Autoblog

Detroit automakers gain Q1 market share simultaneously for first time in 20 years

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials

While monthly sales figures might be an easy way of tracking the progression of the auto industry and individual automakers, looking at market share might be more indicative of how each company is actually standing up against its competitors. For the Detroit Three automakers, they have collectively lost almost 30 percent of the market over the last 20 years, but now, for the first time since 1993, Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have each posted market share gains at the same time in the first quarter of 2013.

According to Automotive News, Ford's share increased the most by 0.7 percent, GM was up 0.5 percent and Chrysler rose marginally by 0.2 percent, giving the Detroit automakers a total market share of 45.6 percent. As for the Japan's Big Three, the article reports that Toyota is up by 0.7 percent, Nissan is down the same amount and Honda has seen "little change."

Detroit automakers gain Q1 market share simultaneously for first time in 20 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Three ask for big cuts from CAW, union unwilling to acquiesce

George Kennedy — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, UAW/Unions, Canada, Fiat

The Detroit Big Three are seeking "dramatic changes" in their contracts with the Canadian Auto Workers. According to a Reuters report, the CAW claims that the U.S. automakers are angling for deep pension and benefit cuts. The CAW says it has no intention of adhering to these proposed cuts.

According to the report, the CAW is staring down "unprecedented demands" from Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, as the current agreement between the parties is set to expire in one week.

One of the main points of contention surrounds a clause in the current deal, which expires September 17 at 11:59 p.m. EST. That clause would allow any worker with 30 years of experience to retire on full pension. The automakers are seeking to dissolve this clause.

The report also states that American automakers are refusing to commit to any new production investments in Canada. The CAW is demanding that the Big Three make such a commitment for the deal to go through.

According to a separate Detroit Free Press report, CAW President Ken Lewenza asserted that he plans to resist these wage and benefit concessions in the contract talks at this stage.

Other concessions being demanded by the Big Three include the creation of a second-tier workforce for newer employees. This would mirror the agreement set up with the UAW in America. The automakers are also asking that any new bonuses or pensions come from cuts made in other areas. At this time, all three American automakers declined to comment on these concessions, through Sergio Marchionne said last week that he would consider moving production to other plants if the CAW would not concede to its proposals.

Detroit Three ask for big cuts from CAW, union unwilling to acquiesce originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analysts: U.S. automakers will lose marketshare in 2012

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota

Domestic automakers have much to be happy about, with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors all gaining market share last year for the first time since 1988. Yet according to Bloomberg, 2012 won't be as good to Detroit. Total sales are projected to grow from 12.8 million vehicles last year to 13.6 million, according to the report, but increasing competition from Korea and a Japanese recovery from the natural disasters of 2011 mean those extra sales aren't likely headed to the Big Three.

The news agency spoke to five analysts, and predictions have the U.S. automakers losing 1.3 percentage points this year. The analysts estimate that GM will drop 0.6 of a percent, Ford will lose 0.5 percent, and Chrysler will be down 0.2 percent. Toyota is seen gaining 0.9 percent, with Honda grabbing an extra 0.5 percent, while Hyundai and Kia are only projected to see their combined market share improve by 0.01.

If all this comes true, GM would have the top market share in the U.S. at 19 percent, with Ford in second at 16.3 percent, followed by Toyota at 13.8 percent, Chrysler at 10.5 percent, and Honda at 9.5 percent.

Analysts: U.S. automakers will lose marketshare in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White collar salaries to overtake UAW labor costs next year

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, UAW/Unions

According to a top researcher, labor costs for salaried employees at Chrysler, Ford and General Motors will surpass those of workers represented by the United Auto Workers for the first time next year. A report in Automotive News says the calculation was performed by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), and made public at a recent conference.

Sean McAlinden, chief economist for CAR, explained the math like this. The Big Three's 66,000 salaried employees make an average of $122,500, or just over $8 billion in wages. That's a little more than the $7.9 billion that 115,000 hourly workers will take home at roughly $69,000 each.

Until 2009, McAlinden said, hourly employment had a decisive edge in total compensation, but plant closings and a paring down of the blue collar workforce have left salaried employees accounting for about 37 percent of the Big Three's American workers.

