Automotive News - September 16, 2013 - 43

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 • 43
U.S. sales
per franchise, August
Make

Toyota/Scion
Honda
Lexus
Nissan
Hyundai
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
Ford
Kia
Subaru
VW
Acura
Chevrolet
Infiniti
Mini
Audi
Mazda
Land Rover
GMC
Fiat
Dodge
Cadillac
Jeep
Porsche
Volvo
Ram
Mitsubishi
Chrysler
Buick
Smart
Jaguar
Lincoln
Maserati
Bentley
Ferrari
Rolls-Royce
Aston Martin
Lamborghini
Lotus

Car Truck Total Total
Aug. Aug. Aug. July
2013 2013 2013 2013

97
84
73
61
66
51
44
22
49
37
60
22
27
36
39
30
26
–
–
18
11
12
–
10
10
–
5
7
7
11
10
5
6
5
5
3
2
2
1

67
60
55
41
15
22
29
46
19
29
6
40
34
25
14
21
18
30
26
7
12
10
21
7
7
15
9
6
5
–
–
4
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

164 138
144 122
128 100
102 95
81 80
73 71
73 71
68 59
68 64
66 58
66 59
62 56
61 53
61 39
53 53
51 47
44 39
30 24
26 23
25 23
23 19
22 16
21 19
17 20
17 19
15 14
14 14
13
9
12
8
11 10
10 10
9
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1

Source: Automotive News Data Center

Inventories
stay lean, stable
Jesse Snyder
jsnyder@crain.com

Four years after the depths of the
recession, automakers are still
closely matching production to demand and keeping inventories lean
and stable.
At the start of September, the industry had enough vehicles to last 54
days. That was down two days from
a month earlier, and three less than a
year ago. It was the leanest supply in
13 months, but that was expected after August’s blowout sales pace.
On Sept. 1, hot-selling Subaru had
the leanest stock among automakers with a 24-day supply.
Hyundai-Kia’s adding seven days
to hit a 48-day supply on Sept. 1
made it the big mover among major
players compared with a month
earlier. Over the past 12 months,
the Korean-based brands’ stocks
have gone from the industry’s tightest to nearly normal as their sales
have fallen or trailed the booming
U.S. auto market. On Sept. 1, Toyota
Motor Sales, American Honda and
Jaguar Land Rover were all leaner
than Hyundai-Kia.
As usual, the Detroit 3 carried the
largest stock among the major players, mainly because of their greater
dependence on sales of full-sized
pickups. Dealers normally carry a
large supply of those mostly work
trucks because they come in such a
variety of body styles and powertrains.
Ford, up two days to a 68-day supply to start the month, was the only
major automaker to exceed the industry’s informal ideal of 60 to 65
days.
Domestic automakers started September with plenty of big pickups.
Ford’s F series was the leanest at
190,700 units, a 75-day supply. With
both an initial surge of redesigned
2014s and carryover 2013s, the
Chevrolet Silverado had the most
stock, a 98-day supply. c

Inventory – U.S. car and light-truck, on Sept. 1
Days Days
supply supply
Inventory Sept. 1 Aug. 1
units 2013 2013

