Autoblog

J.D. Power and Associates have lowered their U.S. sales light-vehicle forecast for 2008 to just 14.2 million units. This is the third time the global information services company have updated their numbers. In March, they announced that sales would not hit their initial 15.7 million estimate, instead they would come in at about 14.95 million units. Now, the company is estimating sales at 14.2 million units (the industry sold 16.2 million units in 2007). J.D. Power is citing the prolonged credit crisis, deteriorating economic conditions, and the high cost of fuel as reasons consumers are holding off on purchasing new vehicles. Not helping the matter, fleet sales (a common way for the automakers to boost sales in the past) are also down 21 percent from last year.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Demonstrating that there is good news still to be found in some sales departments, BMW Group announced their worldwide January through June 2008 sales for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands increased 4.7 percent compared to last year. The sales total of 764,874 automobiles marked the most successful half-year of sales in the history of BMW Group. All three brands contributed to the sales increase, in varying capacities. BMW sales grew 2.4 percent, thanks to the BMW 1 Series and 3 Series Cabrio, while MINI sales were boosted 17.9 percent as the MINI Clubman rolled into showrooms. Most impressive was Rolls-Royce, boasting a 68.4 percent increase in sales compared to last year. The only segment where BMW Group was unable to maintain sales levels was with its motorcycles, as sales fell 5.6 percent compared to last year.

[Source: BMW Group]

You didn't think we forgot to report the numbers, did you? We imagine some automakers wish we had, for instance Jaguar and Mercury, which share our Biggest Loser honor this month by dropping an identical 20.2% in sales. Another of Ford's brands, Land Rover, was the Biggest Winner, jumping 32.2% in sales last month versus August 2006.

Kudos to General Motors for pulling out a 5.3% increase in sales thanks to a big effort by Chevrolet (up 8.6%) and GMC (up 21.2%) that offset losses at the automaker's other brands. FoMoCo, meanwhile, took a hit by dropping 14.4% in sales (thanks Biggest Losers!). Even Toyota felt the crunch, slipping 2.8% in sales last month despite Lexus being up 3.6%. The newly christened Chrysler LLC reported a 6.0% fall in sales, with Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler brands all reporting lower sales last month versus 2006.

Overall, August 2007 seemed like a mixed bag for automakers, with some pulling out a victory (GM, Honda, Nissan, BMW) and others taking it on the chin (Ford, Toyota, Chrysler). This makes it hard to label August 2007 a good or bad month for the industry, but at least it's in the bag.

Biggest Winner
Land Rover 32.2% at 4,853 (08/06: 3,671)

Biggest Loser
Jaguar –20.2% at 1,359 (08/06: 1,704)
Mercury –20.2% at 12,296 (08/06: 15,417)

BRANDS
Acura –10% at 16,436 (08/06: 18,263)
Audi 7.1% at 7,620 (08/06: 7,115)
BMW 18.5% at 26,562 (08/06:22,421)
Buick –15.4% at 19,324 (08/06: 22,853)
Cadillac –2.8 at 19,481 (08/06: 20,036)
Chevrolet 8.6% at 229,012 (08/06: 210,860)
Chrysler –7.0% at 43,650 (08/06: 47,132)
Dodge –8.0% at 82,841 (08/06: 89,790)
Ford –16.1% at 180,282 (08/06:214,759)
GMC 21.2% at 51,222 (08/06: 42,262)
Honda 6.7% at 141,906 (08/06: 132,990)
HUMMER –15.4% at 5,677 (08/06: 6,711)
Hyundai 1.0% at 45,087 (08/06: 44,635)
Infiniti 8.7% at 10,252 (08/06: 9,429)
Jaguar –20.2% at 1,359 (08/06: 1,704)
Jeep –1.0% at 41,712 (08/06: 42,243)
Kia 7.0% at 26,874 (08/06: 25,114)
Land Rover 32.2% at 4,853 (08/06: 3,671)
Lexus 3.6% at 32,199 (08/06: 31,074)
Lincoln 16.1% at 10,423 (08/06:8,979)
Mercedes 1.8% at 20,980 (08/06: 20,602)
Mercury –20.2% at 12,296 (08/06: 15,417)
MINI 25.4% at 4,077 (08/06: 3,252)
Mitsubishi 19% at 13,020 (08/06: 10,954)
Nissan 6.0% at 85,275 (08/06: 80,419)
Pontiac –1.0% at 39,324 (08/06: 39,711)
Porsche 6.0% at 2,548 (08/06: 2,397)
Saab –5.0% at 3,011 (08/06: 3,168)
Saturn –4.2% at 21,117 (08/06: 22,050)
Subaru –7.5% at 16,573 (08/06: 17,809)
Suzuki 6.0% at 8,916 (08/06: 8,399)
Toyota –3.7% at 201,272 (08/06: 209,104)
Volkswagen –7.5% at 21,655 (08/06: 23,420)
Volvo 13.8% at 9,119 (08/06: 10,582)

NA: Mazda

COMPANIES
BMW Group 19.3% at 30,639 (08/06: 25,673)
Chrysler Group –6.0% at 168,203 (08/06: 179,165)
Ford Motor Co –14.4% at 218,332 (08/06: 255,112)
General Motors 5.3% at 388,168 (08/06: 368,776)
Honda America 4.7% at 158,342 (08/06: 151,253)
Nissan North America 6.3% at 95,527 (08/06: 89,848)
Toyota Motor Co. –2.8% at 233,471 (08/06: 240,178)