American Automakers Enjoy July 2010

[MTI]

What's Left of GM, Ford & Chrysler Rise; Toyota and Honda Not So Much

“Consumers are getting more accustomed to living with uncertainty and making big-ticket item purchases without the dust being fully settled,” Jesse Toprak, vice president for industry trends and insights at TrueCar.com, a Web site that tracks automotive sales and pricing, said. “We’re learning to live with volatility.”

[SwampYankee]

"Slimmed down" is probably working for them.

I hate to think of people as dead weight, but they just couldn't sustain the numbers they had given the sales.

[Local2ED]

Nice

[Hatterasguy]

They are making good cars again.

[MTI]

Or replacing them . . . in the news today, 10.8 out every 1,000 insured Escalades were claimed stolen. The average monetary loss per theft claim was $11,934, said the institute; one in four claims were for $40,000 or more.

Second on the list was the Ford F-250 crew cab (2008-9) at a rate of 9.7 per 1,000. The Infiniti G37 coupe and Dodge Charger Hemi tied for third, with 7.1 claims per 1,000 vehicles.

[Pili380SL]

Originally Posted by MTI

Or replacing them . . . in the news today, 10.8 out every 1,000 insured Escalades were claimed stolen. The average monetary loss per theft claim was $11,934, said the institute; one in four claims were for $40,000 or more.

Second on the list was the Ford F-250 crew cab (2008-9) at a rate of 9.7 per 1,000. The Infiniti G37 coupe and Dodge Charger Hemi tied for third, with 7.1 claims per 1,000 vehicles.

1% is about right for the most desirable vehicles. The national average for thefts has been .5 % for several years and is does not effect the latest sales figures. As hatterasguy noted, the product is better and the public reacts accordingly. Bash GM and Ford all you want for past mistakes but currently they are putting out a decent product worthy of consideration.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

"Slimmed down" is probably working for them.

I hate to think of people as dead weight, but they just couldn't sustain the numbers they had given the sales.

The subprime public that WERE buying ran out of credit. Or they'd easily be buying over 20 million units annually.... 9 million units, is nothing to write home about all totalled.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by Pili380SL

1% is about right for the most desirable vehicles. The national average for thefts has been .5 % for several years and is does not effect the latest sales figures. As hatterasguy noted, the product is better and the public reacts accordingly. Bash GM and Ford all you want for past mistakes but currently they are putting out a decent product worthy of consideration.

I find people who complain loudly about American cars havn't actualy gone out and test drove a 2011 Mustang or Malibu. They base what they know off a friends 1992 Buick or 2000 Malibu.

Times are changing, I'd buy a Malibu over a Camry today and I would get the better car.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

The subprime public that WERE buying ran out of credit. Or they'd easily be buying over 20 million units annually.... 9 million units, is nothing to write home about all totalled.

I wonder how much less their expenses are now, though. They were barely scraping by or losing money with vehicles (comparatively) flying off the lots but now are actually showing some profit, albeit only for a short period of time thusfar. They were carrying more than they needed to.

I can't help but think of a friend in commercial roofing. Through the 90's and early 00's he employed 112 guys. He was pleased with his bottom line, but was busting his @$$ lining up the plentiful jobs, paying a huge amount for insurance and disability and constantly stressed over keeping them all busy, in line and remaining compliant. When the economy went to crap, his revenue dropped 50%. His accountant advised him to layoff 70 employees but after some serious consideration and geniune sympathy he laid off 50. Bottom line is that the jobs are fewer and further between, require more legwork and selling on his end and there are times he has to send his guys home for a few days but his stress, overhead and labor costs are significantly less. His net profit these past 2 years was within 4 and 5% respectively of his peak. Obviously if you're one of those laid off employees it sucks, but as an owner bigger doesn't necessarily = better.

[ImBroke]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I find people who complain loudly about American cars havn't actualy gone out and test drove a 2011 Mustang or Malibu.

That's why I bought a 10 Fusion. Timing chain vice belt, and I got a manual trans for longevity. Figure I'll get at least 200k out of this car. Not much for the cloth seats, but for $645 that can be changed with Katzkin leather.

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I find people who complain loudly about American cars havn't actualy gone out and test drove a 2011 Mustang or Malibu. They base what they know off a friends 1992 Buick or 2000 Malibu.

Times are changing, I'd buy a Malibu over a Camry today and I would get the better car.

The Mustang, Malibu, and Camry are all acceptable rental cars; not anything I would actually buy.