Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Texas truck sales uptick seen as bellweather for auto sales?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/09/texas-truck-sales-uptick-seen-as-bellweather-for-auto-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/09/texas-truck-sales-uptick-seen-as-bellweather-for-auto-sales/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/09/texas-truck-sales-uptick-seen-as-bellweather-for-auto-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


2009 Ford F-150 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When auto sales began to circle the drain in 2008, no single segment was hurt more than pickup trucks. Sales were cut in half in many instances, pummeling the domestics from Detroit more often than their foreign competition. Truck sales even dropped in Texas - easily the world's largest market for all things with four wheels, a bed and a V8 engine. Some Texas dealers saw sales drop 30% or more in 2008 and 2009, but some signs point to a turning point for truck sales and perhaps even the auto industry as a whole.

In August, the Ford F-150 saw its first year over year sales increase in three years. Automotive News is reporting that dealers in Texas are reporting more fleet and retail traffic, and one ton trucks are beginning to move off the lot again. Analyst Erich Merkle with Autoconomy.com told AN that the increased truck activity in Texas could mean that the auto industry is on the back swing, and more importantly, perhaps the entire American economy.

As an example of how this could play out, Texas is home to many of our nations biggest ranches. Dealers often sell entire fleets of trucks to these massive ranches, and if they are asking for more trucks, the results will be noticeable in our monthly By the Numbers update. And if ranchers are buying trucks again, that means we're making more things and more money changes hands, which means the economy may be bouncing back to life.

We know it's a bit of a stretch to hang the entire economy on Texas truck sales, but more trucks usually means more building and more construction. We're not sure if that's a bellweather for success, but it can't exactly be a bad thing either.


Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


[Source: Automotive News - Subs. Req'd]

Texas truck sales uptick seen as bellweather for auto sales? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy silveradoChevySilveradododge ramDodgeRameconomyford f-150FordF-150pickuppickup truckpickup trucksPickupTruckPickupTruckstexas truck salesTexasTruckSalestruck salesTruckSalesWed, 09 Sep 2009 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truckmaker in U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/toyota-overtakes-dodge-as-third-best-selling-truckmaker-in-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


As we all know by now, auto sales are down, dropping by around 18% in 2008. Pick-ups actually fared worse, posting a decline of 26.5% over the same period. Still, the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado maintained their positions as the two best selling vehicles in the United States, and these two manufacturers managed to post incremental increases in total pick-up truck market share after all was said and done.

Those increases came directly from the competition, especially Dodge. The full-size Ram truck managed to see its piece of the pie dwindle by almost one full percentage point. Dodge's drop in overall market share allowed Toyota, for the first time ever, to grab the bronze medal behind Ford and General Motors. However, it's not particularly good news for the Japanese upstart, which owns just 8.52% of the market after seeing Tundra sales fall by over 30% in '08 and well short of its stated goal of 200,000 units per year. The last place trophy goes to Nissan, as its 34,000 sales represent a meager 2.11% of the market.

These market share figures include both full-sizers and their smaller brethren, and it was the Toyota Tacoma and the aging Ford Ranger that made the biggest upward moves among the mid-size pick-ups. Again, the biggest loser award goes to Dodge, which saw its Dakota sales fall nearly 65%, and its Mitsubishi Raider stablemate, which posted an insignificant 2,900 total sales.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Toyota overtakes Dodge as third best-selling truckmaker in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's the same old story, people say one thing, yet do another. The price of fuel has fallen to the point that it's no longer financially ruinous to fill the tank on a full-size pickup, so looks like truck sales will eclipse cars in December. Despite the public's rhetoric about smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, the populous has seemingly gone back for another feed at the truck trough. Winter tends to remind people of the things that SUVs and trucks are good for, like plowing and effortless going in inclement conditions while also carrying a passel of rugrats and their associated detritus. Not only are truck sales expected to be up, Hybrids will be the flip side of the trend, underperforming compared to what everyone might have thought a mere four months ago. It might end well for the automakers, with higher profit trucks bouncing back, though the investment in green and hybrid technology will go wasted if the marketplace ignores it, a real danger with fuel prices easing... for the time being. Hat tip to reader "Throwback"

[Source: CNN, Photo: yammeringmagpie]


Cheap Gas = Trucks to outsell cars again this month originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energy pricesEnergyPricesfuel pricesFuelPricesgas priceGasPricesuv and trucksuv salesSuvAndTrucktruck salestrucksTruckSalesWed, 24 Dec 2008 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[GM adds more cash to Red Tag Sale for '08 trucks/SUVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/gm-adds-more-cash-to-red-tag-sale-for-08-trucks-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/gm-adds-more-cash-to-red-tag-sale-for-08-trucks-suvs/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/11/gm-adds-more-cash-to-red-tag-sale-for-08-trucks-suvs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Auto sales in the US are at a 25-year-low, and both dealers and manufacturers are dying to get showroom traffic going again. There isn't a whole lot working right now, so GM is throwing more cash on the hood of '08 models to shock some life into its Red Tag sale. Trucks and SUVs are getting the lion's share of the love, with rebates of $5,000 to $10,000 off selected 2008 models. The Equinox and Torrent sit on the low end of the rebate spectrum at five large, while the Silverado and Sierra tip the scales at up to $8,000.