Is this just another sign of a shrinking UAW, or something more significant? It's hard to say, but the article hints that salaried workers could be the next targets for cost-cutting: "McAlinden said a recent pledge by General Motors CEO Dan Akerson to cut vehicle platforms by half and consolidate advertising with fewer agencies recognized that salaried labor costs are mounting."

White collar salaries to overtake UAW labor costs next year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: UAW may seek board seats at Chrysler, Ford and GM

Zach Bowman — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: UAW/Unions

Automotive News is reporting that the United Auto Workers has set its sights on securing a position on the executive board of each domestic automaker. The move would mirror similar relationships between labor unions and German automakers in Europe, and UAW President Bob King says that his organization has broached the subject with the Big Three in the past. Moving forward, having a slot on each of the automakers ruling boards is something that the UAW will continue to push. King says that such a relationship would allow the UAW to preserve current jobs while advocating for the creation of new employment opportunities.

That's all well and good, but as MT points out, there could be issues with plopping UAW representatives on the boards of America's automakers. The biggest of those is that whoever the union chose to represent the organization would be facing large conflicts of interest when it came time to vote on labor decisions, though other issues would likely arise as well.

[Sources: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images]

Report: UAW may seek board seats at Chrysler, Ford and GM originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oil may hit $35/barrel in wake of auto bailout bust

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

With the U.S. Senate denying the Detroit 3 relief plan, it looks like oil prices might continue to tumble. Our sibling site BloggingStocks is predicting barrel prices might drop as low as $35 as a result. This comes on the heels of predictions of higher prices in the near future.

It had been thought that OPEC and possibly Russia would be curtailing production, which might have led to higher prices, but if the U.S. auto industry collapses, demand for oil could plummet. That would result in even lower oil and gas prices.

In fact, oil prices started dropping Thursday night as soon as traders heard that Senate Republicans had blocked the bill, with barrel prices checking in at $44.76 as of Friday morning. We just saw regular unleaded for $1.59/gal at a station down the street this morning and thought we had woken up in 2000. Can sub-$1 gas be far away?

[Source: BloggingStocks]

Oil may hit $35/barrel in wake of auto bailout bust originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UAW wants executive pay to be limited

Michael Harley — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Earnings/Financials, UAW/Unions

The president of the United Auto Workers union, Ron Gettelfinger, said in a recent CNN interview that U.S. automakers need to tell Congress they will limit corporate pay, bonuses and severance packages in return for more government loans. Gettelfinger also said that the Detroit Three only need the loans to hold them over during these tough times. While the first statement from the union's top player seems like basic common sense, the second seems highly optimistic... especially when one considers the size of the industry and the depth of its issues. While no single event (or loan, for that matter) will likely turn around the downslide, all of those affected by the auto industry's potential demise will be interested in tomorrow's events. That's because Dec. 2 is the day House and Senate leaders told the automakers that they need to submit a "credible restructuring plan" that's convincing enough to get Congress to open its wallet when it reconvenes next week.

[Source: Reuters]

UAW wants executive pay to be limited originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Moore mixed on Big 3 bailout

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:21:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Celebrities

While there is definitely a huge rift between those who favor a Detroit bailout and those who would rather see the Big 3 fade away, you'd think that someone like Flint-native and documentary maker Michael Moore would be all in favor of helping the Big Three succeed. After all, Moore rose to fame for his first documentary entitled "Roger and Me" that featured then-CEO of General Motors Roger Smith. According to this piece in the Detroit News, however, Moore doesn't profess unconditional support for a Big 3 bailout. It seems he has mixed feelings about the whole situation.

Moore was on Larry King last night saying that the automakers ignored the wishes of consumers by continuing to build bigger vehicles just to maximize profits. Foreign automakers, on the other hand, built SUVs and more fuel-efficient vehicles in other categories. Moore elaborated by saying that
the current managers don't deserve a dime, but that it would be terrible if so many people lost jobs because of them. He went on to suggest that Congress should demand change for any money given out, including building up alternative fueled vehicles and mass transit in the country.

