Archive for October, 2008
Top Selling Vehicles for September
Anthony Fontanelle asked:
September has come and gone and automakers are now posting their sales output for the said month. General Motors posted an increase in sale; Ford continues its slide; Chrysler saw an increase, Honda and Nissan also posted increased sale and Toyota’s sales declined for this year’s September. Theautochannel.com recently reported the top selling vehicles for the month of September and although the Ford F-Series is still on the top of the list, it shows declining demand.
Last month, 56,065 units of Ford F-Series vehicles were sold and that is 20.8 percent lower as compared to the number of F-Series trucks sold by the Dearborn automaker last year for the same month. Nipping on the F-Series heels is General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado. Sales of the full-size pickup reached 52,480 – 1 percent better than last year. Number three on the list and the highest ranked small car is the Honda Accord. The Japanese automaker sold 40,438 units of the Honda Accord last month, showing an increase of 5.7 percent over last year.
The Honda Accord edged out the Toyota Camry in terms of sales last month. Although the Camry showed an increase of 26.2 percent over last year, it still fell short of catching up with the Accord. Last month, Toyota sold 35,031 units of the Camry. Number five on the list is the Dodge Ram. Sales for the Ram increased by 20 percent compared to the same month last year. This shows that the demand for large cars is still large. Last month, Chrysler sold 30,100 units of Dodge Rams which came equipped with Dodge accessories.
The Toyota Corolla is the sixth best-selling vehicle last month. Sales for the Corolla reached 29,550 after the demand for the small car dropped by 8.5 percent. The Honda Civic is gaining on the Corolla as Honda sold 41.1 percent more Civics last month compared to last year’s September. Number eight is the Nissan Altima. Nissan sold 24,752 units of the Altima last month, sales for the sedan dropped by 6 percent this year. The Chevrolet Impala is the ninth best selling vehicle last month with an output of 23,172 units which reflects an improvement of six percent. The Toyota Tundra rounds up the ten best selling vehicles last month. Toyota sold 19,794 units of the redesigned pickup, an increase of 30.1 percent.
The Honda CR-V is number eleven on the list followed by the Honda Odyssey both showing significant increase. Sales for the CR-V increased by 62.2 percent while sales for the Odyssey increased by 55.2 percent last month compared to last year’s September. The Chevy Cobalt is next on the list followed by the GMC Sierra. The Ford Focus is the 15th best selling vehicle last month. The Toyota RAV4 is sixteenth, followed by two Toyota nameplates, the Tacoma, seventeenth; and the Prius, eighteenth. The Chevrolet Trailblazer is the nineteenth best selling vehicle last month with sales reaching 12,494 units. The Ford Escape completes the list with sales of 11,966 last month.
It is interesting to note that aside from major automakers General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, no other automakers has a vehicle listed in the top twenty. Even European automakers failed to sell as much vehicles as American and Japanese automakers.
September has come and gone and automakers are now posting their sales output for the said month. General Motors posted an increase in sale; Ford continues its slide; Chrysler saw an increase, Honda and Nissan also posted increased sale and Toyota’s sales declined for this year’s September. Theautochannel.com recently reported the top selling vehicles for the month of September and although the Ford F-Series is still on the top of the list, it shows declining demand.
Last month, 56,065 units of Ford F-Series vehicles were sold and that is 20.8 percent lower as compared to the number of F-Series trucks sold by the Dearborn automaker last year for the same month. Nipping on the F-Series heels is General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado. Sales of the full-size pickup reached 52,480 – 1 percent better than last year. Number three on the list and the highest ranked small car is the Honda Accord. The Japanese automaker sold 40,438 units of the Honda Accord last month, showing an increase of 5.7 percent over last year.
The Honda Accord edged out the Toyota Camry in terms of sales last month. Although the Camry showed an increase of 26.2 percent over last year, it still fell short of catching up with the Accord. Last month, Toyota sold 35,031 units of the Camry. Number five on the list is the Dodge Ram. Sales for the Ram increased by 20 percent compared to the same month last year. This shows that the demand for large cars is still large. Last month, Chrysler sold 30,100 units of Dodge Rams which came equipped with Dodge accessories.