BMW div. car (I) ......
BMW div. trk. (D/I) ..
Total BMW div. (D/I) ..
Total Mini (I) ............
BMW†* ....................
200 ..........................
300 ..........................
Total Chrysler Div. car
Town & Country ......
Total Chrysler Div. trk.
Total Chrysler Div. ....
Avenger ....................
Challenger ................
Charger ....................
Dart ..........................
Viper ........................
Total Dodge car ......
Caravan ....................
Durango....................
Journey ....................
Total Dodge trk. ......
Total Dodge ............
Cargo van ................
Ram ..........................
Total Ram trk. ..........
Total Dodge/Ram ......
Fiat 500 car ............
Fiat 500L truck (I) ......
Total Fiat ................
Compass ..................
Grand Cherokee ........
Liberty ......................
Patriot ......................
Wrangler ..................
Total Jeep trk. ..........
Chrysler Group car ....
Chrysler Group trk. (D)
Chrysler Group trk. (I)..
Chrysler Group trk. ....
CHRYSLER GROUP ......
Mercedes-Benz car (I)..
Mercedes-Benz trk. (D/I)
DAIMLER AG†* ..........
C-Max ......................
Fiesta ........................
Focus ........................
Fusion ......................
Mustang....................
Taurus ......................
Total Ford div. car ....
E-series/Club Wagon
E-series van ..............
Edge..........................
Escape ......................
Expedition ................
Explorer ....................
F series ....................
Flex ..........................
Transit Connect (I)....
Ford div. trk. (D) ......
Ford div. trk. (I) ......
Total Ford div. trk. ..
Ford div. (D) ..........
Ford div. (I) ............
Total Ford div. ..........
MKS..........................
MKZ ..........................
Total Lincoln car......
MKT ..........................
MKX..........................
Navigator ..................
Total Lincoln trk. ....
Total Lincoln ............
Ford Motor Co. car ....
Ford Motor Co. trk. (D)
Ford Motor Co. trk. (I)..
Ford Motor Co. trk. ....
FORD MOTOR CO. ......
LaCrosse ..................
Regal ........................
Verano ......................
Total Buick car ........
Enclave ....................
Encore (I)..................
Total Buick trk. (D) ..
Total Buick trk. (I) ....
Total Buick trk. ........
Total Buick (D)..........
Total Buick (I) ..........
Total Buick ..............

30,500
12,800
43,300
12,800
56,000
19,400
14,900
34,300
18,900
18,900
53,300
11,800
9,900
16,500
25,200
500
63,800
16,300
14,100
17,300
47,800
111,600
1,700
97,900
99,600
211,200
14,400
4,900
19,400
10,100
34,200
–
11,200
25,200
80,800
112,600
247,100
4,900
252,000
364,600
29,000
20,000
49,000
11,700
19,200
41,900
49,500
17,200
15,100
154,600
1,600
17,700
28,900
45,100
13,300
24,100
190,700
8,600
18,400
330,000
18,400
348,400
484,600
18,400
503,000
4,600
12,100
16,700
1,700
7,700
2,800
12,200
28,900
171,300
342,200
18,400
360,600
531,900
11,200
6,800
12,600
30,600
12,300
8,600
12,300
8,600
20,900
42,900
8,600
51,500

50
49
49
59
51
54
71
60
42
42
52
52
63
62
102
209
71
36
63
54
48
59
81
83
83
68
136
114
129
54
53
50
44
45
49
71
58
114
58
62
52
53
52
108
80
58
56
82
52
63
54
64
70
47
117
43
75
91
131
66
131
68
65
131
66
114
93
98
86
99
116
100
99
65
67
131
69
68
45
130
61
60
56
56
56
56
56
59
56
58

41
51
44
51
46
68
101
79
63
63
72
47
58
71
96
105
69
50
72
67
61
65
36
81
80
71
124
60
108
49
62
22
38
46
51
76
63
60
63
66
47
47
47
106
69
53
53
61
53
58
32
49
69
46
110
39
78
82
141
65
141
67
63
141
64
120
109
112
109
101
115
105
109
61
66
141
68
66
108
135
90
104
65
83
65
83
72
89
83
88

Vehicles are domestic unless noted.

