Autoblog

Subaru XV is currently the top-selling car... in Switzerland

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, Subaru, Volkswagen

Seems that the Swiss Family Robinson has stopped throwing its francs at the Volkswagen Golf, and is instead pelting the Subaru XV Crosstrek with its hard-earned geld. According to the Australian blog Best Selling Cars, the Volkswagen Golf has likely been the number one seller in Switzerland every single month since the hatch was first launched in 1974, except for when the Mercedes-Benz W123 sedan briefly deposed it in 1980.

In August, however, the Golf's dictatorship of the number one spot wasn't toppled by the Skoda Octavia, "the usual number two" that remained there ahead of the Golf, but by the XV, which ascended to the peak after having been Switzerland's fourth best selling car in July. The XV notched 722 sales and 3.2-percent share, ahead of the Octavia with 661 sales and the Golf, at number three, with 625 units sold.

True, the XV is the new hotness while the MkVI Golf plays its endgame. But the Subaru isn't exactly coming from nowhere from the standpoint of small-market popularity: it was the ninth best selling vehicle in Norway in July. Along with that fourth-place in Switzerland, they were the top sales rankings for the XV anywhere in the world. So take that.

Subaru XV is currently the top-selling car... in Switzerland originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Wars report predicts Hyundai, Kia will lose market share

John Neff — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:14:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

The annual "Car Wars" report by Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy predicts that, despite their seizing of U.S. market share over the last few tumultuous years, Korean brands Hyundai and Kia will give it all back and then some to companies like Ford, General Motors and Toyota by 2016.

Murphy bases his predictions not on tea leaves or crystal balls, but rather the rate at which automakers launch new products. Ford will replace 26 percent of its product line over the next four years, a number that represents 46 percent of its volume, while General Motors will replace 25 percent and Toyota 24 percent. On account of these new product launches, Murphy says Ford can expect to add 0.8 percentage points of market share, General Motors will recover 0.5 points and Toyota will add another 0.3 points.

Other automakers that won't be so aggressive in turning over their lineups with new models include Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and the European brands, which Murphy surmises will all remain flat in terms of market share.

Hyundai and Kia, meanwhile, will be introducing fewer new models than the rest and therefore, Murphy predicts, will see a 0.5 decline in U.S. market share.

Of course, these are all just predictions and can be blown to bits with the next unforeseen economic crisis or natural disaster, just like the last three years were. And there are other factors that might affect market share for each automaker during the next three years, including the availability of raw materials, exchange rates, union contracts, recalls and a million another minor things that might grow to become big things, not the least of which is consumers deciding they actually like all those new products being launched.

Car Wars report predicts Hyundai, Kia will lose market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wagons West: Domestics picked up market share in California last year

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, GM, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

Most days, California must seem like Kazakhstan for the Big Three. Domestic products aren't so popular out West, where Toyota and Honda have long stood atop the sales charts. But not in 2011.

According to a report in Automotive News, both General Motors and Ford managed to bump Honda from its silver medal position in 2011, though Toyota still holds a commanding market share lead. In a storyline we've heard before, the twin natural disasters in Asia curbed Japanese production, causing a 4.5 point loss of market share. Toyota's market share dropped from 22.8 to 19.2 percent, while GM and Ford tied at 12.6 percent - ahead of Honda at 12.1.

Booming sales in the Golden State helped the domestics to their 1.8 point gain. New vehicle registrations in California were up 9.9 percent, according to the report. The biggest sales gains last year were made by Kia and Jeep, which were up 53 and 49 percent, respectively.

Wagons West: Domestics picked up market share in California last year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:01:00 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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Ford tops in non-retail sales, 45% of Focus sold to fleets

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Earnings/Financials

Most everyone at Ford is grinning from ear-to-ear these days, as the company is enjoying profits as well as a vastly improved product portfolio and public image. Sales are up, the product pipeline is full, and market share grew last year. You can almost imagine Ford CEO Alan Mulally saying, "What, me worry?"

