Posted on: Saturday, October 2, 2004
GM's new vehicle sales jump 20%
By John Porretto
Associated Press
DETROIT — General Motors Corp., aided by a late-month clearance sale on 2004 models, said yesterday its new vehicle business rose a surprising 20 percent in September, which appeared to help push up overall industry results despite bad weather in the Southeast.
Amy Sancetta • Associated Press GM, the world's largest automaker, said truck sales, which were up 32 percent, eclipsed the all-time industry record last month. Chevrolet had its best month since October 2001.
Earlier this week, in well-publicized sales, GM and Ford offered no-interest, six-year loans on most remaining 2004 models. Because of sluggish sales this year, both have been saddled with above-average backlogs of vehicles that prompted planned production cuts for the fourth quarter.
Chrysler, whose year-over-year sales have risen in 11 of the past 12 months, continued to experience strong demand for its Chrysler 300 sedan. Overall, Chrysler Group sales were up 10 percent, while Chrysler brand sales rose 43 percent.
Percentages are adjusted and based on the daily sales rate. There were 25 selling days last month and 24 in September 2003.
The 300 — called the 300C when it's equipped with Chrysler's popular V8 Hemi engine — has become America's "in" sedan since hitting showrooms in April.
"The Chrysler 300 absolutely sells itself in the marketplace," said Gary Dilts, Chrysler's senior vice president for sales.
Ford, the nation's second-largest automaker, said overall sales fell nearly 7 percent in September from a year ago, the seventh time this year monthly sales have been below year-ago results.
Ford has been hurt by a lack of new offerings on the car side, but the company says several recent vehicle launches should help spur demand.
Toyota and Nissan, on the other hand, rode a slew of new products to post double-digit sales gains.
Toyota, Japan's No. 1 automaker, said its business was up 10.3 percent in September — 11.9 percent on the car side and 8.5 percent for trucks.
"The arrival of new model-year products and a strong Labor Day weekend boosted September sales," said Jim Press, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.
Toyota reported best-ever September sales for light trucks — which include pickups, minivans and sport utility vehicles — and for the gas-electric Prius hybrid sedan, which went on sale in the United States in the summer of 2000. Toyota sold 4,309 Prius sedans last month. The company said Thursday it will double to 100,000 the number of Priuses allocated for the U.S. market next year.
Nissan continued to have a strong year as its business rose nearly 11 percent in September. Car sales were off slightly more than 1 percent, but truck sales, lifted by the Titan full-size pickup and Murano crossover vehicle, rose 31 percent.
Once again, car sales dragged down overall results at Ford, where sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand cars were down nearly 22 percent.
Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group also fared well, posting double-digit gains, but Ford Motor Co. struggled again despite incentive offers much the same as GM's.
Trying to create some mystery and attract buyers, dealers at Jay Pontiac/Buick in Bedford, Ohio, put a sheet over the 2005 Pontiac G6.