If you've been waiting for the chance to own a Tahoe or Yukon, they also have $8,000 in customer cash, while the General is willing to put $9,000 on the hood of the Suburban. Not surprisingly, the large-and-in-charge Cadillac Escalade and Hummer H2 have the biggest incentives at $10,000 off MSRP. It looks like GM is in the mood to deal, so if you play your cards right, you could probably get Rick Wagoner to pick you up in the Volt mule and drop you off at the dealer.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

GM adds more cash to Red Tag Sale for '08 trucks/SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GMred tag saleRedTagSaleSUVtruck salesTruckSalesThu, 11 Dec 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[2009 Ram and F-150 arrive with incentives in tow]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/21/2009-ram-and-f-150-arrive-with-incentives-in-tow/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/21/2009-ram-and-f-150-arrive-with-incentives-in-tow/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/21/2009-ram-and-f-150-arrive-with-incentives-in-tow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click either image for a high-res gallery

When automakers unveiled an all-new, full-size pickup a couple years ago, copious amounts of cash would pour in for months on end. A lousy economy and a flat-lined auto industry has made the launches of the 2009 Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram far less exciting for their perspective owners, and proof can be found in the form of cash on hoods. Both trucks hit the market with substantial incentives to help push the new haulers into the hands of truck-weary Americans.

The F-150 comes with $2,000 in factory rebates regardless of cab configuration, and the Ram 1500 gets $1,000 and the 2500 and 3500 receive $2,000 in OEM assistance. The move comes as little surprise as the construction projects in the US have slowed and this summer's $4 per gallon gasoline has scared thousands of potential buyers out of the truck market. Both Ford and Chrysler (GM?) are hoping monetary assistance will bring those buyers out of hiding and into their local Ford or Dodge dealer.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


Gallery: 2009 Dodge Ram


[Source: Kicking Tires]

2009 Ram and F-150 arrive with incentives in tow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you've been holding your breath in anticipation of General Motors redesigning its trucks and SUVs, you're probably going to pass out so start breathing again. According to reports, it's gonna be a while. GM has announced that it's postponed any planned redesigns of its pickups and SUVs to a future date sometime beyond their previously planned 2012 redesigns. What'll it do with the extra time and money? Pouring over its entire product lineup to provide the most fuel efficient vehicles possible to a demanding public. The General announced the move in response to this drastic consumer shift away from trucks and SUVs.

GM isn't the only automaker to make product decisions based on the current vehicle market, as Toyota, Honda, Ford and others have all announced that they are shifting their lineups to include more fuel efficient vehicles. If you haven't noticed, $4-a-gallon gasoline seems to have changed the auto industry in a big way overnight. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Yahoo]

GM postpones redesign of trucks, SUVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another victim of the downturn in sales of full-size pickup trucks was revealed today as Dodge will be closing its Saltillo plant in northern Mexico for a period of two weeks. The plant produced nearly 170,000 Ram trucks last year. Yesterday, Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli indicated that Ram production would need to be adjusted to reflect weak customer demand, and this seems to be the adjustment. According to reports, the plant was idled on Monday and its two-thousand workers are set to return to work on June 23. Last month, sales of the Ram fell by an alarming twenty-five percent. We'd imagine that the last thing Chrysler wants is a large stock of unsold 2008 Ram trucks as it readies the 2009 model, which will thankfully get somewhat better fuel mileage.