But that's exactly what he should be doing, according to Forbes, which suggests Ford is growing arrogant and its numbers aren't nearly as solid as they appear. For instance, Forbes says Ford was also right up there with Toyota and Honda when it came to recalls last year, far outpacing crosstown rivals General Motors and Chrysler. Ford recalled some 3.3 million vehicles in 2011, compared with 773,000 for Chrysler and just 500,000 for GM.

But the real shocker is that Forbes says Ford tops all automakers when it comes to fleet sales. Not only are fleet sales usually less profitable, but they also tend to hurt resale values, meaning that selling 32 percent of its vehicles into fleets last year does not bode well for the Blue Oval or the residual values of its owners. According to the report, the model with the most fleet sales was the new-for-2012 Focus. A staggering 45 percent of Focus models sold last year were to fleets, which isn't good for anyone, save the guy standing in line at the Hertz counter.

Editor's note: Ford contacted us to clarify a few things about its 2011 fleet sales. The first is that rental fleet sales as a percent of total volume was 12 percent, which it claims is a smaller percentage than GM and Chrysler's rental fleet sales. Fleet sales of commercial vehicles, meanwhile, were 14 percent of total sales volume, while government sales were six percent.

Ford tops in non-retail sales, 45% of Focus sold to fleets originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Technology, Diesel

A plethora of new diesel offerings is driving sales, according to a new report from the Diesel Technology Forum. Sales of diesels rose 27.4 percent in 2011, according to numbers from HybridCars.com and market researchers Baum and Associates.

The Diesel Technology Forum pegs the overall market growth in 2011 at 10.2 percent, putting diesels' increase considerably ahead of the curve. Interestingly enough, the group says hybrid sales were down 2.2 percent. The non-profit coalition of diesel engine and technology companies includes such auto industry heavyweights as Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda and Volkswagen.

Diesel sales are expected to grow to over six percent of the U.S. market by 2015, according to the report, and could reach as high as 7.4 percent by 2017, as more diesel models hit the market. Diesel-powered versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cadillac ATS, Porsche Cayenne, Chevrolet Cruze and Mercedes-Benz S-Class are slated for near-term U.S. release, according to the group.

To read the entire release, click past the jump.

Continue reading U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks

U.S. diesel auto sales up 27% in 2011 while hybrid share shrinks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gap widens between average price of U.S. car and foreign-built auto

Zach Bowman — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:28:00 EST

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

Automotive News reports that domestic automakers are gaining market share thanks in part to the weak dollar. Import vehicles are currently selling at the highest price premium in 12 years compared to their domestic counterparts.

Whereas imports sold for an average of $31,636 in August, domestic vehicles left the lot for an average of $23,922. That's a difference of over $7,000, and the largest gap since 1999. That fact has helped Chrysler, Ford and General Motors pick up some market share. In addition, the earthquake and tsunami activity in Japan earlier this year resulted in tight supply of some Japanese vehicles, further pushing buyers into the waiting arms of domestic automakers.

The report says that total domestic light-vehicle deliveries increased by 10 percent from this time last year. That pushed GM to gain a full point of market share and Ford to pull an extra tenth of a percentage point.

Gap widens between average price of U.S. car and foreign-built auto originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chevrolet to take larger role at GM, account for 70% of total volume

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Chevrolet, GM

Forget about more cowbell, for GM it's all about more Chevy -- at least, that's the situation for Chevrolet's new VP Brent Dewar. So far this year the Bowtie has posted more than 60% of GM's North American volume, but Dewar wants that to get to 70%. "As Pontiac goes away, Saturn goes away," Dewar said, "Chevrolet has to step up. The 70 percent target is the right kind of number we need to work on."

The real perspective on that challenge is in the numbers: GM's market share was 22.4 percent a year ago and is now 19.7 percent. However, while GM is out to increase overall market share it has half as many brands as it did last year: Pontiac and Saturn are dead, Saab and Hummer have found other homes.

