Automotive News - May 9, 2016 - 39

MAY 9, 2016 * 39

U.S. light-vehicle sales - continued
CT (I)...................................................................
ES (D) ...............................................................
ES (I).................................................................
Total ES...............................................................
GS (I)...................................................................
IS (I)....................................................................
LFA (I) .................................................................
LS (I)...................................................................
RC (I)...................................................................
Total Lexus car (D/I) .................................
GX (I)...................................................................
LX (I)...................................................................
NX (I)...................................................................
RX (D)...............................................................
RX (I) ................................................................
Total RX ..............................................................
Total Lexus truck (D/I)...............................
Lexus (D) ..............................................
Lexus (I)................................................
Total Lexus ............................................
FR-S (I) ...............................................................
iA .........................................................................
iM (I) ...................................................................
iQ (I)....................................................................
tC (I)....................................................................
xB (I) ...................................................................
xD (I)...................................................................
Scion car (D).........................................
Scion car (I)..........................................
Total Scion car........................................
Avalon .................................................................
Camry (D).........................................................
Camry (I) ..........................................................
Total Camry ........................................................
Corolla.................................................................
Mirai (I) ...............................................................
Prius (I)...............................................................
Venza...................................................................
Yaris (I) ...............................................................
Total Toyota car (D/I) ................................
4Runner (I).........................................................
FJ Cruiser (I).......................................................
Highlander (D)..................................................
Highlander (I) ...................................................
Total Highlander .................................................
Land Cruiser (I) ..................................................
RAV4 (D) ..........................................................
RAV4 (I)............................................................
Total RAV4..........................................................
Sequoia...............................................................
Sienna .................................................................
Tacoma ...............................................................
Tundra.................................................................
Total Toyota truck (D/I)..............................
Toyota (D) .............................................
Toyota (I)...............................................
Total Toyota ...........................................
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. car ....................
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. truck....................
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (D) ....................
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. (I) .....................
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES U.S.A......................
A3 (I)...................................................................
A4/S4 (I) .............................................................
A5/S5 (I) .............................................................
A6/S6 (I) .............................................................
A7/S7 (I) .............................................................
A8/S8 (I) .............................................................
R8 (I)...................................................................
TT (I) ...................................................................
Total Audi car (I) .....................................
allroad (I) ............................................................
Q3 (I)...................................................................
Q5 (I)...................................................................
Q7 (I)...................................................................
Total Audi truck (I) ...................................
Total Audi (I) ..........................................
Bentley car (I).........................................
Lamborghini car (I)*.................................
911 Carrera/Carrera 4 (I) ...................................
918 Spyder (I) ....................................................
Boxster (I)...........................................................
Cayman (I)..........................................................
Panamera (I).......................................................
Total Porsche car (I) .................................
Cayenne (I) .........................................................
Macan (I) ............................................................
Total Porsche truck (I)...............................
Total Porsche (I)......................................
Beetle...................................................................
CC (I)...................................................................
Eos (I) .................................................................
Golf (D) .............................................................
Golf/Golf R/GTI (I)............................................
Total Golf/Golf R/GTI..........................................
Jetta.....................................................................
Passat..................................................................
Total VW car (D/I) ....................................
Tiguan (I) ............................................................
Touareg (I)..........................................................
Total VW truck (I).....................................
VW (D) .................................................
VW (I)...................................................
Total VW ...............................................
VW Group of America car...........................
VW Group of America truck ........................
VW Group of America (D)...........................
VW Group of America (I)............................
VW GROUP OF AMERICA ............................
60 series (I) ........................................................
70 series (I) ........................................................
80 series (I) ........................................................
Total Volvo car (I) ....................................
XC60 (I)...............................................................
XC90 (I)...............................................................
Total Volvo truck (I)..................................
VOLVO CAR USA.......................................
Domestic car......................................................
Import car ..........................................................
Total U.S. car .......................................
Domestic light truck ..........................................
Import light truck...............................................
Total U.S. light truck ..............................
Total domestic light vehicle ....................
Total import light vehicle .......................
TOTAL U.S. LIGHT VEHICLE .....................

