Filed under: By the Numbers
By the Numbers - November 2008: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime Edition
by John Neff on Dec 2nd 2008 at 5:29PM 
GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota all down over 30%
While the Detroit 3 have their hands out in front of Congress, the entire U.S. auto industry turned in a report of dismal November sales today. Every major automaker saw its sales crash and crash hard last month, and the only brand to gain ground was MINI, which saw sales jump 43% on account of last year's numbers being artificially low because production of the then-new Coopers couldn't meet demand.
Credit, we suppose, should also be given to Lincoln and Subaru, each of which posted only a single-digit percentage loss of sales last month.
Clearly what's effecting the Detroit 3 automakers is effecting the entire industry, which sort of blows a hole in the argument that people aren't buying from GM, Ford and Chrysler right now because of their inferior product. Toyota and Honda were both down over 30% last month and Nissan fell 42.2%, which means that Americans just aren't buying as many cars in general as they were last year.
We're curious to find out how last month's sales numbers hinders or helps the cause of the Detroit 3 in Washington this week. We'll find out Thursday when all three CEOs testify again after Congress has reviewed their proposed plans.
Also check out our Top Ten Best-Selling Vehicles for November 2008. You might be surprised to see which vehicle is back at No. 1.
November 2008 had 25 selling days versus 25 selling days for November 2007
While the Detroit 3 have their hands out in front of Congress, the entire U.S. auto industry turned in a report of dismal November sales today. Every major automaker saw its sales crash and crash hard last month, and the only brand to gain ground was MINI, which saw sales jump 43% on account of last year's numbers being artificially low because production of the then-new Coopers couldn't meet demand.Credit, we suppose, should also be given to Lincoln and Subaru, each of which posted only a single-digit percentage loss of sales last month.
Clearly what's effecting the Detroit 3 automakers is effecting the entire industry, which sort of blows a hole in the argument that people aren't buying from GM, Ford and Chrysler right now because of their inferior product. Toyota and Honda were both down over 30% last month and Nissan fell 42.2%, which means that Americans just aren't buying as many cars in general as they were last year.
We're curious to find out how last month's sales numbers hinders or helps the cause of the Detroit 3 in Washington this week. We'll find out Thursday when all three CEOs testify again after Congress has reviewed their proposed plans.
Also check out our Top Ten Best-Selling Vehicles for November 2008. You might be surprised to see which vehicle is back at No. 1.
| BY THE NUMBERS - November 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Vol. % Change | Total Sales 11/08 | Total Sales 11/07 | DSR % Change | Daily Avg. 11/08 | Daily Avg. 11/07 |
| Acura |
-38.9% | 7,888 | 12,910 | -38.9% | 316 | 516 |
| Audi | -25.4% | 6,788 | 9,104 | -25.4% | 272 | 364 |
| BMW | -36% | 15,217 | 23,808 | -36% | 609 | 952 |
| Buick | -43.3% | 7,516 | 13,245 | -43.3% | 301 | 530 |
| Cadillac | -48.3% | 8,815 | 17,041 | -48.3% | 353 | 682 |
| Chevrolet | -36.9% | 95,756 | 151,642 | -36.9% | 3,830 | 6,066 |
| Chrysler | -56% | 20,017 | 45,510 | -56% | 801 | 1,820 |
| Dodge | -44.3% | 44,941 | 80,670 | -44.3% | 1,794 | 3,227 |
| Ford | -30% | 103,055 | 147,310 | -30% | 4,122 | 5,892 |
| GMC | -41.5% | 20,214 | 34,549 | -41.5% | 809 | 1,382 |
| Honda | -30.6% | 68,345 | 98,521 | -30.6% | 2,734 | 3,941 |
| HUMMER | -63.9% | 1,454 | 4,029 | -63.9% | 58 | 161 |
| Hyundai | -39.7% | 19,221 | 31,883 | -39.7% | 769 | 1,275 |
| Infiniti | -28% | 7,631 | 10,604 | -28% | 305 | 424 |
| Jeep | -41.8% | 20,302 | 34,908 | -41.8% | 812 | 1,396 |
| Kia | -37.2% | 15,182 | 24,177 | -37.2% | 607 | 967 |
| Lexus | -34.7% | 16,223 | 24,848 | -34.7% | 649 | 994 |
| Lincoln | -8.3% | 8,019 | 8,744 | -8.3% | 321 | 350 |
| Mazda | -31.3% | 14,134 | 20,580 | -31.3% | 565 | 823 |
| Mercedes-Benz | -38.2% | 14,102 | 22,819 | -38.2% | 564 | 913 |
| Mercury | -41.4% | 7,744 | 13,204 | -41.4% | 310 | 528 |
| MINI | 43% | 4,545 | 3,177 | 43% | 182 | 127 |
