By the Numbers - August 2009: Cash for Clunkers Edition
by John Neff on Sep 1st 2009 at 5:59PM 
FoMoCo sales up 17%, GM and Chrysler improve but still losing sales
After reviewing the U.S. auto industry's sales numbers for August 2009, the true effect of the government's Cash for Clunkers program has come into crystal clear focus. There are those automakers that were prepared for this promotion, having at the right time and place a lineup that was eminently attractive to the hoards of shoppers with a clunker to trade. Then there are those other automakers that either by the very nature of their products or the fact that they spent the last few years twiddling their thumbs (or going bankrupt) were unable to take full advantage of the U.S. government's open pockets.
Despite having sold fewer C4C vehicles than Honda and Toyota, Ford was clearly the bigger winner last month with an increase of 16.99% for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for the Ford brand itself. Those numbers include big gains for the Fusion (up 131.6 percent), Focus (up 55.9 percent) and Flex (up 106.5 percent). Even the Mercury Milan was up 111.7 percent. Toyota Motors Sales and American Honda did post positive gains as well, up 6.41 and 9.93 percent respectively, while Nissan North America improved to a slight decline of 2.93 percent.
Then there's Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors, down 15.43 and 20.19 percent respectively. While the C4C program no doubt improved what might otherwise have been an even more dismal month for these two automakers, they were clearly unable to take full advantage of the program with the baggage of recent bankruptcy around their necks and lineups, at least in Chrysler's case, that offered little incentive to upgrade one's clunker.
The trio of brands that has continually outpaced the rest of the industry this year – Subaru (up 51.51 percent), Kia (up 60.38 percent) and Hyundai (up 47.01 percent) – continued their winning ways and then some, each reporting all-time sales records last month thanks to a boost from the C4C program. To put their success in perspective, Hyundai and Kia together outsold Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler and Subaru outsold rivals Mazda and Volkswagen.
Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2009 and 27 selling days in August 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate for each brand/company.
After reviewing the U.S. auto industry's sales numbers for August 2009, the true effect of the government's Cash for Clunkers program has come into crystal clear focus. There are those automakers that were prepared for this promotion, having at the right time and place a lineup that was eminently attractive to the hoards of shoppers with a clunker to trade. Then there are those other automakers that either by the very nature of their products or the fact that they spent the last few years twiddling their thumbs (or going bankrupt) were unable to take full advantage of the U.S. government's open pockets.Despite having sold fewer C4C vehicles than Honda and Toyota, Ford was clearly the bigger winner last month with an increase of 16.99% for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for the Ford brand itself. Those numbers include big gains for the Fusion (up 131.6 percent), Focus (up 55.9 percent) and Flex (up 106.5 percent). Even the Mercury Milan was up 111.7 percent. Toyota Motors Sales and American Honda did post positive gains as well, up 6.41 and 9.93 percent respectively, while Nissan North America improved to a slight decline of 2.93 percent.
Then there's Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors, down 15.43 and 20.19 percent respectively. While the C4C program no doubt improved what might otherwise have been an even more dismal month for these two automakers, they were clearly unable to take full advantage of the program with the baggage of recent bankruptcy around their necks and lineups, at least in Chrysler's case, that offered little incentive to upgrade one's clunker.
The trio of brands that has continually outpaced the rest of the industry this year – Subaru (up 51.51 percent), Kia (up 60.38 percent) and Hyundai (up 47.01 percent) – continued their winning ways and then some, each reporting all-time sales records last month thanks to a boost from the C4C program. To put their success in perspective, Hyundai and Kia together outsold Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler and Subaru outsold rivals Mazda and Volkswagen.
Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in August 2009 and 27 selling days in August 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate for each brand/company.