April
2016

April
2015

4 mos.
2016

4 mos.
2015

577
2,795
1,647
4,442
1,001
2,654
0
397
813
9,884
1,974
442
3,815
8,472
295
8,767
14,998
11,267
13,615
24,882
684
3,023
1,542
1
1,077
312
1
3,023
3,617
6,640
4,032
34,026
13
34,039
32,111
41
11,925
57
1,365
83,570
10,135
3
14,595
442
15,037
374
2,757
27,395
30,152
1,172
10,795
18,106
10,259
96,033
127,910
51,693
179,603
100,094
111,031
142,200
68,925
211,125
2,869
2,983
813
1,619
543
330
96
303
9,556
147
1,635
3,991
2,472
8,245
17,801
110
86
1,023
0
224
449
371
2,067
1,466
1,877
3,343
5,410
1,171
230
39
1,104
4,004
5,108
10,694
5,629
22,871
3,804
437
4,241
18,598
8,514
27,112
34,690
15,829
18,598
31,921
50,519
1,280
377
47
1,704
1,456
3,009
4,465
6,169
450,473
161,976
612,449
719,325
174,657
893,982
1,169,798
336,633
1,506,431

1,170
0
4,701
4,701
1,711
4,008
0
609
1,226
13,425
1,950
270
3,421
6,530
280
6,810
12,451
6,530
19,346
25,876
1,026
0
0
73
1,693
1,406
111
0
4,309
4,309
4,590
34,049
17
34,066
31,990
0
15,235
2,101
2,153
90,135
7,432
8
13,458
305
13,763
210
16,096
6,818
22,914
992
11,353
15,656
10,681
83,009
140,966
32,178
173,144
107,869
95,460
147,496
55,833
203,329
3,187
2,327
1,300
2,139
754
387
69
2
10,165
215
1,065
3,762
1,620
6,662
16,827
242
84
897
28
305
292
385
1,907
1,773
1,537
3,310
5,217
2,389
516
252
1,739
3,769
5,508
11,700
6,623
26,988
2,402
619
3,021
22,451
7,558
30,009
39,386
12,993
22,451
29,928
52,379
2,014
426
121
2,561
1,819
256
2,075
4,636
488,307
164,117
652,424
677,205
125,839
803,044
1,165,512
289,956
1,455,468

2,933
8,410
9,050
17,460
4,990
11,472
5
1,637
3,682
42,179
7,193
1,978
15,190
30,119
2,444
32,563
56,924
38,529
60,574
99,103
2,414
10,432
5,768
4
3,838
2,418
8
10,432
14,450
24,882
16,233
130,246
37
130,283
116,371
138
43,861
472
4,048
311,406
35,706
4
52,005
1,705
53,710
1,142
46,149
60,125
106,274
4,177
45,324
62,682
35,794
344,813
509,453
146,766
656,219
378,467
401,737
558,414
221,790
780,204
10,373
9,361
2,714
4,977
2,009
1,315
123
966
31,838
597
5,030
12,831
9,465
27,923
59,761
372
344
3,182
1
909
1,258
1,334
6,684
5,483
5,481
10,964
17,648
4,490
1,221
381
4,046
13,195
17,241
38,717
19,692
81,742
13,096
1,588
14,684
66,945
29,481
96,426
120,980
53,571
66,945
107,606
174,551
5,043
1,336
193
6,572
5,102
10,856
15,958
22,530
1,752,060
562,047
2,314,107
2,664,724
614,780
3,279,504
4,416,784
1,176,827
5,593,611

4,569
0
18,746
18,746
7,615
15,254
4
2,457
4,258
52,903
7,430
1,145
12,532
27,442
1,604
29,046
50,153
27,442
75,614
103,056
3,471
0
0
305
6,066
5,878
567
0
16,287
16,287
18,194
134,506
65
134,571
122,718
0
55,535
8,882
7,477
347,377
29,445
203
48,001
1,124
49,125
893
63,935
25,989
89,924
3,803
44,076
55,322
39,438
312,229
538,875
120,731
659,606
416,567
362,382
566,317
212,632
778,949
10,930
7,899
4,277
6,951
1,869
1,454
239
13
33,632
853
4,252
13,116
5,072
23,293
56,925
782
336
3,418
86
938
1,072
1,697
7,211
5,299
4,137
9,436
16,647
8,124
1,977
739
7,298
10,973
18,271
43,063
27,031
99,205
7,994
2,049
10,043
85,516
23,732
109,248
141,166
42,772
85,516
98,422
183,938
8,102
1,642
493
10,237
7,754
367
8,121
18,358
1,833,554
616,475
2,450,029
2,499,157
463,435
2,962,592
4,332,711
1,079,910
5,412,621