The Toyota Corolla is the sixth best-selling vehicle last month. Sales for the Corolla reached 29,550 after the demand for the small car dropped by 8.5 percent. The Honda Civic is gaining on the Corolla as Honda sold 41.1 percent more Civics last month compared to last year’s September. Number eight is the Nissan Altima. Nissan sold 24,752 units of the Altima last month, sales for the sedan dropped by 6 percent this year. The Chevrolet Impala is the ninth best selling vehicle last month with an output of 23,172 units which reflects an improvement of six percent. The Toyota Tundra rounds up the ten best selling vehicles last month. Toyota sold 19,794 units of the redesigned pickup, an increase of 30.1 percent.
The Honda CR-V is number eleven on the list followed by the Honda Odyssey both showing significant increase. Sales for the CR-V increased by 62.2 percent while sales for the Odyssey increased by 55.2 percent last month compared to last year’s September. The Chevy Cobalt is next on the list followed by the GMC Sierra. The Ford Focus is the 15th best selling vehicle last month. The Toyota RAV4 is sixteenth, followed by two Toyota nameplates, the Tacoma, seventeenth; and the Prius, eighteenth. The Chevrolet Trailblazer is the nineteenth best selling vehicle last month with sales reaching 12,494 units. The Ford Escape completes the list with sales of 11,966 last month.
It is interesting to note that aside from major automakers General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, no other automakers has a vehicle listed in the top twenty. Even European automakers failed to sell as much vehicles as American and Japanese automakers.
How do I change the whole clutch system in an 1996 Toyota Tercell?
Dre. LMT asked:
I also need to know where to find the parts I would need. Well, my car lacks serious power in acceleration. I can hear the motor reving up but my car crawls to reach a desirable speed. Sometimes something catches on and I have good acceleration, but most of the time it doesn’t. I simply assume that it is a problem in the clutch system. If anyone has any suggestions, please post them here.
I also need to know where to find the parts I would need. Well, my car lacks serious power in acceleration. I can hear the motor reving up but my car crawls to reach a desirable speed. Sometimes something catches on and I have good acceleration, but most of the time it doesn’t. I simply assume that it is a problem in the clutch system. If anyone has any suggestions, please post them here.
Gm Exec Criticizes Cafe Rules
Stacey Wilson asked:
The Congress is heating fresh environmental rules imbibed in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) program. Along with the warming of the rules is the criticism by Detroit automakers especially General Motors Corp. Bob Lutz, GMs vice chairman said that the proposal would effectively hand the truck and SUV market over to the imports, particularly the Japanese.
Lutz’s criticism was posted on a GM blog late Friday. Part of the comment suggests that GM will fight hard against any proposal to raise fuel-economy targets by a specific amount. Early this December, chief executives and retired military generals clamored for a 4 percent annual increase in standards. They further added that their aim is significant for energy security.
GM, more than any other automaker, has expressed its ardent opinion regarding the matter. The former said CAFÉ rules controlled what automakers could build without regard for what customers were willing to buy. Lutz said the proposed increases would limit GM’s ability to build as many larger vehicles as its customers may demand. Lutz “Season’s Rantings” message reflects GMs intention to focus on pickups and bigger SUVs to improve profits in North America.
CAFE rules state that automakers earn credits for exceeding the fuel-economy standards in a model year. Said credits can be utilized to cover a shortfall in the following three years. Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda surpass the standards. These automakers are famed for manufacturing sophisticated interior OEM replacement auto parts for Toyota and Honda auto body parts.
Unfortunately, Detroit automakers like GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler have already used credits in recent years. Auto parts GM are now focused on boosting SUV and trucks of the automaker. This is also true with Ford and DaimlerChrysler. The latter is busy promoting Edge and Mustang.
Lutz noted, The Japanese automakers “have earned years of accumulated credits from their fleets of formerly very small cars. They can afford to go bigger, which they’re doing now by the way, and they’d be able to move up and fill the segments we’d be forced to vacate.” He further added, “We don’t have any magic 100-m.p.g. carburetor that we’re holding back because we’re in bed with the oil companies. The Japanese government is spending huge amounts on advanced battery research. It would be nice if our government would do the same.”
The Congress is heating fresh environmental rules imbibed in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) program. Along with the warming of the rules is the criticism by Detroit automakers especially General Motors Corp. Bob Lutz, GMs vice chairman said that the proposal would effectively hand the truck and SUV market over to the imports, particularly the Japanese.
Lutz’s criticism was posted on a GM blog late Friday. Part of the comment suggests that GM will fight hard against any proposal to raise fuel-economy targets by a specific amount. Early this December, chief executives and retired military generals clamored for a 4 percent annual increase in standards. They further added that their aim is significant for energy security.
