Edmunds.com, the car research site, looks at industry trends each month and predicts how major car companies have done in US sales. The Edmunds data comes out the day before the car companies announce their sales data.
This March, