prices, coupled with upcoming new corporate average fuel economy rules, has forced Chrysler LLC to re-examine each product program. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 30 |
Detroit 3 a big drag in global supplier race
North American suppliers that are heavily reliant on the Detroit 3 are falling behind in the sales race with their Asian and European rivals. Stalwarts such as Delphi Corp., Johnson Controls Inc. and Lear Corp. all tumbled on this year's Automotive News list of the top 100 global original-equipment parts suppliers. They were hit by slumping vehicle sales at home. Meanwhile, Denso Corp. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 23
TRW, Bosch, Ficosa put the brakes on the new Renault Kangoo |
Big-truck sales fall 15.2% in May
The decline of U.S. medium- and heavy-duty truck sales continued in May. Sales of trucks in classes 4 through 8 fell 15.2 percent in the month from a year earlier, to 29,657 units. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 23
European sales dip 7.8% in May
Auto sales in Europe fell last month compared with May 2007, but there was little change in position among the top three automakers there. Volkswagen AG remained atop the European pack despite posting a year-over-year sales decline of 8.1 percent in May -- to 269,476 vehicles [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 23
Mexico sales bounce back in April
Retail sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico rose to 83,105 units in April, up 10.7 percent over April 2007 and reversing the trend in the first quarter. Through the first four months of the year, retail sales totaled 347,068, down 2.3 percent from the year-earlier period, according to the Mexican Automotive Manufacturers Association. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 23
RV sales drop 8.5% in April
Wholesale shipments of towable RVs and motor homes fell 8.5 percent in April from a year earlier to 31,400, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Travel trailers, the largest segment of the RV market, fell 7.3 percent to 16,600 units. That helped drag shipments of all towable RVs down 6.8 percent to 27,400. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 23
Sales in Canada dip 0.5% in May
Car and light-truck sales in Canada slipped 0.5 percent in May to 184,636 vehicles. Through the first five months of 2008, sales totaled 724,299 vehicles, up 4.4 percent from the same period a year earlier. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 16
May in Detroit: Scary, not merryCan the Detroit 3's U.S. sales get any worse? Last month, the domestic brand sales of the Detroit 3 were down a collective 23.4 percent from May 2007 -- down 27.6 percent for General Motors, 25.4 percent for Chrysler LLC and 15.6 percent for Ford Motor Co. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 9 |
Output falls 24.7% in May
In May, North America vehicle production fell to 1,094,817 units, down 24.7 percent from May 2007. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 9
Flex: A new Ford image ... or just over the top?The 2009 Ford Flex crossover is all about conveying a new image. The Flex is a visual indicator of the changes going on at Ford at a time when the automaker desperately needs a home run. The Flex's boxy, wagonish exterior design signals Ford is willing to break away from the me-too crossover styling model and take a risk. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 2 |
Bad times? Not for CEO paychecksWhat downturn? For CEOs in the auto industry, hard times didn't necessarily translate to low pay in 2007. That was especially true for CEOs of parts suppliers. The median compensation for CEOs in the survey was $4.1 million, slightly higher than the $4.0 million median 2006 compensation. In 2007, nine automotive industry CEOs received at least $10 million. That's up from eight in 2006. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26 |
RV shipments fall in March
Wholesale deliveries of towable RVs and motor homes dropped 18.9 percent in March from last year to 30,100, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Towable RV sales fell 17.3 percent to 25,900, while motor home sales slid 27.6 percent to 4,200. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
Suppliers to the 2008 Nissan Altima |
April used-vehicle prices: Light trucks fall and cars rise
Wholesale prices of used cars and trucks in April dropped from year-ago levels and barely budged from March prices, the two biggest U.S. auto auction companies say. The average used vehicle sold at auction last month for $9,985, according to ADESA Analytical Services. That price was 1.5 percent below the April 2007 average and 0.2 percent below the average price in March. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Imports, domestics are much the same
The experience Richard Truett had with his Mustang is what has driven Americans to the import brands. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Even good service takes a lot of time
Regarding Richard Truett's May 12 column, "Ford's challenge: Long-term reliability: Amen. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ford deserves another try
My opinion is the opposite of Truett's. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Once bitten, twice shy
Richard Truet's problems with his Ford Mustang reminded me of the last Ford product I purchased, a new Mercury Sable. That was years after Ford began its "Quality is Job 1"campaign, and I was convinced that the company was committed to building good cars. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Reporter vented on personal problem
I am sorry to hear of the multiple problems with Richard Truett's 2005 Mustang. He has good reason to be upset. In this highly competitive marketplace, I can't blame him for looking elsewhere for his next purchase. He has every right to expect quality and good service. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Don't condemn Ford for a single car
Regarding "Ford's challenge: Long-term reliability": It sounds like a single-car problem, and I'm sure there could be other Mustangs with similar issues. But I think that a single car from any company can have multiple issues, and a person should not judge an entire company from one car. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
You can't judge all by one bad one
I can see Richard Truett has had many problems with his Mustang, but just because he had a bad one does not mean all Mustangs are bad. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
COMMENTARY: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Reporters should stick to the news
I am sorry about Richard Truett's problems with his Mustang, but I am offended that he used Automotive News' forum for his own personal problems. [REG] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 26
Truck sales fall 13% in April
Biggest or smallest didn't matter. Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks slid again in April. Sales of trucks in classes 4 through 8 totaled 31,726 units for April, down 13.1 percent from a year earlier. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 19
Japan's sales slide 2% in 1st quarter; output climbs
In a rare reversal of fortune, light-vehicle sales in Japan outperformed those in the United States for the first quarter of the year. But that's not saying results were good. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 19
U.S. firms sink on supplier listAfter a stormy decade of spinoffs, megamergers, acquisitions, grand expansions and occasional red-faced retreats, the pecking order for North America's auto suppliers has a distinctly new look: Americans no longer are running the show. For the first time, a company based outside the United States is the largest supplier of parts to automakers and other suppliers' North American factories. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 12 |
April output drops 7.8%
North America car and truck production dipped in April to 1,199,037 units, a drop of 101,044, or 7.8 percent, from April 2007. General Motors lost 113,492 units of production because of several strikes. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 12
VW is Europe's top sellerVolkswagen was Europe's top-selling brand in the first quarter, with sales virtually flat compared with 2007 in a market that declined by 1.7 percent overall. The VW brand sold 403,617 units in the first quarter, beating the runner-up Ford brand, which sold 354,970. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 12 |
Canada sales post 3.8% gain in April
April sales of cars and light trucks in Canada rose 3.8 percent from April 2007 to 175,382 units. For the first four months of 2008, volume is up 6.2 percent from the same period last year, to 539,663 units. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 12
GM's truck inventories up despite strike
Pickup and SUV inventories rose at General Motors last month despite massive production disruptions caused by the UAW strike at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 12
A dreary April in DetroitSame old, same old. That was the story of car and light-truck sales in April, which means it was another terrible month for the auto industry. Sales totaled 1,248,549, down 6.8 percent from last year. It was the sixth consecutive year-to-year monthly decline and the 10th in the past 11 months. April's total was the poorest for that month since April 1995. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 5 |
Mexico sales fall 17% in March
Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico fell to 80,120 in March, down 16.9 percent from March 2007. Through the first quarter, retail sales totaled 263,942, down 5.8 percent from the year-earlier period, according to the Mexican Automotive Manufacturers Association. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 5
REMARKETING
Used-vehicle prices, sales decline a bit in March
Used vehicles' wholesale prices and sales by franchised dealerships slumped in March from the year-ago month, industry analysts said. The average used vehicle sold at auction for $10,002, according to ADESA Analytical Services. That average price was 2.4 percent lower than in March 2007 but 2.6 percent higher than in February 2008. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28
Feb. sales of towable RVs, motor homes fall 7.1%
Wholesale shipments of towable RVs and motor homes fell to 27,600 units in February, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. For the month, total shipments of RVs to retailers mirrored January's decline, falling 7.1 percent. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28
PRODUCTION
Forecast: Nissan, GM will slow production
Nissan Motor Co.'s factories are hitting the brakes. Nissan's North American production is expected to drop 7.7 percent to about 259,000 units in the second quarter from the year-earlier quarter. That's according to a revised forecast by CSM Worldwide. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 28
Transplants top 40% of N.A. output in MarchThe combined share of General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC plants first dropped below 90 percent in 1989. It fell below 80 percent in 1996 and below 70 percent in 2004. Will the Detroit 3 fall below 60 percent for all of 2008? Stay tuned. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 21 |
Canada sales off 0.4% in March
Car and light-truck sales in Canada slipped 0.4 percent in March to 150,202 vehicles. Through the first three months of 2008, sales totaled 364,276 vehicles, up 7.4 percent over the same period a year ago. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 21
Truck sales drop 31% in March
Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks fell 30.8 percent in March from a year earlier, to 28,777 units. Sales of large trucks continued to decline, with Class 7 vehicles taking the biggest hit in sales, dropping 40.5 percent to 4,524 units. Sales of Class 8 trucks tumbled to 10,419 vehicles, down 35.2 percent. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 21
SHAREHOLDER RETURN REPORT
U.S. economic woes hurt shareholder values