GM, more than any other automaker, has expressed its ardent opinion regarding the matter. The former said CAFÉ rules controlled what automakers could build without regard for what customers were willing to buy. Lutz said the proposed increases would limit GM’s ability to build as many larger vehicles as its customers may demand. Lutz “Season’s Rantings” message reflects GMs intention to focus on pickups and bigger SUVs to improve profits in North America.
CAFE rules state that automakers earn credits for exceeding the fuel-economy standards in a model year. Said credits can be utilized to cover a shortfall in the following three years. Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda surpass the standards. These automakers are famed for manufacturing sophisticated interior OEM replacement auto parts for Toyota and Honda auto body parts.
Unfortunately, Detroit automakers like GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler have already used credits in recent years. Auto parts GM are now focused on boosting SUV and trucks of the automaker. This is also true with Ford and DaimlerChrysler. The latter is busy promoting Edge and Mustang.
Lutz noted, The Japanese automakers “have earned years of accumulated credits from their fleets of formerly very small cars. They can afford to go bigger, which they’re doing now by the way, and they’d be able to move up and fill the segments we’d be forced to vacate.” He further added, “We don’t have any magic 100-m.p.g. carburetor that we’re holding back because we’re in bed with the oil companies. The Japanese government is spending huge amounts on advanced battery research. It would be nice if our government would do the same.”
Q posted in dodge and toyota. who would win?
obracer12 asked:
1979 charger R/T – 440, bored, and boosted (via super charger) to 10 psi stage 3 clutch and tranny rebuild
or
1996 supra TT – inline 6, twin turbo 9psi each, 100 shot nx system unspec. tranny work, not stock from the looks of just the casing, coil over suspension
1979 charger R/T – 440, bored, and boosted (via super charger) to 10 psi stage 3 clutch and tranny rebuild
or
1996 supra TT – inline 6, twin turbo 9psi each, 100 shot nx system unspec. tranny work, not stock from the looks of just the casing, coil over suspension
both car’s interior is 2 front sparco and cage, nothing unnessesary
they are due to race on july 1st at atco raceway one owned by my uncle (charger) and best friend(supra) the rivalry has been raging for 3 years while they have done work.. and its finally going down now… what do you think the outcome will be??
ok for you geniuses who think a charger has any cornering ability…. its 1/4 mile
Does the antenna in a 2003 toyota corrola require a fuse to recieve long range FM frequencies?
standalonecomplex23 asked:
I have recently installed an XM Roadie system into my car, but every time I use it the screen keeps displaying No Signal. I checked all the wires during post installation, and turned on the car. I can get one local station on my FM radio, but everything else comes in as just radio fuzz. I made sure that my head unit was properly wired and the antenna cable was connected. Still nothing. I NEED HELP!!
I have recently installed an XM Roadie system into my car, but every time I use it the screen keeps displaying No Signal. I checked all the wires during post installation, and turned on the car. I can get one local station on my FM radio, but everything else comes in as just radio fuzz. I made sure that my head unit was properly wired and the antenna cable was connected. Still nothing. I NEED HELP!!
Of Auto Dealers and Icebergs
Derrick Daye asked:
There’re Not Enough Life Boats! Few phrases are as closely linked to tragedy as this one. For the remaining 1500 men, women and children left on the Titanic with nowhere to go but the frigid waters of the North Atlantic on that historic night in 1912, the grim realization of their fate must have been devastating.
As I build towards a marketing point I see parallels in this tragic event to what is happening in the auto dealer industry. With deep conviction I feel as though I am recording it as it happens. I see the water rising above dealers’ ankles and I wonder why more of them are not reacting to the danger.
There is no doubt today’s auto dealer is experiencing the business equivalent of Titanic’s grave situation. A jagged berg of competitive pressure and a new, sophisticated customer with much higher expectations have pierced the industry at its weakest links. It is life or death. The parallels between Titanic and the Auto Dealer Industry are chilling; both rely on moving metal for survival.
•Both segregate their customer. Titanic: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. Auto Dealers: Men and Women. There is a clear distinction in how each are treated.
•Both recklessly race to their destination. Titanic: New York. Auto Dealers: The Sale.
