Ford celebrates sales up 4.7%

[Blind_Io]

too bad Toyota was up 25% and GM's hummer sales were up 16%.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...les-sept_x.htm

By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
Pickup and SUV sales staged a September comeback amid falling gasoline prices and bigger incentives, automakers said Tuesday.

General Motors (GM) reported better sales of trucks sold to individual customers than a year ago. Ford Motor (F) said it moved more F-Series pickups and Explorer and Expedition SUVs. And DaimlerChrysler (DCX) noted gains for its minivans and Jeep Commander SUVs.

Toyota (TM) and Honda (HMC), too, saw strong truck demand. Even sales of GM's hulking Hummers rose 16%.

But automakers also were quick to caution that the truck resurgence could be short-lived. "Consumers haven't done a 180," said Ford sales analyst George Pipas. The turnaround "is not likely sustainable."

He noted that September sales are being compared with the month a year ago when truck demand was dented by end-of-summer discounts and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which included a gas price increase.

Overall for September, GM and DaimlerChrysler reported slightly weaker sales than last year. Ford improved. The industry — all brands, foreign and domestic — reported a 1.9% decline in September car sales, Autodata says. Truck sales rose 5.4%.

"It was obvious there was some recovery on SUVs and pickups," said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for Edmunds.com, a car-buying research website. Falling gas prices have helped. They tumbled to less than $2.50 a gallon last month for the first time since March.

Incentives also helped. Automakers offered an average of $5,300 in discounts and gimmicks on large SUVs last month and $4,990 on large pickups, Edmunds said. By contrast, small cars had incentives averaging $700.

Despite the truck improvement, cars and crossovers remain popular. GM said its consumer car sales fell 12% because dealers couldn't get enough in-demand small sedans such as Chevrolet's Aveo, Cobalt and Malibu. Ford said it fell short of Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans and Lincoln MKZs, formerly called Zephyr. Chrysler pointed to a healthy start for its Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass.

The domestics are hoping their growing small-car offerings will help them emulate the Japanese, which continue to set sales records.

Toyota reported a record September with sales up 25%.

"While crossovers, hybrids and small cars continue to show strength, our SUVs and full-size trucks also posted solid gains," said Jim Lentz, Toyota's U.S. executive vice president.

[British_Rover]

The hummer sales were up 16% based almost soley on the H3 which I belive was not that widely available this time last year. H1 sales were actually slight up compared to this time last year but that is just because dealers are clearing off the last of a discontinued model.

Ford Celebrates sales up 4.7%

Oh and I know I am being a jerk but I had to fix that it was bothering me.

[amdforever]

Probably accounting tricks

[wooflepoof]

News?

[BlaRo]

Yeah, this isn't newsworthy. It just feels like pointless mudslinging and kicking Ford when they're down.

Of course, they have their own way of digging themselves out of their rut...



Bold moves, bold like not bringing these cars to America and saving themselves. That's bold right there. Then again, why bother with selling good cars when they could just create a web documentary whining about how hilariously incompetant they are?

[British_Rover]

Yeah I have no idea why Ford won't bring those vehicles into the US. The costs of certifying them for crash testing and emissions can't be that high. Any of those would do great in the US market. The S-Max in particular would be great as long as you market it differently then the Mazda 5 otherwise they will step on each other's sales.

[BerserkerCatSplat]

It's a step in the right direction, anyway. A big company like Ford can't stop on a dime, but they're turning in the right direction.

[jetsetter]

Originally Posted by BerserkerCatSplat

It's a step in the right direction, anyway. A big company like Ford can't stop on a dime, but they're turning in the right direction.

One of their problems is that their future US projects are already being questioned. They cut the V8 from the new Lincoln and they have no real plans to introduce a rear wheel drive sedan. Ford has many European products they could draw on but it seems that they are not willing.

[targa_997]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Yeah, this isn't newsworthy. It just feels like pointless mudslinging and kicking Ford when they're down.