The troubled U.S. economy is punishing automakers, suppliers and dealership groups, and their investors are sharing the pain. Plunging consumer confidence, declining vehicle sales and the sagging U.S. dollar took their toll on shareholder return during the first three months of this year, according to the Automotive News/PricewaterhouseCoopers Total Shareholder Return Index. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 21
2008 Guide to China's Auto MarketIn the West, higher fuel prices are prompting drivers to log fewer miles and embrace smaller, energy-efficient vehicles. Not so in China, where wealth generated by the booming national economy has more than offset rising fuel prices. 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 14 |
March output drops 23.6%
In March, North America vehicle production dropped by 339,663 units to 1,102,406, down 23.6 percent from March 2007. It was the biggest month-over-month percentage drop since July 1998 (vs. July 1997). [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 14
Suppliers to the 2009 Tata Nano |
Industry's March was off a cliff
When the Detroit 3's sales in the United States decline for the month, the typical reaction is: So what else is new? But when the sales of the Japanese Big 3 -- Toyota, Honda and Nissan -- also drop, the situation merits closer examination. And when 31 of the 38 major brands on the Automotive News sales chart take a bath, the condition is critical indeed. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 7
Detroit 3 diet: Lose dealerships
Feb. Mexico sales are nearly flat
Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico rose 1.1 percent in February from a year earlier to 86,976. Nissan Motor Co. remained the market leader by a nose. Nissan Mexicana's sales rose 2.9 percent to 18,551 vehicles in February. That was 150 ahead of GM's sales, which rose 1.8 percent to 18,401. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | April 7
Axle strike leads GM to alter production plan
In the first quarter, a strike at a key supplier slashed General Motors' North American vehicle production. Now GM may not have to cut as deeply in the second quarter as it did in the first, according to a forecast by consulting firm CSM Worldwide. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 31
Germany, new EU members send up European sales
When Germany and new members of the European Union pull together, they move the European market. February gains of more than 20 percent in hot central Europe and a resurgent Germany boosted European sales 8.7 percent to 1.18 million units in February. [REG] March 25 06:01 CET
AutoNation's lead shrinks as largest U.S. dealer groupIt isn't General Motors vs. Toyota. But after a decade of dominance as the nation's largest auto dealership group, AutoNation Inc. may have reason to check its rearview mirror. Last year, AutoNation's new-vehicle retail sales and gross revenue both sank to their lowest annual levels since 1998, according to this year's Automotive News list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24 |
Fukui shifts into high gear at Honda
TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. is on a roll. The Japanese automaker is booking record profits, building new factories worldwide and predicting higher sales in the United States this year. The company is meanwhile planning to launch a new hybrid vehicle in early 2009. CEO Takeo Fukui talked with Hans Greimel, Asia editor for Automotive News, about his plans and the outlook for total U.S. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24
Fukui shifts into high gear at Honda |
Big-truck sales continue slide in Feb. -- off 27.1%
Sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks continued to slide in February, dropping 27.1 percent to 25,026 from a year earlier. Class 4-8 trucks haven't seen a year-on-year sales increase since January 2007. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24
6 more finalists in race for PACE recognitionHere are profiles of six of 23 finalists in the 2008 Automotive News PACE Awards: Remy Inc., Gentex Corp., Code Systems Inc., Timken Co., Siemens PLM Software and Delphi Thermal Systems/Alcoa. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24 |
Germany, new EU members send up European sales
When Germany and new members of the European Union pull together, they move the European market. February gains of more than 20 percent in hot central Europe and a resurgent Germany boosted European sales 8.7 percent to 1.18 million units in February. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24
REMARKETING
Big pickups and SUVs lead plunge in used-vehicle prices
Wholesale prices of big used SUVs and pickups plunged by double-digit percentages last month compared with February 2007, amid weak demand and rising gasoline prices. In February, large SUVs sold at auction for an average price of $11,790, 14.7 percent lower than in the year-ago month, reported ADESA Inc. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24
INCENTIVES
Chrysler offers spiffs for military
Since March 1, Chrysler has offered a $500 cash incentive for active military, active reservists and retired military personnel with 20 years of service who buy or lease a Chrysler LLC vehicle. Veterans who have been honorably discharged can get the incentive if they act within six months of discharge. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 24
Purchasing execs to suppliers: Costs must fall |
Purchasing execs to suppliers: Costs must fallAutomaker purchasing bosses are concerned about the health of their suppliers, but they refuse to take blame for the financial problems many partsmakers have faced. That is one of the opinions five top executives shared with Automotive News Europe. The five executives -- Ford of Europe's Birgit Behrendt, Renault's Odile Desforges, Fiat group's Gianni Coda, Mercedes-Benz's Frank W. [SUB] March 17 06:01 CET |
Strike dents GM truck output
As of Saturday, March 15, General Motors had lost an estimated 41,272 units of light-truck production because of the American Axle strike. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 17
Canada sales up 14.5% in Feb.