•Both consider themselves ‘Unsinkable’. Titanic by Superior Technology. Auto Dealers by Superior Sales Process. The very strength of which they boast proves to be their weakest link.
•Both dismiss warnings. Titanic: Icebergs. Auto Dealers: Customer Dissatisfaction with the sales or service process.
•Both take dangerous risks. Titanic: Sail Faster. Auto Dealers: Sell more, faster. One risked lives. One risks relationships. Relationships are the lifeblood of existing and repeat business.
•Both struggle to change course. Titanic: ‘Iceberg Dead Ahead’ Auto Dealers: ‘Follow Whatever is Ahead’. Today’s dealers are drowning in a sea of sameness. They cannot resist the influence of their crowd; even as it pulls them deeper.
•Both waste critical opportunities. Titanic: Fill the Life Boats. On Titanic many were launched half-empty. Auto Dealers: Build Customer loyalty. Many Auto Dealers launch half-empty relationships.
•Both experience dramatic collisions. Titanic: The Iceberg. Auto Dealers: Customer Needs, Desires and Expectations.
There is no denying, the auto dealer industry has squarely hit its iceberg. It can be argued it repeats the collision with every negative customer experience.
For the Titanic, slow reflexes contributed to its demise. The same is true for auto dealers; as slow movers grasp false hopes onboard a sinking ship.
•Secure your safety. One of the biggest opportunities in this industry is in serving women. They influence 85% of the purchase decision. Tune into their frequency and offer a sincere experience that is tailored to them. Master this and you will find a safe and rewarding harbor.
•Slow down. Do not collide with your customers…bond. Customer sensitivity is heightened during the car-buying experience. Customers are on the defensive. They are expecting a push. But, a push leads to push-back. End this vicious cycle by moving at the pace they set.
•Get your bearings. The best companies know their customers and strive to evolve their products and services to meet customer needs and desires. Many times companies discover unmet needs which when addressed lead to additional revenue. No business is unsinkable. It must be constantly evolving. Titanic exceeded needs until the needs changed.
•Melt the Ice. Understand that humans are emotional beings. In purchase decisions emotion trumps reason every single time. Unfortunately, most dealers focus on reasoning or misuse emotion. Championing lower prices versus a sincere, respectful buying experience, auto dealers fail to realize customers do not remember prices, they remember how you made them feel. Others use fear and intimidation to force a hand. It is time for those dealers to go down with the ship.
•Follow a truer compass. Get back to the basics of building relationships. Car buyers are looking for someone they can trust. Today, staying on the charts with customer expectations is harder than ever. How do you think the experience you create for your customer compares with their Starbucks experience? Customers are contrasting their best consumer experiences (regardless of product or category) with their experience with you. Do you think you are headed in their direction?
•Take the helm. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer executives are involved with marketing. Noted business management pioneer Peter Drucker once said “there are only two functions that generate customers; Marketing and Innovation. The rest is overhead.” The top needs to be involved and focused on building a sales experience that takes the sell out of the sale.
•Sail under a new flag. It is extremely hard for the consumer to distinguish one dealer from another. The buildings are the same, the products are the same and the gimmicks are the same. Is there any reason to believe the experience is different from dealer to dealer? Differentiation is about communicating and delivering a meaningful difference to your customer. It is finding that one value or niche that strikes a fundamental cord. Differentiation from your competition will prove a major advantage if you are committed to it. There are 100 years of poor car buying experiences associated with this industry. As a dealer you need to distance yourself. You need to become the Un-Car Dealer…and fast.
•Stay together. Building customer loyalty affords great opportunity for those who embrace it. That means staying in touch. Caring after the sale. Growing the relationship post-purchase is investing in your future. Dealers – do you have quarterly ‘Thank You’ events for past customers? Does the GM or others in the management tier regularly call and thank customers? Evaluate your relationship building skills right now – can you name your last 5 customers?
•Abandon pride and ego. Have you noticed that dealer advertising is focused on dealer ego? “We have the largest volume”, “We’re #1”,“We can’t be beat.” Advertising is meant to attract your potential customer, not to pound your own chest. The fact is, the customer does not care about any of these things and they are officially numb to the hype. They are watching and listening for proof points that a car buying experience with you will be positive.
As an auto dealer, the time to scramble for a life boat is now. There are not enough life boats and the most discerning customer to ever shop the planet is choosing who gets a seat.