| Mitsubishi | -35.4% | 5,096 | 7,893 | -35.4% | 204 | 316 |
| Nissan | -44.4% | 38,974 | 70,079 | -44.4% | 1,559 | 2,803 |
| Pontiac | -53.4% | 12,140 | 20,040 | -53.4% | 486 | 1,042 |
| Porsche | -48.2% | 1,378 | 2,662 | -48.2% | 55 | 106 |
| Saab | -57.5% | 852 | 2,003 | -57.5% | 34 | 80 |
| Saturn | -46.2% | 8,130 | 15,105 | -46.2% | 325 | 604 |
| Subaru | -7.8% | 13,706 | 14,868 | -7.8% | 548 | 595 |
| Suzuki | -46.3% | 3,216 | 5,987 | -46.3% | 129 | 239 |
| Toyota | -33.8% | 114,084 | 172,341 | -33.8% | 4,563 | 6,894 |
| Volkswagen | -19.2% | 14,295 | 17,689 | -19.2% | 572 | 708 |
| Volvo | -46.5% | 4,404 | 8,227 | -46.5% | 176 | 329 |
| COMPANIES | ||||||
| BMW Group | -26.8% |
19,762 |
26,985 |
-26.8% |
790 |
1,079 |
| Chrysler LLC | -47% | 85,260 | 161,088 | -47% | 3,410 | 6,444 |
| FoMoCo | -30.6% | 123,222 | 177,485 | -30.6% | 4,929 | 7,099 |
| General Motors | -41.3% | 154,877 | 263,654 | -41.3% | 6,195 | 10,546 |
| Honda America | -31.6% |
76,233 |
111,431 |
-31.6% |
3,049 |
4,457 |
| Nissan NA | -42.2% | 46,605 | 80,683 | -42.2% | 1,864 | 3,227 |
| Toyota Mo Co | -33.9% |
130,307 | 197,189 | -33.9% | 5,212 | 7,888 |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Xcountryflyer 5:35PM (12/02/2008)
Ford seems to be faring much better than the other two domestics. Chrysler is doomed.
Reply
Andrew L 5:48PM (12/02/2008)
Lincoln actually held its own pretty well
Randy 11:40PM (12/02/2008)
Indeed! Ford is really in a position to kick some serious butt. Import and Domestic!
They're numbers are proving it!
They have a flurry of new stuff about to come out!
Their quality is on par with or exceeding the imports!
Their safety is #1 in the industry!
They finally have most of their styling fixed (just waiting on the facia of the Focus)
And since they have new cars in segments that they don't compete in, their in a position to gain market share. No one else is!
I'm thinking Ford retakes #2 position in sales for US by 2010. Have you all seen the F 150 versus Everyone vidoes on Ford's site? I mean there's just no competition there. It's amazing! And they've put that "can do" into the cars!
In short, Ford is about to open a can of woop azz on everyone! In my opinion (and based on all the facts)
Just some chatter here :)
tekd 12:06AM (12/03/2008)
Oh quit it with the stupid Hummer arguments about how you take it off-road. Most of the retards who bought a Hummer this month aren't people who are taking it off road. They're idiots who drive it on pavement thinking it makes them look badass.
And number two, it's pretty retarded to buy almost any car right now if you don't absolutely have to, since prices are likely going to drop due to such dismal sales. Tell me exactly who *HAS* to go and buy a pleasure off-road vehicle while the economy spirals ever downwards-putting their future job security at risk? Even the well-off should be saving their money or trying to figure out when to get back into the market, not buying H3's when dealerships are just going to get more desperate if you wait.
Thus, anybody who bought an H3 in November, was most likely a retard.
Judy Zik 12:11AM (12/03/2008)
Probably the only good news in all this is Ford. They are proud of the fact that despite everyone's sales being in the toilet they beat the average so their market share is up. Less people are buying cars but of the people out there buying more of them are buying Fords. They were really of course helped by F-Series sales just as GM was helped by their trucks. Truck sales were not down as much as cars and they make up a pretty big chunk of their overall numbers. Cobalt and Focus sales absolutely tanked. The Fusion outsold the Focus and the Malibu outsold the Cobalt. Credit markets may have played a role but they need to address these small cars if they really want to turn their numbers around.
Spiel 8:20AM (12/03/2008)
I never took sides with one of the 2.5, but if I were to now, I'd definitely be on Ford's, considering that I drive a [Ford era] Jag and my wife drives a Volvo. Their numbers are looking good compared to the other two.
As for Chrysler, why keep something alive that should have been dead years and years ago. Their quality is beyond sub-par and their designs are hideous to say the least.
Chrysler is a privately owned company, why should the government bail them out? Loss of jobs? Yes, it's a concern, but such is life.
