Complain about a product or service

April Dismal For U.S. And Foreign Carmakers

Sales dropped nearly 35 percent between April 2008 and April 2009

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

May 5, 2009

• Auto Bailout Chief: GM's CEO Had To Go • Taxpayers Unlikely To Recover Full Auto Industry Investment • GMAC Changing Name to Ally Bank • New Car Sales Show Improvement From May • April Dismal For U.S. And Foreign Carmakers • Chrysler Files for Bankruptcy, GMAC Takes Over Financing • Auto Sales Stagnant, But Hope Appears • What Would a Chrysler Bankruptcy Mean For You? • U.S. Carmakers Getting More Federal Aid • GM Cuts More Jobs, Eyes China • New Car Sales Plunge in February • Car Buyers Seeking Higher Fuel Economy • Video: Do Women Really Hate Car Shopping? • GM Plans New Minicar, Electric Cadillac • GMAC Becomes a Bank • White House to Loan Carmakers $17.4 Billion • Chrysler Closing Car Plants for 30 Days • What Would a Washington-Designed Car Industry Look Like? • States Want Stronger Used Car Rule • Industry Troubles Cloud LA Car Show • Carmakers Get Neither Love Nor Money From Congress • Taxpayers Headed For Automotive Bailout • Time May Be Running Short for U.S. Carmakers • Feds Move Closer to Carmaker Bailout • New-Vehicle Buyers Turn to the Web in Record Numbers --- • More about Auto Sales ...

Americans may be buying houses once again, but they're passing up the bargains in new car showrooms. The American International Automobile Dealers Association, which represents over 11,000 international franchises, says overall sales, including domestics and unadjusted for business days, were down 34.4 percent from April 2008.

"We haven't seen the numbers we hoped for this spring," said AIADA Chairman Russ Darrow. "It is becoming increasingly clear that point of sale stimulation is necessary to jumpstart a recovery. Specifically, we need Congress to pass a scrappage/fleet modernization bill. Any bill must be immediate, simple, and inclusive of all brands retailed in the United States."

According to numbers from Autodata Corp., international brands sold 442,124 vehicles in April, down from 656,034 in April 2008. Asian brands accounted for 45.5 percent of the market, up from 44.7 percent in April 2008, and Europeans had an 8.5 percent share, up from 7.5 percent.

Domestic brands finished the month with just 46 percent of the market.

Until now, Kia and Subaru had managed to remain in the black for 2009, but weak April sales dragged them down 3.8 and 0.8 percent respectively. Mercedes Benz's Smart is now the only brand sold in the United States to have seen positive growth in 2009.

Toyota Motor Corp. was especially hard hit, with sales falling 42.2 percent from last April.

April's weak numbers were particularly discouraging in light of some analyst predictions for a spring recovery. The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate (SAAR) now stands at 9.5 million vehicles.

Still, automakers and some dealers see some cause for optimism. Sales have remained relatively steady for the past four months, sparking hope that the bottom of the market has been located. In addition, consumer confidence rose in April, from 26.9 to 39.2 percent — its highest level in 2009.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |