By the Numbers: January 2007

Ford and General Motors see sales fall sharply in January, Toyota continues growth, Mitsubishi makes a comeback

The numbers for January look worse than they actually are. Both Ford an General Motors saw sales fall around 20% compared to last year, but the drop is the result of a planned reduction in sales to fleet companies by both automakers, which will in turn improve the resale value of their vehicles reaching showrooms this year. The Chrysler Group managed to minimize the damage this month, thanks in large part to the performance of its Jeep brand that was up 14% this month. Some analysts and journalists are making noise that Ford fell to fourth place in sales this month behind GM, Toyota and the Chrysler Group. This is only true if sales of the Premier Automotive Group are not counted along with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales, something that was never done before this month when it seems convenient to make a sensational headline.

As usual, Toyota was up almost 5% this month and earned the title of Nation's Best-Selling Brand thanks to Ford and Chevy giving up all those fleet sales. Both of Nissan's brands had a good month, propelling Nissan North America up almost 5%. Finally, we have to give Suzuki credit for carrying its momentum into the new year with sales up 9% and Mitsubishi, a company we all thought was on life support in the U.S. but came out of January kicking with sales up nearly 21%.

Biggest Winner
Mercedes-Benz 31.4% at 17,069 (1/06: 12,469)

Biggest Loser
Pontiac –38.5% at 24,060 (1/06: 37,545)

BRANDS
Acura –10.6% at 13,017 (1/06: 13,981)
Audi .97% at 6,399 (1/06: 6,084)
BMW –1.8% at 19,761 (1/06: 19,274)
Buick –32.8% at 12,013 (1/06: 17,173)
Cadillac –10.5% at 13,740 (1/06: 14,733)
Chevrolet –17.9% at 148,488 (1/06: 173,622)
Chrysler –18% at 41,486 (1/06: 48,628)
Dodge –1% at 79,461 (1/06: 77,064)
Ford –25.2% at 132,006 (1/06: 169,412)
GMC –2.3% at 28,488 (1/06: 27,978)
Honda –.17% at 87,773 (1/06: 84,413)
HUMMER –26.7% at 3,980 (1/06: 5,214)
Hyundai –11.9% at 27,721 (1/06: 30,208)
Infiniti 6.8% at 8,964 (1/06: 8,058)
Isuzu 1.5% at 667 (1/06: 631)
Jaguar –16.4% at 1,390 (1/06: 1,596)
Jeep 14% at 35,361 (1/06: 29,773)
Kia 19.4% at 22,524 (1/06: 18,110)
Land Rover –10.8% at 3,433 (1/06: 3,693)
Lexus 8% at 22,118 (1/06: 19,658)
Lincoln 1.4% at 9,594 (1/06: 9,345)
Mazda 1.7% at 19,265 (1/06: 18,177)
Mercedes-Benz 31.4% at 17,069 (1/06: 12,469)
Mercury –5.3% at 12,604 (1/06: 12,781)
MINI –33% at 2,050 (1/06: 2,944)
Mitsubishi 20.7% at 9,383 (1/06: 7,463)
Nissan 4.3% at 73,680 (1/06: 67,834)
Pontiac –38.5% at 24,060 (1/06: 37,545)
Porsche –10.7% at 3,103 (1/06: 3,337)
Saab 3.3% at 2,362 (1/06: 2,196)
Saturn –22.2% at 13,705 (1/06: 16,907)
Subaru –6.4% at 12,074 (1/06: 12,384)
Suzuki 8.9% at 8,179 (1/06: 7,210)
Toyota 4.7% at 153,732 (1/06: 140,967)
Volkswagen –1.8% at 16,610 (1/06: 16,237)
Volvo –15.2% at 7,808 (1/06: 8,844)

COMPANIES
BMW Group –5.8% at 21,811 (1/06: 22,218)
Chrysler Group –3.5% at 156,308 (1/06: 155,465)
Ford Motor Co –22.1% at 166,835 (1/06: 205,671)
General Motors –19.7% at 247,464 (1/06: 296,003)
Honda America –1.7% at 100,790 (1/06: 98,394)
Nissan North America 4.5% at 82,644 (1/06: 75,891)
Toyota Motor Co. 5.1% at 175,850 (1/06: 160,625)

Note: All percentages represent the chance in the Daily Average Sales rate on account of there being 25 selling days in January 2007 compared with 24 in January 2006. Thus, the percentage is obtained by dividing the number of sales in each month with the number of available selling days that month, and calculating the difference between the two as a percentage.