Days Days
supply supply
Inventory Sept. 1 Aug. 1
units 2013 2013

ATS ..........................
CTS ..........................
XTS ..........................
Total Cadillac car ....
Escalade....................
Escalade ESV ............
Escalade EXT ............
SRX ..........................
Total Cadillac trk. ....
Total Cadillac ..........
Camaro ....................
Caprice (I) ................
Corvette ....................
Cruze ........................
Impala ......................
Malibu ......................
Sonic ........................
Spark (I) ..................
Volt ..........................
Chevrolet car (D) ....
Chevrolet car (I) ......
Total Chevrolet car ..
Avalanche ................
Captiva Sport ............
Colorado ..................
Equinox ....................
Express van ..............
Silverado ..................
Suburban ..................
Tahoe........................
Traverse....................
Total Chevrolet trk. ..
Total Chevrolet (D) ....
Total Chevrolet (I)......
Total Chevrolet ........
Acadia ......................
Savana van ..............
Sierra ........................
Terrain ......................
Yukon ......................
Yukon XL ..................
Total GMC trk. ..........
GM car (D) ............
GM car (I) ..............
GM car ..................
GM trk. (D) ............
GM trk. (I)..............
GM trk. ..................
GENERAL MOTORS†* ..
ILX ............................
RLX (I)......................
TL ............................
TSX (I) ......................
Acura car (D) ..........
Acura car (I) ..........
Total Acura car ........
MDX..........................
RDX ..........................
Total Acura trk. ......
Total Acura ..............
Accord ......................
Civic..........................
Crosstour..................
CR-Z (I) ....................
Fit (I) ........................
Insight (I)..................
Honda Div. car (D) ..
Honda Div. car (I) ....
Total Honda Div. car
CR-V ........................
Odyssey ....................
Pilot ..........................
Ridgeline ..................
Total Honda Div. trk.
Total Honda Div. ......
Am. Honda car (D) ..
Am. Honda car (I) ....
Am. Honda car..........
Am. Honda trk. ........
AMERICAN HONDA ......
Hyundai div. car (D/I)
Hyundai div. trk. (D/I)
Total Hyundai div. (D/I)†

17,000
9,200
11,600
37,800
4,400
2,200
500
15,900
23,000
60,800
21,400
1,200
1,800
35,200
18,900
26,000
24,400
5,300
5,300
133,000
6,500
139,500
1,600
200
100
36,600
17,000
153,200
11,800
24,100
20,200
264,800
397,800
6,500
404,300
16,600
3,500
55,800
18,600
10,800
6,400
111,700
201,400
6,500
207,900
411,800
8,600
420,400
628,300
6,000
3,000
4,000
4,000
10,000
7,000
17,000
8,000
7,000
15,000
32,000
64,000
63,000
8,000
2,000
16,000
4,000
135,000
22,000
157,000
38,000
15,000
18,000
5,000
76,000
233,000
145,000
29,000
174,000
91,000
265,000
84,400
24,300
108,700

141
65
92
97
102
80
77
62
69
84
68
47
77
41
40
43
60
33
44
48
35
47
29
1
30
41
58
98
83
99
62
71
61
35
60
60
87
87
47
129
64
72
55
35
54
71
56
70
64
99
183
50
64
71
89
77
34
45
39
53
46
45
135
116
69
256
48
82
51
31
38
34
81
34
44
49
84
52
35
45
44
57
46

145
106
98
116
93
73
82
88
87
103
63
137
86
34
28
51
111
44
105
49
48
49
52
17
24
52
84
87
39
82
68
72
62
48
62
53
64
84
72
96
49
73
61
48
61
73
83
73
68
101
122
81
89
90
98
93
32
44
37
58
48
51
155
130
79
238
52
92
55
36
28
46
91
38
48
54
94
58
38
49
36
56
39