| Brand | Volume % | 8/09 | 8/08 | DSR*% | DSR 8/09 | DSR 8/08 |
| Kia | 60.38 | 40,198 | 25,065 | 66.54 | 1,546 | 928 |
| Subaru | 51.51 | 28,683 | 18,932 | 57.33 | 1,103 | 701 |
| Hyundai | 47.01 | 60,467 | 41,130 | 52.67 | 2,326 | 1,523 |
| Audi | 25.77 | 8,057 | 6,406 | 30.61 | 310 | 237 |
| Volvo | 24.78 | 5,826 | 4,669 | 29.58 | 224 | 173 |
| Pontiac | 23.35 | 29,921 | 24,257 | 28.09 | 1,151 | 898 |
| Ford | 21.25 | 161,369 | 133,088 | 25.91 | 6,207 | 4,929 |
| Honda | 15.21 | 151,814 | 131,766 | 19.65 | 5,839 | 4,880 |
| Mazda | 12.09 | 26,542 | 23,680 | 16.40 | 1,021 | 877 |
| Volkswagen | 11.35 | 24,823 | 22,292 | 15.64 | 955 | 826 |
| Toyota | 10.94 | 202,196 | 182,252 | 15.21 | 7,777 | 6,750 |
| Porsche | 8.69 | 1,526 | 1,404 | 12.87 | 59 | 52 |
| Mercury | 8.19 | 9,080 | 8,393 | 12.35 | 349 | 311 |
| Nissan | 0.17 | 97,580 | 97,417 | 4.02 | 3,753 | 3,608 |
| Suzuki | -5.46 | 5,749 | 6,081 | -1.82 | 221 | 225 |
| Jeep | -6.11 | 22,041 | 23,476 | -2.50 | 848 | 869 |
| Mini | -6.55 | 5,111 | 5,469 | -2.95 | 197 | 203 |
| Mercedes-Benz | -7.54 | 17,112 | 18,507 | -3.98 | 658 | 685 |
| Chevrolet | -9.16 | 168,130 | 185,080 | -5.66 | 6,467 | 6,855 |
| Dodge | -15.80 | 52,562 | 62,422 | -12.56 | 2,022 | 2,312 |
| BMW Group | -21.30 | 24,343 | 30,931 | -18.27 | 936 | 1,146 |
| Lexus | -21.82 | 22,892 | 29,281 | -18.81 | 880 | 1,084 |
| Chrysler | -23.50 | 18,619 | 24,337 | -20.55 | 716 | 901 |
| BMW | -24.47 | 19,232 | 25,462 | -21.56 | 740 | 943 |
| Mitsubishi | -25.95 | 6,813 | 9,200 | -23.10 | 262 | 341 |
| Infiniti | -30.19 | 7,732 | 11,076 | -27.51 | 297 | 410 |
| Acura | -36.21 | 9,625 | 15,089 | -33.76 | 370 | 559 |
| Lincoln | -38.43 | 5,874 | 9,540 | -36.06 | 226 | 353 |
| Smart | -44.59 | 1,418 | 2,559 | -42.46 | 55 | 95 |
| GMC | -45.15 | 23,145 | 42,194 | -43.04 | 890 | 1,563 |
| Buick | -51.71 | 8,612 | 17,833 | -49.85 | 331 | 660 |
| Cadillac | -55.01 | 6,931 | 15,405 | -53.28 | 267 | 571 |
| Saturn | -58.41 | 8,479 | 20,385 | -56.81 | 326 | 755 |
| Hummer | -64.03 | 777 | 2,160 | -62.64 | 30 | 80 |
| Saab | -67.80 | 484 | 1,503 | -66.56 | 19 | 56 |
| COMPANIES | ||||||
| Ford Motor Company | 16.99 | 182,149 | 155,690 | 21.49 | 7006 | 5766 |
| American Honda | 9.93 | 161,439 | 146,855 | 14.16 | 6209 | 5439 |
| Toyota Mo Co | 6.41 | 225,088 | 211,533 | 10.50 | 8657 | 7835 |
| Nissan North America | -2.93 | 105,312 | 108,493 | 0.80 | 4050 | 4018 |
| Chrysler Group LLC | -15.43 | 93,222 | 110,235 | -12.18 | 3585 | 4083 |
| General Motors | -20.19 | 246,479 | 308,817 | -17.12 | 9480 | 11438 |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
UltraP 6:05PM (9/01/2009)
Funny - GM is putting their most improved brand (Pontiac) on the chopping block. Impressive numbers by Subaru and the Koreans. Poor VW/Audi buyer don't know what maintenance nightmare their getting into.
Reply
zamafir 6:08PM (9/01/2009)
With their current generation of cars? Do tell what issues you've had with your '08+ Audi or VW?
Apparently the strategy of paying more for a BMW with included maintenance to handle all their issues isn't helping BMW much right now.
UltraP 6:16PM (9/01/2009)
Just an example: all '08-'09 DSG equipped VW's and Audi's stall on the highway for no reason. Recall has been issued. Once you try a Toyota, there's no going back to the german problemboxes.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=8378724
bfgusa 6:26PM (9/01/2009)
@UltraP: I just don't get your VW/Audi 'maintenance nightmare' comment. I have owned 2 Audis and 1 Volkswagen those last 5 years and I have yet to have an issue with my cars.
Volkswagen and Audi are regularly at the top of Quality researches in Europe and it's about time some Americans realized we're not in the early 1980ies anymore...It is such a totally outdated cliche.
zamafir 6:28PM (9/01/2009)
I own two toyotas and two MkVs, one is my second DSG. The cars aren't stalling on the highway, the hiccup, as it's been nicknamed, results in sluggish shift. Most affected have experienced the issue once or twice and VW's addressing it. Here in san diego there's a strong chance we just lost a CHP officer and his family to the unintended accelerator problem in the lexus, and I'm not going to go running around saying that, because there's a recall, the entire brand is crap.