For Dewar, the general (if slight) upward trend in sales, as well as the coming Cruze and the Volt, will help Chevy achieve that number. But beyond that we have no idea what he plans to use to breach the 70 percent figure, and we find it interesting that Chevy is trying to make up for more even with Cadillac's and Buick's imminent models. Nor is it clear how GM will maintain its overall numbers globally without Opel, but we look forward to finding out.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

REPORT: Chevrolet to take larger role at GM, account for 70% of total volume originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota reverses decision, chooses to again seek quality over market share

Michael Harley — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Earnings/Financials

It was back in 2002 when Fujio Cho, then-President of Toyota Motor Corp., set the company's goal of achieving a 15 percent share of the global automotive market sometime after 2010. Seven years ago, it didn't seem much of a stretch as the automaker had already captured 10.7 percent, and the seemingly-unstoppable company was rapidly growing.

While the Japanese automaker's train hasn't completely derailed, the self-imposed deadline looms and Toyota is reeling through a global slump that has served the company its first loss in decades. With market share taking a back seat to survival, current Toyota President Akio Toyoda (right) has dumped Cho's goal in favor of a back-to-basics focus on quality. And, nobody needs to point out that the automaker's latest forecast represents a production decline of nearly one million units compared to last year. An anonymous company executive summed the new president's directive up in just seven words: "Our president doesn't like figures or documents."

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Toyota reverses decision, chooses to again seek quality over market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford poised to overtake GM as America's top-selling automaker

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota

2010 Ford Mustang - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Merrill Lynch's Car Wars study, Ford's improving lineup of cars will be responsible for hauling the company's market share to places it hasn't been in many decades - namely, ahead of General Motors and number one in the U.S. With its recent rise to 16.1% share, Ford has taken the number two spot most recently held by Toyota, and Merrill predicts Ford's share over the next four years will rise another two points to 18%.

Even as it had the best-selling vehicle in America in the F-150, Ford's domestic market share has been shrinking for 13 years. The turnaround comes at the same time that post-bankruptcy GM is expected to decline five points, to about 15%, over the next four years. If the report proves to be true, that would put Ford ahead of every other automaker in the U.S. with a clear swath of daylight between them.

In case you were wondering, Chrysler is predicted to fare even worse, because "Chrysler's product pipeline is dubious and likely to drive significant market share losses." Merrill's analysis of a 6% loss of market share would take the Pentastar down to 6%, while Hyundai, Honda, and Kia are expected to post gains of 3- to 3.5%.

Gallery: 2010 Ford Mustang

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

REPORT: Ford poised to overtake GM as America's top-selling automaker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta winning hearts and minds - and wallets - in Europe

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Ford, Earnings/Financials

2009 Ford Fiesta - Click above for a high-res gallery

The Ford Fiesta has already won us over -- twice - and we can't even buy the car yet. But European buyers are nabbing so many Fiestas that the Blue Oval is now enjoying a 10% market share in Europe based on the strength of the compact's sales alongside the Focus and Transit. It's the first time that Ford has had a double-digit European market share since September 2001, and it keeps Ford solidly in the number two spot overall behind Volkswagen.

In all but three of Europe's 19 markets, Ford says it has improved its showing. Already this year, there have been 108,000 Fiestas sold, with 52,800 of those coming in March alone. The market share triumph is even sweeter seeing that overall industry sales took a double-digit fall, but Ford is getting more of what's left. There was no cheating with fleet sales, either: retail sales were up 13% year-on-year. Only France, Switzerland, and Italy showed declines. Appreciate the tip, Preston.

Gallery: Ford Fiesta in NYC

[Source: Ford]

Ford Fiesta winning hearts and minds - and wallets - in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How quickly we forget: Cheaper gas = higher pickup and SUV sales

Chris Shunk — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Truck

Pickup and SUV sales plummeted when gas hit $4 per gallon, and many thought these gas-guzzling segments would never fully recover. That may be true, but for now Americans are once again getting more comfortable with trucks and SUVs. Truck sales fell below 10% of overall vehicle sales back in May and June, but the price of gas falling from an average of $4.11 per gallon to $2.78 has helped the share of trucks rise to 14.1% of the overall market for September. Depending on how buyers react to the financial crisis, October could be even better as gas prices have continued to go down. SUVs have seen a smaller but still significant jump in overall share, going from 1.9% in May to 2.5% in September - a big improvement for a shrinking segment.