Days Days
supply supply
Inventory Sept. 1 Aug. 1
units 2013 2013

Kia car (I) .............. 66,000
Kia trk. (D/I) .......... 29,000
Total Kia (D/I)* ........ 95,000
Hyundai-Kia car (D/I) .. 150,400
Hyundai-Kia trk. (D/I).. 53,300
HYUNDAI-KIA ............ 203,700
Jaguar car (I) ..........
4,400
Land Rover trk. (I) ....
4,100
JAGUAR LAND ROVER N.A.†* 8,500
Mazda2 (I) ................
2,300
Mazda3 (I) ................ 26,200
Mazda6 (I) ................
5,500
MX-5 (I)....................
1,800
Total Mazda car (I) .... 35,800
CX-5 (I) .................... 14,100
CX-9 (I) ....................
5,200
Mazda5 (I) ................
2,600
Total Mazda trk. (I) .... 21,900
MAZDA† .................. 57,700
Galant ......................
300
i-MiEV (I) ..................
100
Lancer (I)..................
4,800
Mitsubishi car (D) ....
300
Mitsubishi car (I) ....
4,800
Total Mitsubishi car ..
5,100
Outlander (I) ............
6,200
Outlander Sport ........
7,000
Mitsubishi trk. (D) ....
7,000
Mitsubishi trk. (I) ....
6,200
Total Mitsubishi trk. .. 13,200
MITSUBISHI .............. 18,300
Infiniti car (I) .......... 17,000
Infiniti trk. (D/I) ...... 11,200
Total Infiniti (D/I) ...... 28,200
Nissan Div. car (D/I) 119,000
Nissan Div. trk. (D/I)
83,200
Total Nissan Div. ...... 202,200
Nissan N.A. car (D/I) .. 136,000
Nissan N.A. trk. (D/I) .. 94,400
NISSAN N.A.† ............ 230,400
Subaru car (D) ........ 14,600
Subaru car (I) ........
5,100
Subaru car (D/I) ........ 19,800
Subaru trk. (D) ........
500
Subaru trk. (I) ........ 15,400
Subaru trk. (D/I) ........ 15,900
SUBARU†** .............. 35,700
Lexus car (I) .......... 21,800
Lexus trk. (D/I) ........ 16,000
Total Lexus (D/I) ...... 37,800
Toyota/Scion car (D/I) 179,200
Toyota trk. (D/I) ...... 120,500
Total Toyota/Scion (D/I) 299,700
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES† 337,500
Audi car (I) ............ 16,800
Audi trk. (I) ............
4,600
Total Audi (I) ............ 21,400
Porsche car (I) ........
4,900
Porsche trk. (I) ........
1,900
Total Porsche (I)† ......
6,800
VW div. car (D/I) ...... 67,700
VW div. trk. (I) ........
7,400
Total VW division (D/I)*
75,200
VW Group car (D/I) .... 89,400
VW Group trk. (D/I) .... 13,900
VW GROUP .............. 103,400
30 series (I) ..............
200
60 series (I) ..............
5,800
70 series (I) ..............
2,100
80 series (I) ..............
600
Total Volvo car (I) ....
8,800
XC60 (I) ....................
4,500
XC90 (I) ....................
1,600
Total Volvo trk. (I) ....
6,200
VOLVO CARS N.A.† .... 14,900
Total car ................ 1,388,900
Total truck .............. 1,516,100
TOTAL .................. 2,905,000

50 42
55 50
51 44
46 38
56 53
48 41
72 79
23 28
36 42
85 82
66 92
36 29
89 79
60 76
46 42
67 76
88 66
53 51
57 65
102 74
66 49
75 83
102 74
75 82
76 81
140 87
90 72
90 72
140 87
108 77
97 79
68 61
64 63
67 62
51 47
54 53
52 50
53 48
55 54
54 51
29 32
16 18
24 27
102 98
24 27
25 28
24 27
36 44
35 44
36 44
42 52
41 45
42 49
41 48
57 46
22 24
43 38
73 53
37 41
57 48
52 58
54 64
52 59
53 55
35 40
50 52
72 58
83 64
62 84
89 119
77 71
71 68
88 54
75 64
76 68
52 54
57 58
54 56

†Dealer stock and in-transits
*Estimate
**Total stock figure is actual, but domestic car and
truck stock figures are estimated.
Source: Automotive News Data Center and company sources

Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding; (D) = produced in North America; (I) = imported to U.S.
Days supply: Number of days needed to sell all vehicles in inventory,
Inventory: Unit count of vehicles on hand at dealerships, factory lots, ports of entry and in transit on a specific date
based on the previous month’s daily selling rate