Sales of cars and light trucks in Canada totaled 111,101 units in February, up 14.5 percent from February 2007. For the first two months of this year, sales were up 13.7 percent over 2007 to 214,051. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 17
RV shipments drop 7.1% in Jan.
Wholesale shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes slipped to 24,900 units in January, a 7.1 percent decline from January 2007, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. Total RV and motor home shipments continued 2007's year-end trend, declining for a third straight month. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 17
NEWS ANALYSIS
Leap year added to Feb. misery
February had an extra day this year. That provided one more day for U.S. sales of new vehicles to crawl into the Dumpster. Trucks did the damage. Car sales were off only 1.7 percent from February 2007. But sales of full-sized pickups plunged 13.5 percent, and SUVs took a real sales bath, with a loss of 23.3 percent. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 10
Mexico sales flat in January
Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico fell 0.8 percent in January from a year earlier to 96,846 vehicles. Nissan was the market leader in January with unit sales of 20,831, an 8.2 percent increase. General Motors was not far behind at 20,487. GM's sales dropped 5.3 percent compared with January 2007. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 3
RV deliveries decline 3.4% in December
Wholesale shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes fell to 22,400 units in December, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. That was down 3.4 percent from December 2007 and was the second straight monthly decline. For all of 2007, RV and motor home deliveries dropped 9.5 percent from the previous year to 353,400 units. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | March 3
Taxes distort Jan. sales in Europe
Once again, Europe's January car sales were skewed by consumers reacting to changes in vehicle taxes. In January 2007, new-car sales in Germany fell dramatically after the government raised the value-added tax to 19 percent from 16 percent. Germans' car-buying funk continued all year. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25
GM: Supply of vehicles to certify will stay steadyGeneral Motors says its dealers will get the same number of used vehicles to certify and sell this year as in 2007 despite the company's cutback in sales to rental fleets. GM executives concede the reduction in less-profitable fleet sales is limiting the number of retired rental vehicles eligible for certification. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25 |
Used-vehicle supplies up, prices down in Jan.
Supplies of used vehicles at auctions were about one-third higher than normal last month. As a result, wholesale prices of used cars and trucks dipped in January. Analysts for the two largest U.S. auction companies say they expect used-vehicle prices to remain sluggish for much of 2008. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 25
Big-truck sales fall 33.5% in Jan.
U.S. truckmakers began 2008 with a continued decline in sales of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Sales of both tumbled 33.5 percent to 26,055 in January compared with a year earlier. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18
Canada sales rise 12.9% in Jan.
Sales of cars and light trucks in Canada totaled 102,975 units in January, up 12.9 percent from January 2007. North American automakers rebounded after a difficult December, when General Motors and Ford Motor Co. posted double-digit declines. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 11
Jan. sales were lousy -- with a General exceptionJanuary was like old times for the auto industry in the United States: The General was back in command. General Motors was the only one of the six largest automakers to report a year-to-year sales increase last month. GM's deliveries of domestic cars and light trucks rose 2.8 percent from January 2007. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 4 |
RV shipments down 7.7% in Nov.
Retail shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes fell 7.7 percent from a year ago to 21,500 units in November, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. [SUB] 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 4
