March Auto Sales Hit the Skids

Related Newser Stories

• Sales Skid Again for GM, Ford, Toyota

  Sep 3, 08 3:10 PM CDT
  General Motors, Ford and Toyota reported dramatic declines in sales for August stemming from the weak US economy and record gas prices, Bloomberg reports. Ford's domestic sales plunged 27% and GM's 20%, and both automakers will cut second-half production by the tens of thousands. Toyota fared better, down just 9.4%, though all saw large declines in the sales of SUVs. More »

• Small Cars Carry Big Price Tags

  Sep 3, 08 10:57 AM CDT
  With sales of SUVs and trucks dwindling, car companies have begun to push smaller, more fuel-efficient models—but not for the same small prices. Without the $10,000 profit that was typical on SUVs, automakers can no longer sell cars like the Ford Focus for an average profit of $100. Some are using extras to lure higher-spending customers.
  More »

• US Auto Sales Off Big, But GM Holds Top Spot

  Jul 1, 08 2:40 PM CDT
  Sales for General Motors, Ford and Toyota all fell by double-digit percentages in June compared to the same month last year, while Honda managed an 11% gain, the Detroit News reports—with GM holding off Toyota as top US seller. In general, consumers passed over big, fuel-guzzling vehicles and luxury sedans for smaller, fuel-efficient models. More »

• Under the Hood, Size Does Matter

  May 31, 08 2:39 PM CDT
  Instead of saving on gas by getting smaller cars, many Americans are buying cars with smaller engines. Four-cylinder autos have been zooming off lots nationwide, leaving six-cylinder rides in the dust: Three quarters of mid-size cars sold in May sported the smaller engine, a swerve away from a trend in ever-bigger motors, the Los Angeles Times reports. More »

• Pickup Sales Plummet to 10-Year Low

  Apr 9, 08 7:35 AM CDT
  US pickup truck sales tumbled in March, hitting their lowest level in nearly a decade. The Big Three all reported double-digit percentage drops in sales this month—the Dodge Ram was down 26%—and large pickups represented barely more than 10% of the auto market. High gas prices added fuel to the freefall, but the housing crisis—and an attendant drop in carting construction loads—may have had the most impact. More »