Ford, GM, Chrysler sales down in March; Toyota, Mazda, Honda post big gains

Ford, GM, Chrysler sales down in March; Toyota, Mazda, Honda post big gains
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/704030439

Domestic auto makers continued their 2007 trend, posting lower sales figures
today for March compared to the same period last year. March was the best
sales month in 2006 for the industry.

General Motors Corp. said its voluntary reduction in sales to rental-car
fleets helped account for its 4.2 percent March decline over last year. The
automaker sold 349,867 vehicles in March, compared to 365,375 a year ago.

Ford, which also is withdrawing from the rental-car market, said overall
U.S. sales were down 9 percent to 264,975 vehicles, compared to 291,146 a
year ago.

The automaker's gains in the mid-size arena -- sales of its Fusion sedan
were up more than 47 percent; Milan sales grew by 45 percent -- couldn't
offset declines in the SUV and truck categories compared with March 2006.

Both companies said their new crossovers did well in March. Ford sold 10,915
of its Edge model and 3,054 of the Lincoln MKX. GM said its GMC Acadia and
Saturn Outlook contributed to its 235 percent crossover sales gain.

DaimlerChrysler AG today said March sales were down 4 percent over the same
month last year despite a record number of vehicles sold by its
Mercedes-Benz USA unit.

Chrysler Group sold 206,435 vehicles in March, down 5 percent from 216,412
in 2006. Mercedes sales were 21,612, up 1 percent from 21,417.

However, the auto maker said, sales of its mid-size Dodge Nitro SUV and Jeep
Wrangler recorded their best months ever at 7,532 and 13,397 units
respectively.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said it sold a record 242, 675 vehicles in March,
up 11.7 percent over 217,286 a year ago. The company reported a 133 percent
increase in sales of its Prius hybrid sedan.

Meanwhile, Mazda North American Operations announced a 47.9 March sales
increase in the United States, compared to 2006. Models recording
double-digit gains include the Mazda3, RX-8, Tribute and B-Series truck.

The month was the best ever for Mazda in the U. S., breaking a 1994 sales
record, the company said.

American Honda Motor Co. said it recorded its third-best month in history,
selling 143,392 vehicles -- an 11.3 percent jump from 128,806 units last
year.

Percentages are based on actual units sold; because there was one more
selling day in March this year than in 2006, some auto makers also are
reporting "adjusted" comparative numbers to smooth out the effect of the
extra sales day.

Other car companies reporting U.S. sales today include:

Mitsubishi, which sold 12,536 units in March, up more than 22 percent from
10,250 in 2006.

Audi, which posted a 14.7 percent increase for March, selling 8,020 vehicles
compared to 6,994 a year ago.

Volvo, down 4.4 percent with 10,666 units compared to 11,153 last year.



--
"I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends
respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please."
John Wayne

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Basically what that says is GM sold around 360 thousand vehicles, Ford 265
thousand and Toyota only 243 thousand even after their new Tundra hit the
market. LOL


mike


"Jim Higgins" <gordian238 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Ford, GM, Chrysler sales down in March; Toyota, Mazda, Honda post big
gains
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...DATE/704030439

Domestic auto makers continued their 2007 trend, posting lower sales
figures
today for March compared to the same period last year. March was the best
sales month in 2006 for the industry.

General Motors Corp. said its voluntary reduction in sales to rental-car
fleets helped account for its 4.2 percent March decline over last year.
The
automaker sold 349,867 vehicles in March, compared to 365,375 a year ago.

Ford, which also is withdrawing from the rental-car market, said overall
U.S. sales were down 9 percent to 264,975 vehicles, compared to 291,146 a
year ago.

The automaker's gains in the mid-size arena -- sales of its Fusion sedan
were up more than 47 percent; Milan sales grew by 45 percent -- couldn't
offset declines in the SUV and truck categories compared with March 2006.

Both companies said their new crossovers did well in March. Ford sold
10,915
of its Edge model and 3,054 of the Lincoln MKX. GM said its GMC Acadia and
Saturn Outlook contributed to its 235 percent crossover sales gain.

DaimlerChrysler AG today said March sales were down 4 percent over the
same
month last year despite a record number of vehicles sold by its
Mercedes-Benz USA unit.

Chrysler Group sold 206,435 vehicles in March, down 5 percent from 216,412
in 2006. Mercedes sales were 21,612, up 1 percent from 21,417.

However, the auto maker said, sales of its mid-size Dodge Nitro SUV and
Jeep
Wrangler recorded their best months ever at 7,532 and 13,397 units
respectively.

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. said it sold a record 242, 675 vehicles in
March,
up 11.7 percent over 217,286 a year ago. The company reported a 133
percent
increase in sales of its Prius hybrid sedan.

Meanwhile, Mazda North American Operations announced a 47.9 March sales
increase in the United States, compared to 2006. Models recording
double-digit gains include the Mazda3, RX-8, Tribute and B-Series truck.

The month was the best ever for Mazda in the U. S., breaking a 1994 sales
record, the company said.

American Honda Motor Co. said it recorded its third-best month in history,
selling 143,392 vehicles -- an 11.3 percent jump from 128,806 units last
year.

Percentages are based on actual units sold; because there was one more
selling day in March this year than in 2006, some auto makers also are
reporting "adjusted" comparative numbers to smooth out the effect of the
extra sales day.

Other car companies reporting U.S. sales today include:

Mitsubishi, which sold 12,536 units in March, up more than 22 percent from
10,250 in 2006.

Audi, which posted a 14.7 percent increase for March, selling 8,020
vehicles
compared to 6,994 a year ago.

Volvo, down 4.4 percent with 10,666 units compared to 11,153 last year.