Much of the increased interest in trucks and SUVs can easily be attributed to huge incentives on the hoods of these hefty haulers, but gas prices are a big factor, as well. And while most analysts feel the truck market won't recover until construction picks back up, we're sure automakers are happy to see an increase in sales for their most profitable vehicles, even if it takes a pile of cash on the hood to get them moving.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty ]

How quickly we forget: Cheaper gas = higher pickup and SUV sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:58:00 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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Jeep helping Chrysler retain market share

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:26:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Compass, and Patriot are helping Chrysler defend its market share in a declining sales environment. Between these new models and incentives on Dodge and Chrysler vehicles, Chrysler has managed to stay 0.1% ahead of the market's year-on-year drop in sales. The Wrangler Unlimited is proving a noteworthy boon, helping lift Wrangler sales by 71% year-over-year. Steve Landry, Chrysler's EVP of North American sales said, "The four-door has really created a halo effect for the Jeep brand, bringing people into the Jeep showrooms and it has improved our two-door sales."

Although Chrysler-brand vehicles lead the way among the Big Three in incentives, Jeep has placed little reliance on them. The numbers mean that Chrysler's market share has actually improved a tiny bit, from 12.85% to 12.86% in the US. It's a minuscule improvement to be sure, but for a company that has been through the wringer over the past few months (years, some would say), it's still a great statement.

[Source: Freep]

Jeep helping Chrysler retain market share originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First time in 102 years: Big 3 lose majority market share to imports

John Neff — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:37:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials

As we reported in our By the Numbers post earlier today, last month nearly every automaker, import and domestics alike, had a tough time selling cars. The domestics, including General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group., had it tougher, however, and for the first time in the automotive industry's 102-year history, the Big 3's market share fell below that of the imported brands combined. The official tally according to Automotive News was 629,569 units sold by the Big 3 and 679,523 units sold by the imports. That works out to a 48.6% market share for the domestics and a 51.4% share for the imports.

Shall we all cry in our travel mugs that our beloved automakers from downtown Detroit, Dearborn and Auburn Hills have lost their leading role in the U.S. market? Hardly, we say. All three domestic heavyweights have realized that bouncing back from their financial doldrums requires ditching their excess and paring down to the essentials. With fleet sales drastically reduced and resources diverted to programs that will bear fruit a few years out, we all know their sales are going to fall, in some cases drastically. Nevertheless, their loss in size and sales will allow each to focus on product more in an environment where what's on the sales floor is all that matters.

And don't fret, the Big 3 still retain majority market share in the U.S. year-to-date. This was just one bad month of sales. One really bad month.

[Source: Automotive News]

First time in 102 years: Big 3 lose majority market share to imports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Would VW leave the US market?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials

VW's has strengthened its position in Europe as the leading brand, claiming more than 20% market share. In the US, though, VW sales have dropped by an average of 25,000 cars every year for four years, and the company has lost close to a billion dollars each of the past three years. Stefan Jacoby, the former head of global sales and marketing who raised the firm's Euro market share, has been put in the top US spot in order to achieve one goal: breaking even in the US by 2009.

Blame for the slide can be attributed to a variety of factors (and we're sure you readers have plenty of theories about what's wrong with and how to fix VW), but unless they figure out how to get them right, the feeling is that VW could leave the US market. It's almost impossible to believe that the company known for fun, funky cars that drove until the wheels fell of, two cars that have been famous for decades around the world (Beetle and Golf), deep brand equity, and fervent brand loyalty would have to grab its wurst and head back home. Yet the situation was summed up by one exec as: "For the first time in some time, the phrase 'If we are to stay in the U.S.' precedes a lot of conversations at VW."