Dodge is certainly not the only automaker finding it tough to move large pickups off dealer lots. Both Ford and GM have placed large incentives on their pickups and Toyota, Nissan and Honda have or will shift truck production to passenger cars at plants capable of making the switch.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Dodge Ram production idled at Mexico plant originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dodge ramDodgeRampickuppickup salesPickupSalesram salesRamSalessaltillotruck salesTruckSalesWed, 11 Jun 2008 18:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan 3rd Japanese automaker to shift truck production to cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/nissan-3rd-japanese-automaker-to-shift-truck-production-to-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/nissan-3rd-japanese-automaker-to-shift-truck-production-to-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/09/nissan-3rd-japanese-automaker-to-shift-truck-production-to-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Following the lead of Japan's other two big-time automakers, Toyota and Honda, Nissan has just announced that it too will be cutting truck production to focus on cars. At its Canton, Mississippi plant, Nissan will cut in half the number of shifts for workers assembling Titan pickup trucks and Armada full-size SUVs. On the flip-side, the automaker will add a third shift for production of the Altima mid-size sedan, which should allow it to keep its workers on the job. This move is not surprising, as passenger cars have been outselling their truck brethren handily in these days of record high gasoline prices. Ford, which has a new F-150 set to go on sale shortly, has offered employee pricing for its trucks, while General Motors recently announced that it would be idling four plants that produce trucks and SUVs and may rid itself of the HUMMER brand entirely. Dodge, for its part, is offering cheap gas and big incentives as a ploy to get consumers interested in its pickups. Unfortunately, it's not as easy for our domestic automakers to switch plants from producing trucks to passenger cars as many are older facilities that weren't built with flexible production in mind.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Nissan 3rd Japanese automaker to shift truck production to cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there were any doubt left that the gas-guzzling truck market was laying an egg, we have proof that it's ready to hatch two. A truck market-savvy bird has declared a lifted, red 2008 F-150 as its new home, and the feathered creature left two eggs on the truck's cowl as proof of residence. The avianic animal likely chose to put its nest at the base of the windshield of a jacked-up pickup to keep said offspring away from predators, but little did it know that the pickup will probably not be leaving the lot anytime soon. Ford of Orange County has roped off the truck, and the environmentally friendly dealership isn't accepting any orders for the pickup until the eggs have hatched and the youngins have flown the coup. There you have it, the full-size truck market is officially for the birds (rim shot). Check out more pics at the source below. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!


[Source: OCRegister, Photo: JOSHUA SUDOCK]

New Use #101 for Unsold Full-Size Trucks: Birds Nest originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could the reign of Ford's F-Series atop the sales charts in the U.S. come to an end? Some believe that it could indeed happen, and it's not even another pickup truck that is threatening the Blue Oval's bread-and-butter full-size pickup, it's the Toyota Camry. Let that sink in for a moment... alright, let's continue. The Camry already posted better sales numbers than the Chevy Silverado, the perennial second-best seller to the F-Series, for the month of April. In fact, the Silverado suffered a sales drop of 24.7 percent to 37,231 units while the Camry grabbed 40,016 sales in the same month. Still, even after the Camry's great sales month, the Silverado holds the edge when the entire year-to-date sales numbers are compiled, and the F Series still sits atop the list for now. Consider too that the Ford truck will get a major redesign for the upcoming model year. So, while high gas prices will likely continue to put pressure on full-size pickups, let's not jump to hasty conclusions just yet.

[Sources: Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota, the Auto Channel]

The end is nigh? Camry outsold Silverado in April, gunning for F-Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 May 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best sellingbest-sellingBestSellingcamry salescamry-salesCamrySaleschevroletchevyf seriesf series salesf-seriesf-series-salesfordFSeriesFSeriesSalespickup salespickup-salesPickupSalestoyotatruck salestruck-salesTruckSalesMon, 19 May 2008 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Get 'em while they're not hot! Dodge Rams going for $13k below MSRP]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/get-em-while-theyre-not-hot-dodge-rams-going-for-13k-below-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/get-em-while-theyre-not-hot-dodge-rams-going-for-13k-below-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/05/get-em-while-theyre-not-hot-dodge-rams-going-for-13k-below-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



A tight credit market, slumping construction, an economy on bed rest, an end-of-model year, and high gas prices mean one thing for pickup trucks: lots of brand new trucks waiting for buyers. Dealers trying to shift their 2008 Dodge Rams before the 2009s arrive are taking as much as $13,000 off the bill to try and convince buyers to come forth. That means you can get a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab SLT 4x2 for $19,995, instead of $32,795.

With consumers being more picky about what and when they buy, it also doesn't help that dealers really don't want trade-in trucks either, since they can't do anything with them. What Dodge dealers hope for now is that Chrysler will manage the build-out of the 2009 models to give them a chance to get rid of the 2008s. Chrysler says it has a plan that will keep it competitive and keep the changeover orderly. For now, the Ram is the most heavily discounted vehicle out there.

For a dealer in Ohio, the matter of 120-day inventories really comes down to gas prices. "Until we get gas under three bucks a gallon," he said, "these pickups are not going to move." We're sure that no one wants that to be true, because if it is, there will be brand new 2008 Rams on showroom lots for a long time.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Get 'em while they're not hot! Dodge Rams going for $13k below MSRP originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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