Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - (Page 21) DECEMBER 8, 2008 • 21 Mercedes cuts output in Ala. April Wortham awortham@crain.com U.S. car and light-truck sales by make – November 2008 (Ranked by total sales) Make Car 2008 Car 2007 2008 share 2007 share Percent change Truck 2008 Truck 2007 2008 share 2007 share Percent change Total 2008 Total 2007 2008 share 2007 Percent share change Mercedes-Benz joined the Detroit 3, Toyota, Nissan and Honda in cutting deeper into output of light trucks. All have had to reduce production because of soft sales. Mercedes-Benz’s Vance, Ala., plant will shut down an additional two days this month and another two weeks next month to align production with falling sales, the company said. The Alabama factory has been operating on a four-day workweek since the beginning of October. Last month, Mercedes said it would eliminate one shift on the assembly line that makes the M-class crossover and GL-class SUV beginning in January. A second line that produces the M-class and R-class crossovers will continue as a two-shift operation. The Alabama factory is the exclusive producer of Mercedes SUVs and crossovers for the global market. Sales of Mercedes’ Alabama-made vehicles fell a combined 34 percent in November from November 2007. c Ford plans to end production of the Taurus X crossover in March. Ford will kill Sable, Taurus X Amy Wilson awilson@crain.com Toyota Division Ford division Chevrolet Honda Division Dodge Nissan Division Jeep Chrysler Division GMC Hyundai division Lexus BMW division Kia Volkswagen division Mazda Mercedes-Benz Subaru Pontiac Cadillac Saturn Lincoln Acura Mercury Infiniti Buick Audi Scion Mitsubishi Mini Volvo Suzuki Land Rover‡* Smart Hummer Porsche Jaguar‡* Saab Bentley Maserati Isuzu Aston Martin‡‡* Rolls-Royce* Maybach* Other** TOTAL Made in North America Made in Japan Made in Europe Made in Korea Total Detroit 31 Total Japan2 Total Europe3 Total Korea4 General Motors Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Ford Motor Co.† Chrysler LLC†† American Honda Motor Co. Nissan North America Hyundai-Kia Automotive Volkswagen Group of America BMW Group Daimler AG†† Tata Motors†††* 62,738 26,749 36,476 40,119 14,068 23,734 – 10,003 – 12,508 8,941 12,106 7,151 11,519 9,437 9,219 13,084 11,383 4,879 3,532 5,217 5,106 5,306 5,643 5,220 5,877 5,275 3,368 4,545 3,259 1,694 – 1,889 – 678 910 717 207 158 – 100 22 10 390 373,237 243,885 66,402 43,784 18,033 122,833 179,139 51,606 19,659 62,207 76,954 40,531 24,071 45,225 29,377 19,659 17,603 16,673 11,118 910 89,130 41,908 58,963 58,895 29,318 39,164 – 27,182 – 19,711 14,892 18,627 11,632 16,736 13,020 16,269 13,451 24,042 11,362 6,981 3,200 6,340 9,331 7,722 9,214 7,566 9,619 5,294 3,177 5,983 3,625 – – – 1,430 1,114 1,693 340 305 – 172 36 13 446 587,903 406,198 91,367 63,680 26,658 221,501 261,152 73,907 31,343 112,255 113,641 61,536 56,500 65,235 46,886 31,343 24,642 21,840 16,282 – 16.8 7.2 9.8 10.7 3.8 6.4 – 2.7 – 3.4 2.4 3.2 1.9 3.1 2.5 2.5 3.5 3.0 1.3 0.9 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.4 0.9 1.2 0.9 0.5 – 0.5 – 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0 – 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 100.0 65.3 17.8 11.7 4.8 32.9 48.0 13.8 5.3 16.7 20.6 10.9 6.4 12.1 7.9 5.3 4.7 4.5 3.0 0.2 15.2 7.1 10.0 10.0 5.0 6.7 – 4.6 – 3.4 2.5 3.2 2.0 2.8 2.2 2.8 2.3 4.1 1.9 1.2 0.5 1.1 1.6 1.3 1.6 1.3 1.6 0.9 0.5 1.0 0.6 – – – 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 – 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 100.0 69.1 15.5 10.8 4.5 37.7 44.4 12.6 5.3 19.1 19.3 10.5 9.6 11.1 8.0 5.3 4.2 3.7 2.8 – –29.6 –36.2 –38.1 –31.9 –52.0 –39.4 – –63.2 – –36.5 –40.0 –35.0 –38.5 –31.2 –27.5 –43.3 –2.7 –52.7 –57.1 –49.4 63.0 –19.5 –43.1 –26.9 –43.3 –22.3 –45.2 –36.4 43.1 –45.5 –53.3 – – – –52.6 –18.3 –57.6 –39.1 –48.2 – –41.9 –38.9 –23.1 –12.6 –36.5 –40.0 –27.3 –31.2 –32.4 –44.5 –31.4 –30.2 –37.3 –44.6 –32.3 –34.1 –57.4 –30.7 –37.3 –37.3 –28.6 –23.7 –31.7 – 46,071 75,807 58,619 28,226 30,873 15,240 20,302 10,014 19,402 6,713 7,282 3,111 8,031 2,776 4,697 4,889 622 757 3,936 4,598 2,802 2,782 2,438 1,988 2,296 911 – 1,728 – 1,145 1,522 2,310 – 1,454 700 – 135 – – 130 – – – – 374,307 310,097 46,390 7,358 10,462 233,298 110,288 15,977 14,744 91,197 53,353 82,192 61,189 31,008 17,228 14,744 3,687 3,111 4,889 2,310 73,592 104,547 91,401 39,626 51,352 30,915 34,908 18,328 33,446 12,172 9,956 5,181 12,545 953 7,560 6,559 1,417 1,998 5,679 8,124 5,544 6,570 3,873 2,883 4,031 1,538 – 2,689 – 2,244 2,362 4,352 – 4,029 1,232 – 310 – – 496 – – – – 592,412 487,858 74,670 12,403 17,481 367,260 178,066 22,369 24,717 149,018 83,548 120,560 104,588 46,196 33,798 24,717 2,491 5,181 6,559 – 12.3 20.3 15.7 7.5 8.2 4.1 5.4 2.7 5.2 1.8 1.9 0.8 2.1 0.7 1.3 1.3 0.2 0.2 1.1 1.2 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.2 – 0.5 – 0.3 0.4 0.6 – 0.4 0.2 – 0.0 – – 0.0 – – – – 100.0 82.8 12.4 2.0 2.8 62.3 29.5 4.3 3.9 24.4 14.3 22.0 16.3 8.3 4.6 3.9 1.0 0.8 1.3 0.6 12.4 17.6 15.4 6.7 8.7 5.2 5.9 3.1 5.6 2.1 1.7 0.9 2.1 0.2 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.3 1.0 1.4 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.3 – 0.5 – 0.4 0.4 0.7 – 0.7 0.2 – 0.1 – – 0.1 – – – – 100.0 82.4 12.6 2.1 3.0 62.0 30.1 3.8 4.2 25.2 14.1 20.4 17.7 7.8 5.7 4.2 0.4 0.9 1.1 – –37.4 –27.5 –35.9 –28.8 –39.9 –50.7 –41.8 –45.4 –42.0 –44.8 –26.9 –40.0 –36.0 191.3 –37.9 –25.5 –56.1 –62.1 –30.7 –43.4 –49.5 –57.7 –37.1 –31.0 –43.0 –40.8 – –35.7 – –49.0 –35.6 –46.9 – –63.9 –43.2 – –56.5 – – –73.8 – – – – –36.8 –36.4 –37.9 –40.7 –40.2 –36.5 –38.1 –28.6 –40.3 –38.8 –36.1 –31.8 –41.5 –32.9 –49.0 –40.3 48.0 –40.0 –25.5 – 108,809 102,556 95,095 68,345 44,941 38,974 20,302 20,017 19,402 19,221 16,223 15,217 15,182 14,295 14,134 14,108 13,706 12,140 8,815 8,130 8,019 7,888 7,744 7,631 7,516 6,788 5,275 5,096 4,545 4,404 3,216 2,310 1,889 1,454 1,378 910 852 207 158 130 100 22 10 390 747,544 553,982 112,792 51,142 28,495 356,131 289,427 67,583 34,403 153,404 130,307 122,723 85,260 76,233 46,605 34,403 21,290 19,784 16,007 3,220 162,722 146,455 150,364 98,521 80,670 70,079 34,908 45,510 33,446 31,883 24,848 23,808 24,177 17,689 20,580 22,828 14,868 26,040 17,041 15,105 8,744 12,910 13,204 10,605 13,245 9,104 9,619 7,983 3,177 8,227 5,987 4,352 – 4,029 2,662 1,114 2,003 340 305 496 172 36 13 446 1,180,315 894,056 166,037 76,083 44,139 588,761 439,218 96,276 56,060 261,273 197,189 182,096 161,088 111,431 80,684 56,060 27,133 27,021 22,841 – 14.6 13.7 12.7 9.1 6.0 5.2 2.7 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 100.0 74.1 15.1 6.8 3.8 47.6 38.7 9.0 4.6 20.5 17.4 16.4 11.4 10.2 6.2 4.6 2.8 2.6 2.1 0.4 13.8 12.4 12.7 8.3 6.8 5.9 3.0 3.9 2.8 2.7 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.7 1.9 1.3 2.2 1.4 1.3 0.7 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.5 0.4 – 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 75.7 14.1 6.4 3.7 49.9 37.2 8.2 4.7 22.1 16.7 15.4 13.6 9.4 6.8 4.7 2.3 2.3 1.9 – –33.1 –30.0 –36.8 –30.6 –44.3 –44.4 –41.8 –56.0 –42.0 –39.7 –34.7 –36.1 –37.2 –19.2 –31.3 –38.2 –7.8 –53.4 –48.3 –46.2 –8.3 –38.9 –41.4 –28.0 –43.3 –25.4 –45.2 –36.2 43.1 –46.5 –46.3 –46.9 – –63.9 –48.2 –18.3 –57.5 –39.1 –48.2 –73.8 –41.9 –38.9 –23.1 –12.6 –36.7 –38.0 –32.1 –32.8 –35.4 –39.5 –34.1 –29.8 –38.6 –41.3 –33.9 –32.6 –47.1 –31.6 –42.2 –38.6 –21.5 –26.8 –29.9 – U.S. car and light-truck sales by make – 11 months 2008 (Ranked by total sales) Make Car 2008 Car 2007 2008 share 2007 share Percent change Truck 2008 Truck 2007 2008 share 2007 share Percent change Total 2008 Total 2007 2008 share 2007 Percent share change DETROIT — As it prepares to launch a new-generation Ford Taurus, Ford Motor Co. will kill the vehicle’s two slow-selling platform mates. Ford has confirmed it will halt production of the Ford Taurus X crossover and Mercury Sable sedan early next year. Both are made at Ford’s Chicago assembly plant, where the Taurus is built. The vehicles, as well as the Taurus, were launched under other names in 2004. The Sable was originally the Mercury Montego, and the Taurus X was the Freestyle. They were renamed when Ford changed the name of the Ford Five Hundred, reviving the well-known Taurus nameplate. But the name change didn’t save the Sable or Taurus X. Ford Motor has notified dealers to prepare their final orders for the two vehicles before production ends in the spring. Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer told Automotive News last week that Ford will assemble the final Taurus X in March. The final Sable will roll off the assembly line at the end of April. A next-generation Taurus will go into production in spring as a 2010 model and be on sale by the end of June, Schirmer said. Ford probably will unveil it at the Detroit auto show next month. The dying vehicles are not big sellers. U.S. sales of the Taurus X were 22,141 through November, down 40.7 percent. Sable sales were 15,586 for the same period, down 20.7 percent. c Toyota Division Chevrolet Ford division Honda Division Nissan Division Dodge Hyundai division GMC Chrysler Division Jeep Kia Pontiac Mazda Lexus BMW division Mercedes-Benz Volkswagen division Saturn Subaru Cadillac Acura Buick Mercury Scion Infiniti Lincoln Mitsubishi Suzuki Audi Volvo Mini Land Rover‡* Hummer Porsche Smart Saab Jaguar‡* Isuzu Bentley Maserati Aston Martin‡‡* Rolls-Royce* Maybach* Other** TOTAL Made in North America Made in Japan Made in Europe Made in Korea Total Detroit 31 Total Japan2 Total Europe3 Total Korea4 General Motors Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Ford Motor Co.† Chrysler LLC†† American Honda Motor Co. Nissan North America Hyundai-Kia Automotive Volkswagen Group of America BMW Group Daimler AG†† Tata Motors†††* 1,029,510 749,493 503,428 749,659 481,456 255,850 279,387 – 177,734 – 147,406 232,278 165,488 140,025 181,289 145,737 189,202 76,191 160,142 98,079 77,126 86,201 72,255 109,777 73,623 53,195 71,732 48,663 68,046 50,811 50,511 – – 13,525 22,281 16,904 13,861 – 2,540 2,244 1,500 392 130 4,792 6,602,463 4,404,152 1,138,991 656,448 389,349 2,304,704 3,107,201 763,765 426,793 1,259,146 1,279,312 686,710 433,584 826,785 555,079 426,793 259,788 232,192 168,148 6,840 1,090,673 794,952 539,965 720,300 498,661 305,905 270,596 – 292,983 – 140,309 296,206 183,494 180,494 207,471 160,011 202,438 112,464 153,150 117,734 88,729 121,460 100,55
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - December 8, 2008 Saturn: What's next? Feds tighten strings on Detroit 3 Ford stance: A cut above ailing rivals Summer sizzlers fizzle in fall Dealers back Detroit 3 aid, want spiffs Ford modifies pricing promo to equalize rebates High-fliers Toyota, Honda are struggling, too Chrysler: Bankruptcy counsel supports its stance Dealer Hecker hospitalized Ford to add a shift, OT for F-150 Koreatown dealer scrambles to hang on in L.A. Nissan bucks trend, will move to bigger trucks Why GM must stay with Buick Mercedes prices new GLK below $35,000 Diana T. Kurylko Pride of Sweden set to be Detroit castoffs Toyota pushes breakup of seat suppliers to boost competition Panel to discuss innovation, sustainability Capitol quandary: Can Chrysler survive? Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' Acura aims to deliver big-league luxury TL campaign is important for Acura's ad shop, too Appeals court upholds franchise termination GM loses bid to relocate Chevy store This is a very big week for America Obama must steer clear of state fuel standards Higher fuel taxes are not the answer A $15,000 rebate, not a blank check Chrysler retirees look for equality Isn't an auto show a place to sell? Are we turning our back on diversity? If only we'd had an energy policy Personnel GM sets Jan. 1 deadline for dealers to adopt Windows-based parts