Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page 37) NOVEMBER 10, 2008 • 37 U.S. light-vehicle sales – continued Oct. 2008 Oct. 2007 10 mos. 2008 10 mos. 2007 Boxster (I) 911 Carrera/Carrera 4 (I) 911 Carrera GT (I) Cayman (I) Total Porsche car (I) Porsche truck Cayenne (I) PORSCHE Baja Forester (I) Impreza (I) Legacy Total Subaru car Subaru truck Tribeca Subaru domestic Subaru import SUBARU Aerio/SX4 (I) Forenza/Reno (I) Verona (I) Total Suzuki car (I) Grand Vitara (I) Vitara XL-7 (D) XL7 (I) Total XL-7/XL7 Total Suzuki truck Suzuki domestic Suzuki import SUZUKI Jaguar car (I)* Land Rover truck (I)* TATA MOTORS†* ES (I) GS (I) IS (I) LS (I) SC (I) Total Lexus car (I) GX (I) LX (I) RX (D) RX (I) Total RX Total Lexus truck Total Lexus tC (I) xA (I) xB (I) xD (I) Total Scion car (I) Avalon Camry (D) Camry (I) Total Camry Corolla/Matrix (D) Corolla (I) Total Corolla/Matrix Echo (I) Prius (I) Yaris (I) Total Toyota Division car 4Runner (I) FJ Cruiser (I) Highlander (I) Land Cruiser (I) RAV4 (I) Sequoia Sienna Tacoma Tundra Total Toyota Division truck Total Toyota Division Total Toyota Motor Sales car Total Toyota Motor Sales truck Toyota Motor Sales domestic Toyota Motor Sales import TOYOTA MOTOR SALES A3 (I) A4/S4 (I) A5/S5 (I) A6/S6 (I) A8/S8 (I) R8 (I) TT (I) Total Audi car (I) Audi truck Q7 (I) Total Audi (I) Bentley car (I) Eos (I) Golf/GTI/R32 (I) Jetta New Beetle Passat/CC(I) Phaeton (I) Rabbit (I) Total VW division car Routan Tiguan (I) Touareg (I) Total VW division truck Total VW division Total VW Group of America car Total VW Group of America truck VW Group of America domestic VW Group of America import VW GROUP OF AMERICA 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 80 584 – 73 737 690 1,427 1 4,558 3,891 3,886 12,336 581 4,468 8,449 12,917 1,840 657 – 2,497 689 – 296 – 296 985 296 3,186 3,482 650 2,200 2,850 4,141 819 2,772 1,502 98 9,332 1,204 567 4,384 796 5,180 6,951 16,283 2,224 – 2,594 1,925 6,743 3,543 30,270 286 30,556 20,530 6,856 27,386 – 11,804 4,871 78,160 3,555 1,657 7,032 185 12,227 1,829 8,003 10,001 6,425 50,914 129,074 94,235 57,865 84,985 67,115 152,100 255 3,784 865 758 415 114 268 6,459 984 7,443 146 504 764 7,259 1,506 1,746 – 1,066 12,845 789 1,856 399 3,044 15,889 19,450 4,028 9,554 13,924 23,478 291,685 152,000 443,685 325,819 69,088 394,907 617,504 221,088 838,592 316 972 – 390 1,678 1,184 2,862 4 3,554 3,903 6,050 13,511 1,468 7,522 7,457 14,979 1,267 2,363 6 3,636 1,406 – 1,490 4 1,494 2,900 1,490 5,046 6,536 – – – 6,516 1,507 3,727 2,951 316 15,017 2,046 116 5,625 2,315 7,940 10,102 25,119 4,437 39 4,375 2,111 10,962 6,168 32,643 1,085 33,728 25,788 27 25,815 1 13,158 5,409 84,279 7,196 4,164 9,558 237 14,636 1,514 9,610 12,449 17,868 77,232 161,511 110,258 87,334 111,665 85,927 197,592 471 3,514 151 937 338 36 440 5,887 1,533 7,420 379 873 1,380 7,771 2,308 2,432 – 1,857 16,621 – – 639 639 17,260 22,887 2,172 10,079 14,980 25,059 401,303 182,315 583,618 542,920 105,575 648,495 944,223 287,890 1,232,113 2,551 7,175 – 3,121 12,847 9,656 22,503 2 49,253 41,033 56,770 147,058 9,648 66,420 90,286 156,706 27,184 19,782 3 46,969 11,073 – 19,951 6 19,957 31,030 19,951 58,048 77,999 5,554 11,085 16,639 54,783 13,838 43,144 17,532 1,787 131,084 14,036 6,983 50,592 17,807 68,399 89,418 220,502 37,904 39 41,265 25,294 104,502 37,852 379,259 6,859 386,118 246,576 60,495 307,071 – 142,365 93,366 966,772 40,861 23,353 88,983 3,388 118,965 26,421 102,890 127,314 121,451 653,626 1,620,398 1,202,358 743,044 1,092,355 853,047 1,945,402 3,989 36,185 5,056 10,021 2,583 635 3,700 62,169 11,091 73,260 2,333 11,956 13,735 82,926 23,737 27,224 – 18,105 177,683 1,164 6,533 5,876 13,573 191,256 242,185 24,664 107,827 159,022 266,849 4,161,321 2,067,562 6,228,883 4,506,916 868,970 5,375,886 8,668,237 2,936,532 11,604,769 3,148 10,805 4 5,122 19,079 10,061 29,140 1,122 37,492 37,226 63,859 139,699 13,902 78,883 74,718 153,601 12,767 37,983 311 51,061 17,116 1 19,846 512 20,358 37,475 19,847 68,689 88,536 – – – 68,960 18,597 45,433 29,301 3,311 165,602 18,440 2,265 60,504 22,963 83,467 104,172 269,774 56,500 9,513 38,207 7,398 111,618 60,728 346,493 52,375 398,868 294,446 23,350 317,796 5 150,272 73,874 1,001,543 74,180 47,392 100,852 1,989 146,582 19,473 115,522 147,964 162,348 816,302 1,817,845 1,278,763 920,474 1,207,478 991,759 2,199,237 5,302 36,330 266 9,699 3,092 103 3,524 58,316 17,582 75,898 3,338 10,800 13,680 82,230 26,371 31,015 17 21,589 185,702 – – 6,637 6,637 192,339 247,356 24,219 108,601 162,974 271,575 4,585,450 2,051,380 6,636,830 5,854,251 1,092,912 6,947,163 10,439,701 3,144,292 13,583,993 As expected, Oct. sales sank John K. Teahen Jr. jteahen@crain.com news ANALYSIS Perspective How the past 5 Octobers rank for U.S. light-vehicle sales 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2004 2007 2006 2005 2008 1,335,199 1,232,113 1,217,809 1,147,012 838,592 It hurts even to write about October’s U.S. car and light-truck sales. They were a disaster. Last month’s 838,592 new-vehicle sales were a 31.9 percent plunge from October 2007. Each of the Big 6 automakers — General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda and Nissan — reported a significant loss. Four of the Big 6 fell more than 30 percent. GM led the way — if “led” is the proper word — with a dive of 45.4 percent for sales of its domestic brands. For the industry, October was the worst month since January 1991. Of the 37 major brands on the U.S. market, only Audi and Mini posted sales gains. Audi’s increase was a scant 23 units, but Mini was up an astonishing 56.4 percent. The