[Source: Detroit News]

Michael Moore mixed on Big 3 bailout originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto industry advertising slump hurting old media

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising

Mainstream media has been quick to pile on Detroit automakers, which, along with some questionable Motown metal, has helped drive nationwide perception of the Big Three into the ground. Now that times are tough at traditional media outlets, well, that's Detroit's fault, too. Back in 2004, about $24 billion was doled out to television, print, and radio ads. Fast forward to 2008, and painfully slow sales coupled with cash-strapped automakers and dealerships have cut that number to about $15 billion. That's putting an Excursion-sized dent in the earnings of stalwart media companies like Viacom and Time Warner (Autoblog and Weblogs, Inc. are owned by Time Warner), as the media giants point directly towards Detroit and a soft auto market to explain their drop in revenue.

While times are tough on TV, print advertising is taking the brunt of the blow. Newspapers took a $131 million hit in the first quarter of 2008 as dealers have pulled back on full and half-page ads due to slow sales and limited cash flow. The proliferation of mainstream Internet advertising is also cutting into old media's profits, as automakers feel they're getting more bang for the buck with less expensive online ads. With the car market looking worse by the day and the unabated growth of Internet advertising, we don't expect this trend to reverse itself any time soon.

[Source: New York Times]

Auto industry advertising slump hurting old media originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asian brands beat Big 3 sales in May

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Earnings/Financials

Just less than a year ago, the Big 3 domestic automakers' combined market share dropped to less than 50-percent of the overall automobile market. That sobering statistic was made factual when the combined sales of vehicles from both Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, were combined with sales from European companies, like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It seems that this sad state of affairs did little to stop the bleeding coming from Detroit, as last month marks the first time in history that Asian automakers alone, with a combined share of 47.8-percent, sold more vehicles in the United States than companies actually based there. Ouch.

Large pickup trucks and SUV's have long been the last stronghold for Detroit's struggling automakers. While the Big 3 still have a commanding lead in sales of these large vehicles, it's the smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles which are taking the largest bite from the overall market share pie. Record-high fuel prices have put such a damper on truck sales that a shocking five vehicles outsold the F-150 last month, all of them highly practical sedans. It seems easy to see, then, where Detroit should be spending what engineering dollars it has left.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Asian brands beat Big 3 sales in May originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Three market share steadily running toward empty

Chris Tutor — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM

The Big Three's dwindling market share is no secret. We've heard about it for years. But The Plain Dealer in Cleveland took a closer look at the numbers and was surprised at just how rapidly domestic automakers have been overtaken.

For example, GM, Ford and Chrysler shared 74 percent of U.S. auto sales in 1997. Now, ten years later, they find themselves squabbling over just 57 percent. The reasons for the decline are as obvious and well known as the loss in market share. The Big Three failed to innovate, failed to create quality products that customers wanted and didn't plan far enough into the future to protect sales. We know all that. The Plain Dealer spoke to several analysts, though, who pointed to some very specific examples of where market share was basically frittered away.

Continue reading Big Three market share steadily running toward empty

Big Three market share steadily running toward empty originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fed official apologizes for recommending imports in newsletter

Chris Shunk — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Chrysler, Ford, GM

Domestic automakers may be losing market share, but it appears their clout is intact. The Department of Health and Human Services issued an apology for a recent newsletter that suggested only Japanese and South Korean vehicles in a list of 12 "green" vehicles for their 67,000 employees to buy. Domestic automakers took exception to the seemingly biased message, and the 15 Michigan members of the house wielded their power to get the HHS to apologize.

That all the vehicles listed in the HHS newsletter were of Asian origin doesn't bother us much at all, but the fact that a government department that admittedly has nothing to do with auto policy is "suggesting" that its workforce buys certain kinds of cars just pisses us off. This is the United States of America baby, viva la choice!

[Source: Yahoo via GM Inside News]

Fed official apologizes for recommending imports in newsletter originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Them are fightin' words: Lutz goes off on the 'experts'

Chris Shunk — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:54:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM

Maximum Bob has had enough of automotive experts who question the guile of domestic execs, and as usual Mr. Lutz isn't afraid to share his thoughts with all who are willing to listen. At his recent speech at the Center for Automotive Research's annual management conference, Blogger Bob opened a GM-sized can on experts referring to Big Three executives as "Detroit Dinosaurs". Mr. Lutz asked if three independent companies with independent boards could all be "nearly imploded" at the same time because they're all the same level of stupid at the exact same time. He then mentioned macroeconomic factors (currency, labor costs, etc) that hurt the domestics while leaving imports unscathed.