So I'll ask again, someone with two VWs currently (08+) and two toyotas currently (07+) and who bases his comments on both brands from current experience, what problems have you had with your new VAG product?
I'll be ditching my hybrid camry once the A4 TDi comes out so your generalization is pretty sophomoric. None of my german products have given me issues thus far so suffering the toyota interior quality, buick steering, general cheapness is getting quite old in the name of fuel economy. Hell, if your comment had any bearing we'd see VW and Audi's sales increases below BMW Mercedes.
Franz 6:28PM (9/01/2009)
Obviously you've not heard about all the quality issues and recalls that have been plaguing Toyota of late. No manufacturer is immune to reliability problems, and every single one of them has recalls... some more than others, but they all do nevertheless.
adam1drift 6:29PM (9/01/2009)
WOW! the last 4 say it all for GM
Franz 6:30PM (9/01/2009)
Previous post directed at UltraP
UltraP 6:33PM (9/01/2009)
@bfgusa - good for you, consider yourself to be the luckiest person on earth then. Pick up any independent reliability study, CR or TrueDelta and see the statistics for yourself. VW, MB consistently the worst in terms of reliablity. As a former VW owner with a blown turbo, oil sludging, 3 failed MAF sensors and an endless list of various electrical problems, I am now a proud Toyota owner. Problems? None.
DubLuv 7:14PM (9/01/2009)
LOL @ UltraP, he's butthert. Do we really need to go on about others with broken Toyotas to illustrate your ignorance? And for the record, you need to check CR ratings of current Golfs, etc. They are near the top.
nadnarb 8:00PM (9/01/2009)
Well good for you UltraP. My 06 A4 has never had an issue and I smile every time I hit the pedal. You can have your testosterone sucking toaster with wheels and I'll laugh at you while I drive by.
tankd0g 2:21AM (9/02/2009)
I think the Ponti-fire sale had something to do with the numbers.
DJ 2:37PM (9/02/2009)
"Funny - GM is putting their most improved brand (Pontiac) on the chopping block. "
Given that as of yesterday, there were approximately 12 - 13,000 Pontiacs left in existence in the entire country to be sold, the BEST they have to hope for in September's report is a 66% DECLINE. And that's if they sell every single Pontiac still available.
Kitko 4:14AM (9/03/2009)
BFGUSA, German TUV and Autobild have yet to test VWs that would top their reliability surveys and inspections. Statistically speaking, the most reliable brand in Germany is Mazda, having unprecedented 5 cars in the top 20 in 2008 survey including first two spots. 2009 was Toyota's year, Mazda came second.
http://news.auto.cz/aktuality/auto-bild- tuev-report-2008-vozy-stari-2-3-roky-lidove-mazdy-momentalne-vladnou.html
http://www.duemotori.com/news/auto_news/13868_A_Hat_Trick_for_Mazda_on_Auto_Bilds_Quality_Report.php
http://www.vdtuev.de/presse/pm/tuev-report-2009-gold-geht-nach-japan/dok_view?oid=126099
Not THAT Matt 10:41AM (9/04/2009)
What is that, a double entendre?
Saying "oh em gee buy a Toyota they are so awesome dude!" followed by "oh noes German cars are unreliable."
That same ignorance is why companies like General Motors are doing so crappy (doesn't hurt, also, that Ford has a nearly completely fresh and compelling line-up) in sales - people think of their 1995 Lumina when they think Chevrolet. That doesn't help anybody.
Seriously, read a mid-sized car comparison. The Camry is far from the top. The Nissan Altima, Mazda 6, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu - even the Hyundai Sonata are all nicer cars than the Toyota Camry.
I guess suggesting those who post blind, fanboy-ish comments to read a comparison is like suggesting they also go to a car dealership and actually drive the cars they bash.
Not THAT Matt 10:45AM (9/04/2009)
So that's why you own a Toyota, UltraP - you read Consumer Reports!
Good job, you know how to read written language!
hector000 6:05PM (9/01/2009)
Subaru continues its winning ways
Reply
Paul 8:37PM (9/01/2009)
I think Subaru is quietly becoming a 'power brand' of sorts. And Kia? They've got great products and more on the way. Change in the world order of auto brands is not just afoot, it's happening fast and some major players are getting blown away.
Acura? People inside American Honda say it's going under. A look at the sales (and product) and it's plain that this is more than rumor.
indijanac 8:59PM (9/01/2009)
And the new, more mainstream, Legacy hasn't even hit most dealerships yet!
cFoo 9:52AM (9/02/2009)
Sadly C4C is helping almost everyone but GM. Living proof we should have just let GM died!
@Paul
Acura => the next GM. Mid 90s GM design and dubious quality, no doubt they are as good as goners. Instead of moving up the market, they've done nothing but moving down and is now directly competing with parent Honda.