Of course, they have their own way of digging themselves out of their rut...



Bold moves, bold like not bringing these cars to America and saving themselves. That's bold right there. Then again, why bother with selling good cars when they could just create a web documentary whining about how hilariously incompetant they are?

Ford Germany, Ford US and Ford Australia are separated entities (even the Focus were very different, despite they look very similar). I think Ford US trusted too much on cheap-to-build pick-up and the huge 4 wheel boxes they call SUV.

[BlaRo]

That's true, they were suckers for the SUV boom because they mostly created it with the Explorer (bestselling vehicle for most of the 90's). The F-150 has always been popular in America, but let's not start THAT argument again. We have our reasons.

Problem is, they're too scared because they brought over the Mondeo (Ford Contour) back in 1996 and it sold in pathetic numbers. And then there was the whole thing with Merkur back in the 80's, and they've seen how GM not only flopped with the Opel Omega (Caddy Catera..."The Caddy that Zigs") and how everybody thought the GTO was boring even though it's fantastic.

So they're a little more wary of bringing over cars from other places, even though they're more thoroughly well-designed and less bargain-basement feeling than what we have here. Which is pathetic: Ford messed up the Contour by taking out all the good bits from the European ones (I don't know the specifics) and wasted time and money by creating a pointless new division that nobody understood or could pronounce and everybody confused with Mercury. Times have changed, Ford is down for the count, these cars have been widely acclaimed by presses from both countries, journalists from America are clamoring for these as well and making it well-known to the masses, and once great cars like the Focus here have been regulated to laughable penalty-box rental car status, like the Escort and Pinto before it. The Freestar minivan is an uncompetitive facelift from the old Windstar, and the new Holden Commodore -> Pontiac is going to show that RWD isn't dead yet, just like Chrysler has, so there's really no excuse. Ford needs all the help they can get and stop wasting time with "Bold Moves" bullshit.

[Samir]

I'd like to see GM repeat that number but they won't. A lot of the truck sales come from the H3 and the new GMT platform trucks (Chevy and GMC badged).

Still, I think quality of American carmakers has drastically improved in the last 5 years. If they followed a market penetration strategy on some of their economy cars, they could regain some serious volume and build loyalty back. They don't seem to understand that there is a perception out there that GM SUX or Ford SUX which means there is no way consumers would pay the same price for an American car as they would a comparable Japanese car.

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by BlaRo

and wasted time and money by creating a pointless new division that nobody understood or could pronounce and everybody confused with Mercury.

Pronounced "mer-cure"



And I liked the Catera. They looked pretty aggro for a Caddy, ya know?

[British_Rover]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Pronounced "mer-cure"



And I liked the Catera. They looked pretty aggro for a Caddy, ya know?

They drove OK too but working on that engine was a pain in the ass. The interior was subpar even for a 90's era Caddy.

[Paul_The_Aussie]

I think Ford US should do a trial run of the Falcon (XR6T, XR8, GT, Typhoon) to see how the market reacts. I think they'll do well.

[matt2000]

i think it would be popular anywhere, it's such a great looking car (IMO). the GT looks great and is a huge, practical 4 door saloon with bags of space. i want it over here in the UK.

[Deanodriver]

I've heard that the next Falcon (due for Aussie release early-2008) is going to be designed for both left and right hand drive, so possibly, the next Falcon could be offered in the US.

Personally, I think they should build USDM ones over there, provided they don't go and try to build it too much cheaper.

I reckon the Territory (midsize SUV) is likely to be the best Aussie Ford export, but they need to make a diesel version, the petrol is nice, but a bit thirsty for many peoples' tastes (they sell quite well here, though, IIRC the best selling SUV in the country on its first month on sale).

Oh, and technically, that Falcon is an FPV (factory tuning mob, like AMG for Mercedes) GT, but still, a nice car (even the XR6T is a good car).