What cars are being bought?
Ford posted a $12.7 billion loss in 2006 [$5.8 billion in the last three months of 2006 alone, mainly as a result of downsizing costs and the continuing fall in sales of its sport utility vehicles and light trucks] so who is selling vehicles these days? 2006 saw a total sales dropped of 2.6 percent however the mix of cars and trucks has changed. Full-size pickups continue to be the most popular vehicles with U.S. buyers even though their sales are down 6.7 percent compared to sales in 2005. Here is the top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles of 2006:1. Ford F-Series - 796,039
2. Chevrolet Silverado - 636,069
3. Toyota Camry - 448,445
4. Dodge Ram - 364,177
5. Honda Accord - 354,441
6. Honda Civic - 316,638
7. Chevrolet Impala - 289,868
8. Toyota Corolla - 272,327
9. Nissan Altima - 232,457
10. Chevrolet Cobalt - 211,449
There is no change to the vehicles in the top 6 but only Toyota Camry and Honda Civic sold more units in 2006 than in 2005, 3.3 and 2.6% growth respectively. The other 4 [which only the Accord is a car] lost a total of 9.5% of their market share since 2005. Looks like the high gas prices are really hitting the Full-Size Truck and SUV market right where it hurts.
Lost from last years top 10 are the Chevrolet Malibu and TrailBlazer however don't feel too bad for GM, the Impala was the biggest gainer in the top 10 posting a 17.5% growth since 2005 and moving from number 8 to number 7. Maybe this is the return of the Impala to the top of the automotive market, just like it was back in the 1960's setting an all-time sails record of over 1 million units sold in 1965 which to date has not yet been reached again.
posted by TheWino @ 11:05 AM
3 Comments:
Ah, the continued decline of the American car company. The dinosaur we know as the baby-boomer UAW worker is on his way out. Men (and more recently, I assume, women) who have done nothing but bolt the same door on the same car for the last 20 years are able to collect super salaries and full health benefits and rich pensions. Even when they get laid off, they get $100K+ buyouts. These workers have the same feeling of entitlement as any registered democrat welfare recipient from our beloved Bay State.
When workers have no rights, unions become an amazingly important tool for ensuring worker's rights. Once workers have those rights, unions are forced to justify themselves (and their dues) by negotiating better and better deals for their members. This works great until you choke the company your members work for. Ask an airline mechanic or a professional hockey player what it feels like to pay union dues without a paycheck. And keep an eye on GM, Ford, Chrysler, and your local hospitals and schools, as their union workforces will continue to inflict damage on their parent organization with all of their greedy demands.
Auto worker unions would be fine if their results were superior and their products led the industry. However, their products are still playing catch-up to Honda and Toyota and they are still riding the wave of "Buy American", which is a motto only overheard in gun clubs, VFW posts, and pickup truck showrooms. If you ask me, I will take my Honda Accord and my Honda Pilot (140,000 miles between them with nary a problem) and trade those in for new ones in a few years. Let's hear somone say that about a Dodge Dakota or Chevy Cobalt.
The auto industry and the unions, like everyone else in the real world, need to EVOLVE and change with the times. Their "Buy American" customer base is dying of old age, or at least getting their licenses revoked at an increasing rate. I just don't think that there is any blood new enough at GM or Ford that is willing to make a "Bold move" and change things.
Sorry for the union vent, but, I forgot to mention Harley Davidson, who's assembly line just walked out because of pay cuts and having to eat a little bigger slice of the health insurance pie. I am sure that Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha are REALLY upset by this one!
What is the rationale here? "We are the only people who can bolt motorcycles together?" Guess what? There are plenty of twenty-somethings who would love to do your job, and they don't give a rat's ass about health insurance.
I agree about the "bold Move" initiative at Ford. They are basically saying they need to change to compete but what that really means is they want more stylistic cars and trucks - not better ones. So I think they will continue to feel the pinch from other makers. Maybe 2007 will be the year the Toyota Tacoma [which is probably the best truck on the market but not the most popular] knocks the F series out of the #1 spot it has held for 25 yeras.
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