*Estimate
†Ferrari split off from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Jan. 1, 2016.
Note: (D) = produced in North America; (I) = imported to U.S.
Source: Automotive News Data Center

What's next for FCA, Google?
'We'll see,' Marchionne says
Larry P. Vellequette
lvellequette@crain.com

WINDSOR, Ontario - Google's
deal to buy 100 plug-in hybrid
minivans from Fiat Chrysler to expand its self-driving vehicle testing
program is a "first phase" of the relationship between the two companies, says Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio
Marchionne.
"This first phase of the operation is
very targeted," Marchionne said.
"It's designed to take Google technology into the minivan. It's very,
very focused. There's a very clear objective and a very clear timeline.

SALES
Feast or famine
among FCA brands
continued from Page 3

2015. Through four months U.S. auto sales are up 3.3 percent or about
180,000 vehicles as consumers respond to low interest rates, available credit, job growth, low fuel
prices and well-packaged manufacturer incentives.
April incentives rose 13 percent
from the same month last year to an
estimated $3,021 per vehicle, said
TrueCar analyst Eric Lyman. The level was slightly lower than in March.
But Lyman said he is less concerned about rising spiffs than he
was last fall. He said most manufacturers are focusing their biggest offers on models with high margins -
luxury vehicles and high-end pickups, crossovers and SUVs - rather
than on low-margin small and midsize cars.
"Unlike the 1990s when automakers incentivized small cars as loss
leaders to get people into showrooms
and push [more profitable] trucks
and big cars, manufacturers are letting cars find their own sales levels,"
Lyman said. "That lends truth to previous promises that they would balance production and demand."
The industry's average transaction price rose 2.1 percent to
$33,054 in April, TrueCar estimates.
That continues a pattern in recent
years - transaction prices, the net
after incentives are applied, are rising faster than spiffs.
But automakers shouldn't be

VERANO
Is compact 'too
upscale' for its size?
continued from Page 3

built at GM's Orion Assembly plant
near Detroit.
The decision seems to align with
the philosophy of global Buick chief
Duncan Aldred, who took over the
brand in 2014. Aldred has said he
guards against spreading resources
across too many light-selling
nameplates. For example, he has
hinted at U.S. sales expectations for
the Envision of around 50,000 annually, which would far eclipse the
Verano's 31,886 tally from last year.
"What we can't have at Buick is 10
vehicles all selling a few thousand

REUTERS

Marchionne: "This first phase of
the operation is very targeted."
What develops from here? We'll see."
The joint effort, announced last
week by FCA and Google, will trans-

form 100 Chrysler Pacifica plug-in
hybrids into autonomous vehicles.
The two companies will jointly develop the vehicles, Marchionne
said.
The CEO said FCA's strategy is to
keep an open mind about partnerships and not necessarily latch onto
to a specific tech company or technology.
Marchionne said: "Making unequivocal bets with companies who
are in that space today and effectively precluding the development
with others is a very dangerous
path, at least in our view." c

Winners and losers

Top 10 vehicles

April 2016

April 2016

Change in sales from April 2015

Winners
1. Alfa Romeo
2. Scion
3. Volvo
4. Lincoln
5. Mitsubishi

57.9%
54.1%
33.1%
20.2%
17.7%

Losers
1. Bentley
2. Cadillac
3. Fiat
4. Chrysler
5. Mini

-54.5%
-28.9%
-18.9%
-17.5%
-12.4%

Source: Automotive News Data Center

1. Ford F series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. Ram pickup
4. Honda Civic
5. Toyota Camry
6. Toyota Corolla
7. Honda Accord
8. Toyota RAV4
9. Honda CR-V
10. Nissan Altima