There’re Not Enough Life Boats! Few phrases are as closely linked to tragedy as this one. For the remaining 1500 men, women and children left on the Titanic with nowhere to go but the frigid waters of the North Atlantic on that historic night in 1912, the grim realization of their fate must have been devastating.
As I build towards a marketing point I see parallels in this tragic event to what is happening in the auto dealer industry. With deep conviction I feel as though I am recording it as it happens. I see the water rising above dealers’ ankles and I wonder why more of them are not reacting to the danger.
There is no doubt today’s auto dealer is experiencing the business equivalent of Titanic’s grave situation. A jagged berg of competitive pressure and a new, sophisticated customer with much higher expectations have pierced the industry at its weakest links. It is life or death. The parallels between Titanic and the Auto Dealer Industry are chilling; both rely on moving metal for survival.
•Both segregate their customer. Titanic: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. Auto Dealers: Men and Women. There is a clear distinction in how each are treated.
•Both recklessly race to their destination. Titanic: New York. Auto Dealers: The Sale.
•Both consider themselves ‘Unsinkable’. Titanic by Superior Technology. Auto Dealers by Superior Sales Process. The very strength of which they boast proves to be their weakest link.
•Both dismiss warnings. Titanic: Icebergs. Auto Dealers: Customer Dissatisfaction with the sales or service process.
•Both take dangerous risks. Titanic: Sail Faster. Auto Dealers: Sell more, faster. One risked lives. One risks relationships. Relationships are the lifeblood of existing and repeat business.
•Both struggle to change course. Titanic: ‘Iceberg Dead Ahead’ Auto Dealers: ‘Follow Whatever is Ahead’. Today’s dealers are drowning in a sea of sameness. They cannot resist the influence of their crowd; even as it pulls them deeper.
•Both waste critical opportunities. Titanic: Fill the Life Boats. On Titanic many were launched half-empty. Auto Dealers: Build Customer loyalty. Many Auto Dealers launch half-empty relationships.
•Both experience dramatic collisions. Titanic: The Iceberg. Auto Dealers: Customer Needs, Desires and Expectations.
There is no denying, the auto dealer industry has squarely hit its iceberg. It can be argued it repeats the collision with every negative customer experience.
For the Titanic, slow reflexes contributed to its demise. The same is true for auto dealers; as slow movers grasp false hopes onboard a sinking ship.
•Secure your safety. One of the biggest opportunities in this industry is in serving women. They influence 85% of the purchase decision. Tune into their frequency and offer a sincere experience that is tailored to them. Master this and you will find a safe and rewarding harbor.
•Slow down. Do not collide with your customers…bond. Customer sensitivity is heightened during the car-buying experience. Customers are on the defensive. They are expecting a push. But, a push leads to push-back. End this vicious cycle by moving at the pace they set.
•Get your bearings. The best companies know their customers and strive to evolve their products and services to meet customer needs and desires. Many times companies discover unmet needs which when addressed lead to additional revenue. No business is unsinkable. It must be constantly evolving. Titanic exceeded needs until the needs changed.
•Melt the Ice. Understand that humans are emotional beings. In purchase decisions emotion trumps reason every single time. Unfortunately, most dealers focus on reasoning or misuse emotion. Championing lower prices versus a sincere, respectful buying experience, auto dealers fail to realize customers do not remember prices, they remember how you made them feel. Others use fear and intimidation to force a hand. It is time for those dealers to go down with the ship.
•Follow a truer compass. Get back to the basics of building relationships. Car buyers are looking for someone they can trust. Today, staying on the charts with customer expectations is harder than ever. How do you think the experience you create for your customer compares with their Starbucks experience? Customers are contrasting their best consumer experiences (regardless of product or category) with their experience with you. Do you think you are headed in their direction?
•Take the helm. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer executives are involved with marketing. Noted business management pioneer Peter Drucker once said “there are only two functions that generate customers; Marketing and Innovation. The rest is overhead.” The top needs to be involved and focused on building a sales experience that takes the sell out of the sale.
•Sail under a new flag. It is extremely hard for the consumer to distinguish one dealer from another. The buildings are the same, the products are the same and the gimmicks are the same. Is there any reason to believe the experience is different from dealer to dealer? Differentiation is about communicating and delivering a meaningful difference to your customer. It is finding that one value or niche that strikes a fundamental cord. Differentiation from your competition will prove a major advantage if you are committed to it. There are 100 years of poor car buying experiences associated with this industry. As a dealer you need to distance yourself. You need to become the Un-Car Dealer…and fast.