system Ford picks TRW steering system Ford cuts noise with windshields Dealers, factories battle over Fla. warranty law Online systems boost accessories sales Mercedes cuts output in Ala. Ford will kill Sable, Taurus X November sales suffer car wreck Honda, Audi pull out of racing series Saturn: A different kind of franchise agreement Fewer days sink Nov. output Detroit 3 road trip: Quiznos and humble pie LaNeve: Death talk keeps the showrooms empty Toyota cuts bonuses in bid to stay in the black Auto blowout sends Andrettis to the pits Saturn founder Neil DeKoker still believes And then there were . . . 6? Dealers Automotive News - December 8, 2008 Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Ford stance: A cut above ailing rivals (Page 1) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Ford stance: A cut above ailing rivals (Page 2) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Chrysler: Bankruptcy counsel supports its stance Dealer Hecker hospitalized (Page 3) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Nissan bucks trend, will move to bigger trucks (Page 4) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Nissan bucks trend, will move to bigger trucks (Page 5) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Panel to discuss innovation, sustainability (Page 6) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Panel to discuss innovation, sustainability (Page 7) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8a) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8b) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8c) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8d) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8e) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8f) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8g) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Steve Miller: Detroit 3 need 'pseudo-bankruptcy' (Page 8h) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - TL campaign is important for Acura's ad shop, too (Page 9) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - GM loses bid to relocate Chevy store (Page 10) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - GM loses bid to relocate Chevy store (Page 11) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Chrysler retirees look for equality (Page 12) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Chrysler retirees look for equality (Page 13) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - If only we'd had an energy policy (Page 14) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - If only we'd had an energy policy (Page 15) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Ford cuts noise with windshields (Page 16) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Online systems boost accessories sales (Page 17) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Online systems boost accessories sales (Page 18) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Online systems boost accessories sales (Page 19) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Online systems boost accessories sales (Page 20) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Ford will kill Sable, Taurus X (Page 21) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Ford will kill Sable, Taurus X (Page 22) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - November sales suffer car wreck (Page 23) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Saturn: A different kind of franchise agreement (Page 24) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - Fewer days sink Nov. output (Page 25) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - And then there were . . . 6? (Page 26) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - And then there were . . . 6? (Page 27) Automotive News - December 8, 2008 - And then there were . . . 6? (Page 28)
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