70,774
49,990
41,079
35,331
34,039
32,111
31,526
30,152
28,913
28,484

Source: Automotive News Data Center

lulled by the spurt in transaction
prices, said Mark Wakefield, managing director of the Americas automotive practice at AlixPartners.
The effect is partially diluted by
consumers choosing longer loan
terms to keep monthly payments
low.
"Buyers don't value the car more,
they're just spreading the payments
out," Wakefield said. "The money
leaving their pockets every month
hasn't changed much in a decade."
Another factor boosting transaction prices is the shift in the model
mix, from sedans to more expensive
crossovers, vans, SUVs and pickups,
he added.
Luxury brands fared poorly in
April, with three of the seven bestselling brands posting sales declines in an up market. One reason:
Luxury cars plunged 14 percent,
largely offsetting a 14 percent gain
in the premium crossover segment.
Van sales jumped 28 percent in
April, led by a 35 percent gain for

minivans. Large vans, especially
new commercially oriented entries
such as the Ford Transit, soared 22
percent.
The trend toward trucks continued
to produce unconventional results in
April. For example, Ford sold more
Transit vans than Mustangs, 14,381
to 12,726, and more Expeditions than
Fiestas, 4,521 to 4,462.
And even as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles achieved its 73rd consecutive monthly sales increase, it was
feast or famine among FCA's
brands. Jeep gained 17 percent to
84,298 vehicles, its second-best
month ever. Ram sales rose 12 percent. Fiat fell 19 percent. Despite
strong Town & Country growth and
its new Pacifica minivan, Chrysler
brand dropped 18 percent.
This year, CEO Sergio Marchionne said FCA is seeking a partner to take over future manufacturing and design of the automakers' small cars. In April, Dodge
Dart sales plunged 49 percent and
the Chrysler 200 was off 60 percent. c

units each. I've seen that. It doesn't
work," he said in a 2014 interview.
"We need to bring in cars, trucks,
whatever, that can offer substantial
volume ... and that are important
for the dealers who will then buy
them, stock them and spend marketing dollars on them."
The Verano isn't that kind of car,
said Chicago-area Buick dealer
Mike Ettleson.
"It's a nice car," Ettleson said.
"But when gas prices are what they
are, nobody is looking at them."
When the Verano debuted in late
2011, it was aimed at market "white
space" as a premium small sedan
that starts in the mid-$20,000s. That
positioned it between a slew of less
expensive mainstream compacts -
think Ford Focus or Honda Civic -
and luxury offerings priced north of

$30,000, such as the Lexus IS 250.
At the time it offered some goodies
that most mainstream cars didn't,
such as a heated steering wheel. But
recent redesigns of the Civic, Chevy
Cruze and others have equaled or
surpassed the Verano on features
and refinement, Brinley says. And
today, a buyer with a budget in the
mid-$20,000s has many more
crossover choices, too.
At Martin NeSmith's Buick-GMC
showroom in Claxton, Ga., customers would rather pay less for a
similarly sized Cruze, for example, or
spend about the same amount for a
crossover than spring for a Verano.
"The Verano might be just a little
too upscale for a vehicle of that
size," NeSmith says. "For not much
more money, customers can get an
SUV." c
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - May 9, 2016

Headline
Are we approaching ‘peak pickup’?
Dealer wins court battle against GM
NHTSA tests just-in-time recalls
A self-driving vehicle with soccer-mom sense
Sun sets on Buick’s Verano
Monster month for truck sales
New GM tool warns of potential part failures
F-150 to get upgrades under the hood
3-D printing gets real
New Genesis brand will get plug-ins
Expect a sleeker, smaller 2018 GMC Terrain
Source: FCA's new 2.0-liter turbo 4-banger to make nearly 300 hp
Ford finds mixed blessing in end of tiered wages
BMW confronts oversupply on dealer lots
Hyundai boosts incentives for sagging Elantra
Recalls are all about parts -- and getting them starts with automakers
It has been a long road back
3rd-party providers and auto retailers must work together
Obituaries
Study: Dealerships perform best in lead response
Subaru ad agency’s pet project
Longevity and love: Makings of a dog's 'Dream Weekend'
Audi's Marvel tie-in helped propel the brand
Dodge commandeers Bondurant track
Digital agency Razorfish sees experience trumping message
Chevy marketing rides on "Real People' power
Certified leasing helps dealer ease glut of returning vehicles
Is the F&I manager an endangered species?
GM learns to exploit its scale
Employees stay, and the business takes off
What's next for FCA, Google? 'We'll see,' Marchionne says
Storm dent damage: To fix or not to fix?
Buick droptop gets high marks for looks
No amour between Ghosn, French government
Automotive News - May 9, 2016