•Stay together. Building customer loyalty affords great opportunity for those who embrace it. That means staying in touch. Caring after the sale. Growing the relationship post-purchase is investing in your future. Dealers – do you have quarterly ‘Thank You’ events for past customers? Does the GM or others in the management tier regularly call and thank customers? Evaluate your relationship building skills right now – can you name your last 5 customers?
•Abandon pride and ego. Have you noticed that dealer advertising is focused on dealer ego? “We have the largest volume”, “We’re #1”,“We can’t be beat.” Advertising is meant to attract your potential customer, not to pound your own chest. The fact is, the customer does not care about any of these things and they are officially numb to the hype. They are watching and listening for proof points that a car buying experience with you will be positive.
As an auto dealer, the time to scramble for a life boat is now. There are not enough life boats and the most discerning customer to ever shop the planet is choosing who gets a seat.
Where should I post my car for free to sell it? Besides craigslist.com of course?
Mark asked:
I have a 2001 Toyota Sienna and would like to sell it. Also I don’t yet own the car so what papers should I fill out and how does the new buyer get the title that not even I have.
I have a 2001 Toyota Sienna and would like to sell it. Also I don’t yet own the car so what papers should I fill out and how does the new buyer get the title that not even I have.
88′ toyota celica wont start with the key but will start wtih connection from pos. battery post to starter.
none asked:
i changed the relay that goes to the starter because at times when the car wouldnt start i would have to pop the cap off the relay and with my hand push the two pieces together to make the magnetic stick but that stop working, now the relay is always stuck together and doesnt release, i thought it was connected wrong but i am sure that all the wires are connected correctly. so now the only way to turn on the car is to take a piece of wire and make a connection between the positive battery terminal to the starter. whats going on? how do i fix it? and how much will it cost?
i changed the relay that goes to the starter because at times when the car wouldnt start i would have to pop the cap off the relay and with my hand push the two pieces together to make the magnetic stick but that stop working, now the relay is always stuck together and doesnt release, i thought it was connected wrong but i am sure that all the wires are connected correctly. so now the only way to turn on the car is to take a piece of wire and make a connection between the positive battery terminal to the starter. whats going on? how do i fix it? and how much will it cost?
Ford, Toyota Post Strong China Sales
Anthony Fontanelle asked:
Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., two of the world’s three largest auto makers, reported strong first-half sales in China’s fast-growing market. As newcomers in China’s auto market, the sales performance was remarkable, analysts said. The performance is boosted by the launch of new product lines which are aimed at attracting more customers.
Toyota sold 212,000 vehicles during the period, up 77 percent from a year earlier, powered by strong demand for its Camry sedans, the best-selling car in the United States in eight of the past nine years.
Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, rolled out its first China-made Camry in May 2006 from a new plant in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, to pull auto shoppers away from competing models such as Honda Motor Co.’s Accord. Sales of the Camry came to nearly 78,000 units, well on track to hit the full-year target of 150,000, or more than one-third of the Japanese automaker’s total China sales goal of 430,000 vehicles this year.
Ford said retail sales of its wholly owned brands in China increased 25 percent during the first half to 93,206 vehicles. Sales of the mid-sized Focus sedan, made by a joint venture between Ford, Mazda Motor Corp and Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., came to 55,676 units, up 66 percent from a year ago, the Dearborn automaker said in a statement.
There also was a soaring demand for luxury models in China, as its growing ranks of nouveau riche snapped up the latest premium models. Toyota sold 12,000 Lexus cars in the half-year, nearly matching the 13,000 sold in all of 2006 and well on track to meet its full-year 2007 target of 22,000.
Meanwhile, Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, which includes Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover brands, posted combined sales of 8,779 units, up 66 percent from a year earlier. Ford wheels seem to be swerving in the right lane to attain such rewarding gains.
Additionally, industry’s global giants are investing a great deal to ramp up Chinese production capacity to amass a larger slice of the market, where total car sales increased 30 percent in the previous year to 5.18 million units.
Toyota, which gets six percent of the China auto market, completed construction in May of its third plant in Tianjin, increasing capacity at its venture with FAW and its subsidiary Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co. to 420,000 units. The Japanese automaker also is in talks about building a second plant at its venture in south China, which produces the Camry sedan.
