USA: Sales 4X4 down

[martien007]

USA: Auto sales plunge in March, Americans shun big models

Americans shunned SUVs, SUVs and other large, expensive and fuel-hungry models in March, causing auto sales in the United States to plummet in March, a downturn expected by the markets and which affected American manufacturers more than Asian.

General Motors, the leading American automaker, saw its sales fall by 19% in March (282.732 units), Ford by 14% (213.074) and Chrysler by 19% (166.386).

Their Asian competitors were also affected, but less, with a 10% drop in registrations at Toyota, 4% at Nissan and 3% at Honda.

All saw their sales of large models (SUV, 4x4, vans) plummet: the drop in this niche was 22% at GM, 16% at Ford, 22% at Chrysler and 14% at Toyota, knowing that March 2008 had two fewer working days than March 2007.

For GM, the decline is mainly due to the voluntary decrease in deliveries to car rental companies and businesses, a low-margin sector, while "retail sales remained stable in March and the first quarter, despite an environment difficult".

Markets applauded the strength of retail sales: GM shares closed 5,77% higher at $ 20,15.

The group also had a good month for its recent launches, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS and the Enclave, Acadia and Outlook crossovers.

"Despite the difficult economic environment and the slowdown in the heavy vehicle market, we believe that our retail sales remained stable over the month and throughout the first quarter. We are encouraged by our performance in sedans and we expect to keep our market share in heavy and utility vehicles, ”commented Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of sales in North America.

By brand, GM increased 6% with Chevrolet, driven by a 122% jump in Malibu sales and 16% in Impala. Cadillac also saw a 22% increase in retail sales, boosted by a 43% jump for its CTS.

The "crossovers", vehicles intermediate between sedans and 4x4s, recorded an increase in their sales of 45%.

GM also saw its production fall by 41% in March, largely due to the strike at its subcontractor American Axle which cost it nearly 100.000 cars and paralyzed many factories.

The group has nevertheless maintained its North American production forecast for the 2nd quarter, at 1,08 million units. Over the first quarter of 2008, GM production fell 17% to 885.000 vehicles.

Ford has gone through a rough patch, with a 17% drop in sales to individuals and a 9% drop in sales to rental companies and businesses, but these results were expected and the action ended up 4,37% to 5,97, XNUMX dollars.

The group highlighted the success of the new version of its Focus model (+ 36%), which has enabled it to increase its market share in the growing market for small cars.