We're definitely not among the "experts" to which Mr. Lutz was referring, and we tend to agree with our fellow blogger Bob on this point. Making cars and trucks is one of the most complicated businesses on this planet, and no matter how good or smart you are, it's hard to compete on an un-level playing field.

[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]

Them are fightin' words: Lutz goes off on the 'experts' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford is not #4, still part of Big 3

John Neff — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, Earnings/Financials

After all the sales numbers for the month of January were released, reports began popping up that Ford had fallen to fourth place in sales in the U.S. last month behind General Motors, Toyota and the Chrysler Group. This is nothing more than selective journalism, with journos picking out the numbers that serve a sensational headline like "Ford's #4!". Basically, the battle for third place in sales in the U.S. is between Ford and DCX, and the victor depends on which brands you count in both company's sales numbers. In the past, Ford had always been counted as sales from Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and the Premier Automotive Group that includes Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. If all those brands are counted, which they usually are, Ford sold 166,835 vehicles. Normally DaimlerChrysler sales are split in two between the Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz. The Chrysler Group sold 156,308 units in January, while Mercedes-Benz sold 17,069 last month. Together, DaimlerChrysler as a whole sold 173,377. True, in the battle of Ford vs. DaimlerChrysler, DCX wins. Even in the battle of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vs. Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep, the Chrysler Group again wins by a narrow margin of 156,308 to 153,026. However, if the numbers are calculated in the way that have been since we've been paying attention, Ford (including PAG) sold 166,835 units to the Chrysler Group's 156,308 units.

The problem is that, to our knowledge, the standard practice has been to count Ford's domestic brands with all of PAG and to count the Chrysler Group separately from Mercedes-Benz. We've pretty much been following the lead of each automaker, which releases their sales numbers in that fashion. Now, whether or not Mercedes sales should be split off from those of the Chrysler Group is an argument for another day. We just think it's convenient for some journalists to change the unofficial rules of the game to suit a sensational headline.

[Source: the Detroit News - "A NEW BIG 3?"]

Ford is not #4, still part of Big 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could the Big Three learn from Apple?

Chris Tutor — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:33:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM

Associated Press Business Writer Tom Krisher makes a few good points about how the Big Three (or 2.5 if you prefer) could stand to learn from Apple's comeback. Well, ok, one good, though not exactly new, point. We've all heard it, if not said it ourselves. It's all about the product. Just like Steve Jobs saved Apple in 1998 with the innovative, highly-desired iMac, American carmakers need their own hotcake vehicle. And in reading Krisher's article, you get the impression GM, Chrysler and Ford have been paying attention.

"I admire (Apple's) pure understanding of the brand and the type of customer they're going after, and married to that, a product and a design strategy that they do not veer off of," said Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co.'s president of the Americas.

"We're really trying to be more like companies like Apple, where we can innovate and move faster," said Mark LaNeve, vice president of sales, service and marketing for General Motors Corp.

"I think a fresh, creative mind is something that you can appreciate and focus simply on some complicated things," said Eric Ridenour, chief operating officer of DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group.

So where's the automotive version of the iPhone? Is it GM's Volt? Ford's Interceptor? The Chrysler Nassau? Just like with Apple, only time, and the free market, will tell.

[Source: The Associated Press via Yahoo Finance]

Could the Big Three learn from Apple? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riding out the storm: 2007 going to be a bad year for sales

Erin Mays — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Ford, GM, Toyota

The automotive industry isn't back on the upswing yet. 2007 may prove to be a nine-year low for sales at 16.2 million units, with Detroit automakers taking the biggest hit. CSM Worldwide, leading auto industry analysts, released a report recently indicating that U.S. light-vehicle sales would drop 1.2 percent from the 16.4 million units expected to leave dealer showrooms by the end of this year.

The leading reason -- surprise, surprise -- is that folks have bought their new cars already, or as CSM says, the industry has "depleted pent-up demand." Contributing to the problem is the soft housing market and vehicle devaluation, but efforts to eliminate incentives and raise the value of vehicles should help out. Despite efforts to raise the values of its vehicles, however, the situation poses major challenges for Ford and General Motors in their restructuring efforts.