Stock by brand

Stock by maker

Perspective

Days supply on Sept. 1, 2013

Days supply on Sept. 1, 2013

Total industry days supply on Sept. 1
2009
30
2010
52
2011
49
2012
57
2013
54

Smallest
1. Land Rover†*
2. Subaru†
3. Lexus†
4. Toyota/Scion†
5. Audi

Smallest
23
24
36
42
43

Largest
1. Fiat
2. Lincoln
3. Mitsubishi
4. Cadillac†*
5. Ram

1. Subaru†
2. Jaguar Land Rover†*
3. Toyota Motor Sales†
4. American Honda
5. Hyundai-Kia

24
36
41
45
48

Domestics vs. imports

Largest
129
99
97
84
83

†Dealer stock and in-transits
*Estimate
Source: Automotive News Data Center

1. Mitsubishi
2. Volvo Cars N.A.†
3. Ford Motor Co.
4. GM†*
5. Chrysler Group

Source: Automotive News Data Center

97
76
68
64
62

†Dealer stock and in-transits
*Estimate
Source: Automotive News Data Center

Days supply on Sept. 1, 2013
On Sept. 1

Detroit 3
European
Japanese
Korean
Total industry

On Aug. 1

64
53
45
48
54

67
51
49
41
56

Source: Automotive News Data Center

GM execs
differ on
overlap of
Chevy-Opel
Mike Colias
mcolias@crain.com

FRANKFURT — General Motors
executives say they’re hatching a
plan for how best to position the
Chevrolet
and
Opel/Vauxhall
brands in Europe; analysts say they
overlap too much to coexist and
grow together.
But there seems to be disagreement among top brass on the extent
of the branding problem.
Thomas Sedran, a former corporate restructuring consultant who
this summer replaced Susan
Docherty as head of Chevrolet Europe, says there’s minimal crossshopping between Chevy and Opel,
even though both are seen as mainstream value marques in Europe.
“We see very little interaction between these two brands,” Sedran
told reporters at the auto show here
last week.
He said research shows that only 5
to 12 percent of Chevy buyers also
considered Opel among their top
three choices. The same low degree
of cross-shopping applies to Opel
buyers, Sedran said.
But Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann, hired early this year to execute a turnaround of GM’s moneylosing European subsidiary, says
the Opel and Chevy product portfolios are too close for comfort. Opel
has tried to move its brand upmarket in recent years.
“Chevrolet had a lot of budget
product,” Neumann told reporters
in a separate meeting. “Chevrolet
now has some product which is, in
my opinion, too close with the Opel
product.”
Neumann points to the Chevy
Trax, a small crossover launched in
Europe this summer that is essentially a rebadged Opel Mokka or
Buick Encore, with fewer advanced
features. In Germany, the Trax is
priced about $2,700 less than the
Mokka. “The product we want to do
in the future should differentiate
stronger and more than these two,”
Neumann said.
Jump-starting Chevy’s sales in Europe is a priority for GM CEO Dan
Akerson, who is pressing for global
expansion of the bow-tie brand,
which accounts for more than half
of GM’s overall revenue. But GM
can’t let those sales come at the expense of Opel, which outsells Chevy
in Europe by a margin of 6 to 1.
Akerson in June expressed disappointment with Chevy’s European
performance and said he is counting
on Sedran for “a fresh approach.” He
said Sedran “understands the channel conflicts we’ve inevitably had between Opel and Chevrolet.”
Chevy has struggled in Europe.
Through July, its sales on the continent sank 24 percent, to 88,252
units, according to the latest figures
available from JATO Dynamics.
That’s worse than the overall market, which fell 5 percent.
Opel, meanwhile, is showing
signs of life amid brisk demand for
the Mokka and Adam small car. Its
market share this year held steady
through July after declining in each
of the last 15 years. c
Automotive News - September 16, 2013

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