Ford, which has less than a four percent share in China, is expanding a facility in the southwest city of Chongqing along with its partners. They are also building a plant in Nanjing, in eastern China. By the end of this year, it will boost its annual production capacity in China to 460,000 units, including 410,000 at Changan Ford Mazda and 50,000 at Jiangling Motors, in which the company holds a 30 percent stake.
In the United States, there’s a different ambiance. Despite more aggressive discounts, Ford on Tuesday reported lower sales for June, underscoring the drag from rising gas prices, weak housing market, and tight auto competition. The automaker’s overall monthly sales, including sales into commercial fleets, were down eight percent, even if it eked out its first monthly gain in showroom sales since October.
Five of the six leading automakers offered bigger discounts in June than they did in May, according to Edmunds. GM was the exception. In a significant departure from usual practice, the three leading Japanese automakers increased their discounting in the face of slack demand, Edmunds said.
Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., two of the world’s three largest auto makers, reported strong first-half sales in China’s fast-growing market. As newcomers in China’s auto market, the sales performance was remarkable, analysts said. The performance is boosted by the launch of new product lines which are aimed at attracting more customers.
Toyota sold 212,000 vehicles during the period, up 77 percent from a year earlier, powered by strong demand for its Camry sedans, the best-selling car in the United States in eight of the past nine years.
Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, rolled out its first China-made Camry in May 2006 from a new plant in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, to pull auto shoppers away from competing models such as Honda Motor Co.’s Accord. Sales of the Camry came to nearly 78,000 units, well on track to hit the full-year target of 150,000, or more than one-third of the Japanese automaker’s total China sales goal of 430,000 vehicles this year.
Ford said retail sales of its wholly owned brands in China increased 25 percent during the first half to 93,206 vehicles. Sales of the mid-sized Focus sedan, made by a joint venture between Ford, Mazda Motor Corp and Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., came to 55,676 units, up 66 percent from a year ago, the Dearborn automaker said in a statement.
There also was a soaring demand for luxury models in China, as its growing ranks of nouveau riche snapped up the latest premium models. Toyota sold 12,000 Lexus cars in the half-year, nearly matching the 13,000 sold in all of 2006 and well on track to meet its full-year 2007 target of 22,000.
Meanwhile, Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, which includes Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover brands, posted combined sales of 8,779 units, up 66 percent from a year earlier. Ford wheels seem to be swerving in the right lane to attain such rewarding gains.
Additionally, industry’s global giants are investing a great deal to ramp up Chinese production capacity to amass a larger slice of the market, where total car sales increased 30 percent in the previous year to 5.18 million units.
Toyota, which gets six percent of the China auto market, completed construction in May of its third plant in Tianjin, increasing capacity at its venture with FAW and its subsidiary Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co. to 420,000 units. The Japanese automaker also is in talks about building a second plant at its venture in south China, which produces the Camry sedan.
Ford, which has less than a four percent share in China, is expanding a facility in the southwest city of Chongqing along with its partners. They are also building a plant in Nanjing, in eastern China. By the end of this year, it will boost its annual production capacity in China to 460,000 units, including 410,000 at Changan Ford Mazda and 50,000 at Jiangling Motors, in which the company holds a 30 percent stake.
In the United States, there’s a different ambiance. Despite more aggressive discounts, Ford on Tuesday reported lower sales for June, underscoring the drag from rising gas prices, weak housing market, and tight auto competition. The automaker’s overall monthly sales, including sales into commercial fleets, were down eight percent, even if it eked out its first monthly gain in showroom sales since October.
Five of the six leading automakers offered bigger discounts in June than they did in May, according to Edmunds. GM was the exception. In a significant departure from usual practice, the three leading Japanese automakers increased their discounting in the face of slack demand, Edmunds said.
Toyota Overtakes Ford Once Again
Anthony Fontanelle asked:
Toyota’s forward surge continues as the Japanese car manufacturer overtook Ford once again in terms of sales for the month of May. The biggest Japanese carmaker posted a 14 percent increase in sales as compared to last year’s May sales figures. The increased sale for Toyota marked the third time in seven months that they have overtaken Ford in the United States auto market.
This moves the Japanese carmaker closer to becoming the second largest car manufacturer in the United States. This is because the Ford Motor Company is still struggling with selling their large vehicles like their pickup and SUV units. The company also reduced the number of vehicles allocated for rental companies. That step further reduced their monthly sales.