Asian automakers, on the other hand, are poised to do well despite the market contraction, with Toyota actually gaining a full point of market share.

[Source: Automotive News]

Riding out the storm: 2007 going to be a bad year for sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bush meets with Big Three, has open ear but no commitments

John Neff — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, GM

We've just finished watching the coverage of a press conference held outside the White House following the president's meeting with General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda. We attempted to watch the press conference live on Fox News, CNN and CNN Headline News, but each channel only allowed Rick Wagoner, the first of the three CEOs who grabbed the mic, about 30 seconds of uninterrupted air time. After that we got an earful of pointless and shallow commentary from no-name TV face jockeys who merely ran down the meetings itinerary rather than letting the men talk. Ugh. News channels suck.

Anyway, the gist of the meeting was that the president listened to the Big Three's concerns with an open ear, but offered no commitments that the government would jump to action on any of their points. The meeting's main talking points included energy security, the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing, health care costs, the weak value of the yen and the rising cost of raw materials like steel. For all of the hoopla over this meeting finally taking place after two postponements, we're surprised that more didn't come of it. Although, considering how big this president is on the free market economy, the three gentlemen from Detroit should have known right from the start that our Commander in Chief would just order them to build better cars that people want to buy. If only it were that simple.

Click on through for a joint statement by General Motors, Ford and The Chrysler Group that was released immediately following the press conference. Feel free to discuss the finer points of government and civic duty in the comments, but keep it civil yourselves.

Continue reading Bush meets with Big Three, has open ear but no commitments

Bush meets with Big Three, has open ear but no commitments originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota passes Ford, DaimlerChrysler in U.S. sales

Stuart Waterman — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Stepping back from July's detailed sales data for a moment, at the big picture level it's worth noting that July marked the first time that Toyota sold more cars in the U.S. than Ford. Furthermore, year to date sales figures show that Toyota has outsold DaimlerChrysler (Chrysler Group and Mercedes-Benz combined) in the U.S. market.

Trying to draw attention away from his firm's growing presence in the U.S. market, Toyota Motor North America senior VP Dennis Cuneo said "It's not Toyota's intention to overtake any particular manufacturer," going on to echo Ford's Mark Fields (president, Americas) saying, "The U.S. market is really becoming the Big Six rather than the Big Three. You're going to have six substantial players here: GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, and maybe Hyundai as well..."

Might as well just go ahead and call it the Big Seven - Hyundai and its Kia subsidiary both posted record sales in July.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Toyota passes Ford, DaimlerChrysler in U.S. sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Aug 2006 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New poll shows Michigan public down on domestics

Eric Bryant — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing

Even as the domestic manufacturers lose the East and West coast, they can always count on Michiganders to buy something from the Big 3, right? A new poll by the Detroit News and WXYZ-TV7 shows that a rather surprising 51 percent think that Detroit is doing a "poor" or "only fair", and that 60 percent are "somewhat" or "very" concerned about the future prospects of the US auto industry.

Industry insiders, however, say that things may not be as bad as they look right now. David Cole from the Center for Automotive Research claims that people don't know what's going on at the Big Three and are "just reacting to the press". While that may be true, the public may also be reacting to their paychecks - or rather the lack thereof. Auto-related employment in the state is down nearly 30 percent in the last six years, and statewide unemployment is among the worst in the nation.

[Source: Detroit News]

New poll shows Michigan public down on domestics originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pundits predict future of the U.S. auto industry

Stuart Waterman — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends

Marty Bernstein, contributing editor for the American International Automobile Dealers trade organization, fired up the old rolodex and quizzed a wide range of folks who spend their days trying to anticipate future trends in the U.S. auto industry, asking what the industry will look like in 2011. Their thoughts make interesting reading.

Some highlights:

international brands will continue to gain market share in the U.S.
the U.S. market will become more like Europe - many brands, no really dominant players
biofuels will be important in the U.S., but tariffs and regulations cloud the crystal ball

As Bernstein points out, Newsweek recently published a more broadly-focused series of articles on the future competitiveness of American industry - two particularly interesting pieces are here and here.

[Source: AIADA]

Pundits predict future of the U.S. auto industry originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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