GM needs a very compiling plan to get the money. Having almost 10 brands producing almost identical cars isn't very compiling. How about shedding more than half;
- kill Saab (just useless)
- kill Hummer (just insane)
- kill Buick
- kill GMC (Chevy trucks are enough)
- kill Pontiac (add unique cars to Chevy lineup)
- keep Chevy (low to mid cars + trucks)
- keep Cadillac (mid to high end cars)
- keep Opel
- keep Saturn (younger crowd cars)
- keep Holden (seems to be the only brand that produces cars that actually look good)
vote4u 2:15AM (12/04/2008)
Ford did better because the build a good selling car in Europe I think Romania and it is diesel and gets 65 mpg and you can put about 300,000 miles on it without any problems so the europeans are buying them up, they pay about 8 dollars a gallon over there. 4.5 litres Its eurodollars now. The Yugo's still had a chance but they went broke 1 out of every 3 Yugoslavians has owned a yugo car now if ford used thier brains and builr the old model T frames with a couple changes a plastic body and used a 3 cylinder suzuki engine in it with a rear wheel drive it could be built by the same people that built the Yugo's at the same place and sold for about 5000 dollars I would be willing to bet you that everybody in all of europe would soon own one I would guess that 55 mpg and top speed of close to 80 but I would only run it at 60 or so. At least the Ford company would survive and probably sell to everybody in every country in europe.
TJ 5:38PM (12/02/2008)
ouch. 'nuff said.
Reply
Fatima 6:20PM (12/02/2008)
Who were the retards who bought Hummers?
HotRodzNKustoms 6:33PM (12/02/2008)
@ Fatima Those retards are people willing to buy something THEY like and do not care what YOU like.
Rick 6:36PM (12/02/2008)
A fool and their money...
Lincoln MK8 7:02PM (12/02/2008)
@ Fatima:
Why is anyone who buys a Hummer a "retard?" First of all, MY H3 gets as good of gas mileage as a new STS, and it was a lot cheaper (as long as you know how to properly drive a vehicle).
Second, what gives you the right to decide that we are retards for buying a Hummer? I am not usually offended, but being called a "retard" is not something I generally take sitting down, especially for buying a certain type of vehicle. Yes, Hummers may be impractical for most everyday users, but this is America (the last time I checked anyway) and we love excess.
Plus, I get comfort knowing that I can squash cars like the Civic (or whatever Japanese/Korean tin can) you probably drive.
Maybe you should think twice about what you post in the future. As an obvious liberal, aren't you supposed to care for who you offend, and make sure you are 100% PC at all times? Because in that case the proper term for you to use would have been "mentally challenged." Have a wonderful day...
Gus 7:12PM (12/02/2008)
@ Fatima
The same retard that backed his H3 into an Alfa on a track day while my friend was lining up to get on the track.
Jimmy 7:32PM (12/02/2008)
Who were the mentally challenged folks who bought those Hummers? Clearly, these defensive folks have some extra chromosomes and rather small manly bits in order to be motivated to buy such subpar vehicle.
Yar 9:19PM (12/02/2008)
@Jimmy
"No, I'm not poor. I just bought this used Aveo because I have a HUGE penis."
I'm tired of that stupid, juvenile, and senseless comment that is repeated by every single dumbass who wants to feel superior to people who are just plain better than them.
Last time I check, HUMMER was putting out some good vehicles, the H2 is better now than it has ever been. Gas is hovering around a $1.75 around here, and you can pick up a brand new SUV (of any type) for chump change. Hell, without regard to gas prices, the simple fact that SUVs are cheap is a damn good reason to buy them. More car for less money.
AkulaX1 10:01PM (12/02/2008)
YAR well FKNG said.
MajorGeek 11:17PM (12/02/2008)
Sorry TJ. Looks like everyone covered Hummer comments for me pretty well. In these trying times, and on an enthusiast website, its really time we squelch these comments, especially with the name calling. I mean if you call someone a retard or other names because of the vehicle they drive, it pretty much tells everyone who YOU are. I respect your opinion but you need to allow me mine, at least where freedom reigns, like the United States.
Oh, and with gas at $1.75 I parked my Hummer for the winter and traded in my 08 2 door Civic for an 09 4 door Civic today. Why? Because the Hummer is a pleasure vehicle for me especially being self employed at home, but I am sure when you see me driving my Civic, you know I am a Hummer owning retard and flip me off?
Please stop spreading the lies you have been fed.
MajorGeek 11:20PM (12/02/2008)
"A fool and their money..."
Are having a hell of a time, call me sometime, we will pick one of my vehicles and go for a ride, you'll have a great time. Sure were both broke, but lifes short, ride hard.
Randy 11:35PM (12/02/2008)
I'm just cracking up here! This is funny stuff!
akboss 8:56AM (12/03/2008)
Its pitiful to see those in defense of the cancerous Hummer brand, but my consolation is that everyone else sees it too, and GM's surgical removal of Hummer is going to come quickly - like it or not. And for those that are in such support of them will have to fit tank tracks on a freight train, or maybe just find a way to drive a burning oil rig around town.
The biggest piss off for me is not the fact that the Hummer brand exists, people should have choice of the vehicles they buy. But its the irresponsible attitude of its drivers that say 'Its America, land of waste, that lets me do what I want' - such a pigheaded, bullsh*t attitude. So if I want to set my front yard on fire with gasoline instead of raking my leaves, can I do that? Can I walk up and punch someone in the face because they look at me funny? Why not, I can do what I want, drive what I want, say what I want. Hopefully all you little George W's grow some balls someday and get out of kindergarten and into the real world.