[Source: Business Week]

Would VW leave the US market? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Domestics may end month with market share below 50%

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials

Can a drawn-out incentive campaign keep the domestics ahead of the imports? Automotive News, for one, seems to think it would only serve to delay the inevitable. Detroit is on a trajectory to fall below 50 percent in market share in the very near future, maybe even this month. It seems obvious that offering rebates and other incentives is merely a band-aid for the underlying issue.

As of the first half of 2007, GM, Ford and the Chrysler Group were down to just 50.2 percent of the new-vehicle market. That's a record low. A year ago that number was 56.0 percent. So given the fact that their share is plummeting, does it make sense to throw money at the problem and try to hold onto something they will surely lose eventually?

Actually, they may need the incentives just to stay competitive. Toyota, Honda and Nissan have really been aggressive in using incentives to grab customers this year. The Japanese now account for 37.5 percent of the market, up 5 percent from last year. Sure it comes with some psychological baggage, but losing market share isn't everything. It's a largely meaningless number and profits mean more in the end. Not that the domestics are any better in that arena, but dwelling on market share is a bit misleading.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Domestics may end month with market share below 50% originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda gaining momentum on the Big 2.5

Chris Shunk — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:12:00 EST

Filed under: Honda

Unless your current residence is beneath the Earth's crust, you probably know about the beating Toyota has been laying on the domestic automakers. Almost every month, Toyota's sales rise by double-digits while the Detroit-based competition endures losses. It seems there's constant debate over which US location at which Toyota will build its next assembly plant, and the gang from Aichi has a good chance to become the world's largest automotive manufacturer by sales volume in 2007.

Honda, too, has seen a steady climb in US market share with volume rising 50% in the past 10 years. Overall volume in the United States is now at 1.5 million units and Honda doesn't even have full-size trucks and SUVs like the competition. It's looking to expand its offerings with a planned V10 supercar and a new, more powerful Accord coming stateside by year's end. Incentive spending has been right around Toyota's levels also, with total spend at about 1/3 of the competition. Honda is also the technological leader in many non-automotive areas, with 12.7 million motorcycle sales in 2006 in addition to other businesses including robots, power equipment, and aircraft.

The automaker is also scoring high marks for quality. In the Consumer Reports 2007 Top Picks, Honda scored winners with Fit, Civic, and Accord -- a sweep in the volume passenger car categories. Positive results in JD Power initial and long-term quality studies have also helped keep resale values much higher than the domestic competition.

With domestic automakers taking aim at Toyota in a bids to gain back lost ground, they'd be well advised not to forget about Honda as well. Each year, it takes a little more share away from Detroit while flying under the radar asToyota registers as the 800 lb. bogey.

[Source: Detroit News]

Honda gaining momentum on the Big 2.5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota poised to take #2 spot from Ford

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Toyota

Ford Motor Co. has admitted what we saw coming for some time. The New York Times just ran a story saying Ford has announced that they fully expect Toyota to take over as number two behind General Motors. At least in America. Perhaps not unexpected, but it still sounds weird to hear that Ford won't be #2. To put this in perspective, Ford has been number two since the 1920s! And if that's not enough, Ford says the projections show they think that third place might be their permanent new slot. Apparently The Way Forward means taking one step back, which if that's what it takes to return to profitability, then so be it.

Back in September Ford speculated that its market share would hit a low of 14-15% allowing Toyota to surpass it. With the death of the Taurus and the decline in sales of light trucks, Ford has certainly been hurting. Conversely, it seems that Toyota can do no wrong with buyers, despite product that some consider boring and increased recalls with uncharacteristic lapses in quality. But things aren't looking any better for Ford. The new Tundra should be out in February, which will only increase Toyota's market share according to most analysts. Although we expect the Dodge Ram to be the truck that suffers most from the Tundra's arrival, eventually relinquishing it's No. 3 spot to the Japanese pickup over time.

[Source: Reuters via The New York Times]

Toyota poised to take #2 spot from Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:15:00 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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