Mini is small, cute, cuddly and fuel-efficient. And it has a new model, the Clubman two-door hatchback. More sales tables ➤ 38 bly about 13.3 million. Still, that would be down more than 21 percent from last year’s 16.2 million sales. The reasons for the October disaster are familiar: the depressed economy, the Wall Street-inspired debacle in home mortgages and, most important, the credit crunch. The auto business runs on other people’s money. The folks who control the dollars aren’t giving them up for auto sales unless the applicant can prove that he or she doesn’t really need a loan. Source: Automotive News Data Center and company sources Top 10 vehicles October 2008 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Ford F series Chevrolet Silverado Toyota Camry Toyota Corolla/Matrix Chevrolet Impala Honda Accord Honda Civic Nissan Altima Dodge Ram Honda CR-V 43,324 31,689 30,556 27,386 22,107 19,783 18,582 17,753 17,626 13,169 Trucks are still hurting Ford and Dodge have talked encouragingly of their redesigned pickup trucks. But sales of the Ford F series were down 16.3 percent in October, and the Dodge Ram was off 28.7 percent. Moreover, Ford and Dodge didn’t say how many of their October sales were of 2009 models. In Detroit TV spots, Dodge is offering discounts of $14,000 on 2008 Ram pickups. The truck famine was spurred by $4-a-gallon gasoline in the summer. Even though fuel prices are lower now, automakers that have been heavily geared toward trucks for the past decade or more are still suffering. The Detroit 3’s October truck sales Credit crunch bites The 10-month U.S. sales total of 11,604,769 new vehicles was down 14.6 percent from 2007. The Detroit 3 have bid goodbye to 21.0 percent of last year’s domestic sales. Last month, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales was 10.9 million units. A month earlier, the rate was 12.2 million. The final tally for 2008 will be higher than either of those figures — proba- Source: Automotive News Data Center and company sources were down 41.1 percent from last year. Their car sales didn’t fare much better — down 33.2 percent. Toyota remains the best-selling brand in America, for the month and the year. After 10 months, Toyota led second-place Chevrolet by 61,707 sales. At this time last year, Chevy was 98,071 units ahead of Toyota. c 11 MILLION Dealers adapt to survive sales slump continued from Page 1 plants shrink, and expansions and renovations are put off.” Given the decade-long average of 16.9 million sales, could dealers hang on in an 11 million-unit market? “The premise of the question is wrong,” Cummings said. “We’re already there. Watch for how many dealerships are going to close. A friend of mine let go 32 people yesterday. We’ve already begun to adjust.” AutoNation Inc. is writing down the value of dealerships. The No. 1 publicly traded retail group took a $1.46 billion charge for goodwill and franchise impairments in the third quarter. AutoNation posted a net loss for the quarter of $1.41 billion, compared with a profit of $72.1 million a year ago. Excluding the charge, the company earned $44 million. Lithia Motors Inc., the public group with the largest concentration of Detroit 3 dealerships, had planned to divest 15 stores. Last month it raised that number to 30. Group 1 Automotive Inc. announced $35 million in cuts by year end, focusing on personnel and advertising expenses. “I do not want to imply that $35 million is enough at this moment,” said CEO Earl Hesterberg. “I think that we’re going to need to go deeper than that.” new car to make money.” Carpenter now keeps his service department open seven days a week. Why? Many Chrysler stores in neighboring Sacramento have closed. At 11 million units, “the trick would be how to keep your head above water and survive it,” said Leonard Northcutt, owner of Northcutt ChevroletBuick and Toyota stores in Enid, Okla. “That’s a question everybody will struggle with,” he said. “If you are geared toward a business of 17 million or 15 million and then go to 11 million, you have to downsize. Parts and service is not enough to offset such a drastic reduction. Beyond that, are you going to need the space you have?” Dealer Cliff Cummings is changing his advertising focus by targeting only previous customers. “The expense of bringing in a new customer is much more,” he said. Domestic-brand dealers must be especially aggressive b http://www.autonews.com/datacenter
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Life at 11 million: Slash, rethink The options: Bailout or disaster Can Toyota reheat the frozen Tundra? Chrysler dealers cheer halt to merger talk VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show BMW boosts dealers' year-end ad money Mercedes' $220 million flagship Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold Mercedes will kill CLK, add larger coupe, convertible Mitsubishi reclaims its finance business Toyota's Esmond to speak at congress Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market Cash burn rates threaten GM, Ford GMAC: We're nobody's captive As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV U.S. aid is needed now, but not to help Cerberus They are too big to fail Why should we help GM and Chrysler? First and foremost, you must be flexible U.S. trade policy gives it all away To the Editor: A rough ride is nothing new for autos Dealer's politics were pertinent Chrysler's 1st electric: Probably a cargo van Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too Adding up the tab for fuel economy Camaro Black: Eye-catching, affordable