Detroit three post double-digit sales increases in August

(September 1, 2011) Ford, General Motors and Chrysler all reported double-digit sales gains in August despite forecasts of cooling demand for new vehicles.

General Motors posted an 18 percent gain compared to August 2010, Ford was up 11 percent and Chrysler Group was up 28 percent. Chrysler has now had increases of 20 percent or more in six of the last eight months.

Also putting up big August gains were Nissan at 19 percent and Volkswagen at 10 percent.

Honda and Toyota continue to struggle because of a shortage of inventory stemming from the March earthquake in Japan. Honda plunged 24 percent compared to August 2010, and Toyota was off 13 percent.

Chrysler continued to benefit from the performance of its Jeep brand, which was up 58 percent in August and is up 50 percent for the year. Chrysler ran a no-payments-for-90-days promotion for some buyers of 2011 and 2012 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram models during the month.

Ford-brand sales rose 16 percent. Lincoln, up 25 percent, rose for the third straight month following six straight months of decline.

Ford also said today that it has scheduled a 9 percent rise in North American production for the fourth quarter from year-earlier levels. Output through July was up 12 percent.

Chrysler continued to benefit from the performance of its Jeep brand, which was up 58 percent in August and is up 50 percent for the year. Chrysler ran a no-payments-for-90-days promotion for some buyers of 2011 and 2012 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram models during the month.

Ford-brand sales rose 16 percent. Lincoln, up 25 percent, rose for the third straight month following six straight months of decline.

The automaker also said today that it has scheduled a 9 percent rise in North American production for the fourth quarter from year-earlier levels. Output through July was up 12 percent.

“Ford’s fuel-efficient cars, crossovers and trucks continue winning over consumers in the marketplace,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Our new product lineup — especially our newest cars – continues helping Ford grow even stronger and gain market share on the fiercely competitive East and West coasts.”

Fiesta, Fusion and Mustang posted higher sales than a year ago. Fiesta sales totaled 5,833, up 76 percent, and Fusion sales were 17,925, up 5 percent. In the first eight months of 2011, Fusion was Ford’s top-selling car, with sales totaling 168,929, up 16 percent versus a year ago. Mustang sales were up 3 percent in August. The small Escape crossover recorded sales of 20,607 vehicles, up 39 percent versus a year ago. Year-to-date, Escape sales totaled 167,625, up 30 percent.

GM cited several areas of sales strength. Chevrolet Cruze sales surpassed 20,000 for the fifth month in a row; Equinox sales rose 58 percent compared with August 2010. GMC Terrain sales were up 88 percent; Acadia was up 54 percent.

At Cadillac, combined sales of the Cadillac CTS sedan, coupe and wagon increased 39 percent.  Cadillac reduced its fleet sales by 51 percent. At Buick, August was the brand’s 23rd consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains, and the Regal had its best month since launch, more than doubling sales.

Overall the industry was up about 8 percent from August 2010, the fourth straight month that sales increases have failed to hit double digits after sales increases topped 17 percent in each of the first four months of this year.

Sources: Ford, GM, Chrysler, Automotive News