--
"I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my
friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please."
John Wayne

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

Or is GM and Ford's market share "still" declining as the Final Judge of
Success, the American Consumer, decides who fails to meet the grade.

No, but then they do not have the advantages that Toyotas has of using
mostly lower cost imported materials and parts. Plus Toyotas employees to
not get the wages and benefits that GM and Ford gives to their employees.
Toyota workers do not even have a pension plan.

mike


"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

That's true but apparently todays consumers are still choosing GM and Ford,
over Toyota.

mike


"Jim Higgins" <gordian238 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1175668554.200881.117330 (AT) d57g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?


Or is GM and Ford's market share "still" declining as the Final Judge of
Success, the American Consumer, decides who fails to meet the grade.

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

No, but then they do not have the advantages that Toyotas has of using
mostly lower cost imported materials and parts. Plus Toyotas employees to
not get the wages and benefits that GM and Ford gives to their employees.
Toyota workers do not even have a pension plan.

You've said this over and over again. Yet, Toyota builds about 1/2 the cars
it makes in the US, mostly of US-sourced parts. Overall, about 1/2 the parts
in Toyota's sold in the US come from the US and Canada.

True, Ford and GM use more American parts (about 3/4 for GM and Ford, vs.
1/2 for Toyota). But I do have the option of buying an American-built car (I
can tell the country it is built in from the VIN, and proportion of NA parts
from the content sticker). (I can also tell if the first digit is a 1, 4 or
5, but all these mean is assembled in America from parts that were made
someplace on planet earth.)

I don't see why I should I pay for Ford's and GM's pensions or their
worker's health care. Toyota workers get a fair wage.

I guess this tells me that Toyota is smarter than Ford and GM, not to get
trapped by stupid wage and benefits contracts.

Jeff

mike


"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1175668554.200881.117330 (AT) d57g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

It may seem to be a fair wage to some but without the benefits and the
pension plan offered by domestics, Toyota workers get screwed in comparison,
when one compares prices.

You are free to believe whatever you chose, but the workers in the Honda
plant in Ohio disagree with your personal opinion, they are attempting to
join the UAW.


mike


"Jeff" <news (AT) googlemail (DOT) com> wrote

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:baednTIvJdEfcI7bnZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d (AT) ptd (DOT) net...
No, but then they do not have the advantages that Toyotas has of using
mostly lower cost imported materials and parts. Plus Toyotas employees
to not get the wages and benefits that GM and Ford gives to their
employees. Toyota workers do not even have a pension plan.

snip

I don't see why I should I pay for Ford's and GM's pensions or their
worker's health care. Toyota workers get a fair wage.

I guess this tells me that Toyota is smarter than Ford and GM, not to get
trapped by stupid wage and benefits contracts.

Jeff

mike


"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1175668554.200881.117330 (AT) d57g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

That's true but apparently todays consumers are still choosing GM and
Ford, over Toyota.

mike

Since Bush took office, the dollar has fallen about 30% - maybe it's more, I
haven't checked for a while - against the Euro and a number of other
currencies.

This makes American-made vehicles far less expensive overseas than they once
were. It's like the Mother Of All Price Cuts, without the actual price cut.

In June, 2001, a $20K Chevy would cost 23,500 Euros.
Today, a $20K Chevy would cost 15,000 Euros.

Do you suppose BMWs have cut their prices by over a third since 2001?
Mercedes? Fiat? Volkswagen?

So, why aren't we shipping Fords, Chryslers and GMs to Europe by the tens of
thousands? Why do we have vehicles languishing on dealer lots for a hundred
or so days instead of getting shipped to where these cars - which are just
as good as the imports, you have assured us, time and time again - will sell
for thousands less than the "comparable" Euro-cars? Why aren't Spaniards,
Norwegians and Czechs snapping these things up like they're going out of
style?

"Jim Higgins" <gordian238 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1316shuqkqo2726 (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com...

"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1175668554.200881.117330 (AT) d57g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?

Or is GM and Ford's market share "still" declining as the Final Judge of
Success, the American Consumer, decides who fails to meet the grade.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

It may seem to be a fair wage to some but without the benefits and the
pension plan offered by domestics, Toyota workers get screwed in
comparison, when one compares prices.

In comparison to what? The other jobs out there. They are free to take them,
if they want to be paid less.

You are free to believe whatever you chose, but the workers in the Honda
plant in Ohio disagree with your personal opinion, they are attempting to
join the UAW.

Can you provide some citations for this?

The workers are in Ohio are free to join the UAW. Apparently, less than 1/2
wanted to join the UAW, for the plant would be unionized.

The fact is that Honda and Toyota, as well as Ford, DC and GM will pay their
workers as little as they can. And the workers will take as much pay as they
can get.

Again, you're so funny. You say, "you are free to believe whatever you
chose...." I believe I know what you are full of.

At least you are funny, too.

Jeff

mike


"Jeff" <news (AT) googlemail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:xdSQh.13263$IY4.1690 (AT) trndny03 (DOT) ..

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:baednTIvJdEfcI7bnZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d (AT) ptd (DOT) net...
No, but then they do not have the advantages that Toyotas has of using
mostly lower cost imported materials and parts. Plus Toyotas employees
to not get the wages and benefits that GM and Ford gives to their
employees. Toyota workers do not even have a pension plan.

snip

I don't see why I should I pay for Ford's and GM's pensions or their
worker's health care. Toyota workers get a fair wage.

I guess this tells me that Toyota is smarter than Ford and GM, not to get
trapped by stupid wage and benefits contracts.

Jeff

mike


"MaceFace" <maceface (AT) nycmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1175668554.200881.117330 (AT) d57g2000hsg (DOT) googlegroups.com...

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the headline should have said "GM and Ford continue to outsell
Toyota in the US"

Do GM and Ford continue to make more profit than Toyota in the US?