and available Honda sees green in Civic HFP's street performance Honda offers peek at future Fit Ford F-150 Raptor flies off-road Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom Report: Toyota plans $5,000 car Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 Report: Past-due subprime loans jump Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card Study: Car buyers turn green for different reasons Thanks, buddy Hyundai helps Dealers Metaldyne offers pennies to bondholders Obituaries Personnel As expected, Oct. sales sank Another Chinese automaker plans Mexico factory Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels Industry pal, foe vie for key post in Congress Industry expects more activism from D.C. N.A. output falls 19.9% Toyota moves in striking distance of GM's U.S. sales crown Going, going . . . An ex-GM exec's view: It's going to get nasty Sex, Nazis, chicken and BMW: A scandal that puts fiction writers to shame Recession rips up roadster market Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' Want to boost mpg? Turn up the heat on AC Cutting energy loss: A nibble here, a nibble there ... Carbon slashes weight, but it's still too pricey Carmakers shift to gears in search of mpg gains Natural gas draws interest as alternative fuel Friction? Ay, there's the rub Electric for a week Automotive News - November 10, 2008 Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - (Page Bellyband2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 1) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - The options: Bailout or disaster (Page 2) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - VW will unveil roadster at Detroit auto show (Page 3) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 4) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Mercedes hit hard in Northeast, once a sales stronghold (Page 5) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 6) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Loss is more: Europe snatches bigger share of U.S. market (Page 7) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 8) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As losses mount, suppliers risk cash-flow crunch (Page 9) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 10) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Tata: Yes to Jaguar XF derivative, no to SUV (Page 11) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 12) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - First and foremost, you must be flexible (Page 13) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 14) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealer's politics were pertinent (Page 15) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Auto meltdown forces Mercedes to scrap prediction of sales record (Page 16) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 17) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 18) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Boosting mpg will bump up stickers, too (Page 19) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 20) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 21) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22a) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22b) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22c) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22d) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22e) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22f) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22g) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22h) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22i) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22j) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22k) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 22l) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Adding up the tab for fuel economy (Page 23) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Souped-up, tricked-out â and headed for the showroom (Page 24) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Amid gloom, Mazda chief sees revival in 2009-10 (Page 25) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota aims to win loyalty with credit card (Page 26) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Hyundai helps (Page 27) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Dealers (Page 28) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 29) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 30) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 31) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 32) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 33) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 34) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 35) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Personnel (Page 36) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - As expected, Oct. sales sank (Page 37) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Honda backs off U.S. clean diesels (Page 38) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 39) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Industry expects more activism from D.C. (Page 40) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - N.A. output falls 19.9% (Page 41) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 42) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 43) Automotive News - November 10, 2008 - Toyota takes heat for 'the herpes of the advertising world' (Page 44)
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