Analyst Rebecca Lindland for Global Insight commented that Toyota will continue its growth while Ford is expected to struggle. “We’re going to continue to see Ford struggle as they go through their transition period,” she said. “We’re going to continue to see Toyota pushing forward.”
In terms of the performance of the United States auto industry, a 5 percent increase was posted last month. Last month marked the highest number of vehicles sold so far this year at a total of 1.56 million cars and light trucks. Major car manufacturers increased their sales except for Ford which gave way to the five percent increase in overall sale. Combined, Asian car manufacturers grabbed 41.4 percent of the US auto market and that is an increase of 1.2 percent as compared to last year for the same period. In contrast, American automakers’ control of the market dropped by one percent as compared to last year for the same period. The Big Three cornered 51.9 percent of the US auto market for the month of May.
Toyota sold 269,023 cars and light trucks combined last month. That sales output marked the best May figures in the history of the car manufacturer. The record was set with the help of the tripled sale of the popular gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius. The Japanese outfit sold more than 20,000 units of the Prius for the month of May. The popularity of the Prius is evident in the fact that for the month of May, it was the ninth best-selling vehicle in the United States and acts like a Toyota headlight in showing the way forward for the company. In contrast, Ford posted a 6.8 percent sales plunge. Last month marked the seventh consecutive month that Ford posted a sales drop. Surprisingly, General Motors posted a 9.6 percent sales increase.
Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler posted the second month of sales increase. The company recently agreed to sell the ailing American auto brand. The Chrysler Group though posted a 4.3 percent sales increase, thanks to the increased sales of the new Dodge Nitro and the redesigned Jeep Wrangler. Both of these vehicles are what the company looks for to once again attract car buyers to the brand.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the increasing price of gasoline which has reached a record breaking $3.23 has turned away car buyers for months. In fact, US auto sale has only increased once before May and that was in March. Last month marked only the second month that the auto industry sale in the United States posted a positive number.
Toyota’s forward surge continues as the Japanese car manufacturer overtook Ford once again in terms of sales for the month of May. The biggest Japanese carmaker posted a 14 percent increase in sales as compared to last year’s May sales figures. The increased sale for Toyota marked the third time in seven months that they have overtaken Ford in the United States auto market.
This moves the Japanese carmaker closer to becoming the second largest car manufacturer in the United States. This is because the Ford Motor Company is still struggling with selling their large vehicles like their pickup and SUV units. The company also reduced the number of vehicles allocated for rental companies. That step further reduced their monthly sales.
Analyst Rebecca Lindland for Global Insight commented that Toyota will continue its growth while Ford is expected to struggle. “We’re going to continue to see Ford struggle as they go through their transition period,” she said. “We’re going to continue to see Toyota pushing forward.”
In terms of the performance of the United States auto industry, a 5 percent increase was posted last month. Last month marked the highest number of vehicles sold so far this year at a total of 1.56 million cars and light trucks. Major car manufacturers increased their sales except for Ford which gave way to the five percent increase in overall sale. Combined, Asian car manufacturers grabbed 41.4 percent of the US auto market and that is an increase of 1.2 percent as compared to last year for the same period. In contrast, American automakers’ control of the market dropped by one percent as compared to last year for the same period. The Big Three cornered 51.9 percent of the US auto market for the month of May.
Toyota sold 269,023 cars and light trucks combined last month. That sales output marked the best May figures in the history of the car manufacturer. The record was set with the help of the tripled sale of the popular gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius. The Japanese outfit sold more than 20,000 units of the Prius for the month of May. The popularity of the Prius is evident in the fact that for the month of May, it was the ninth best-selling vehicle in the United States and acts like a Toyota headlight in showing the way forward for the company. In contrast, Ford posted a 6.8 percent sales plunge. Last month marked the seventh consecutive month that Ford posted a sales drop. Surprisingly, General Motors posted a 9.6 percent sales increase.
Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler posted the second month of sales increase. The company recently agreed to sell the ailing American auto brand. The Chrysler Group though posted a 4.3 percent sales increase, thanks to the increased sales of the new Dodge Nitro and the redesigned Jeep Wrangler. Both of these vehicles are what the company looks for to once again attract car buyers to the brand.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the increasing price of gasoline which has reached a record breaking $3.23 has turned away car buyers for months. In fact, US auto sale has only increased once before May and that was in March. Last month marked only the second month that the auto industry sale in the United States posted a positive number.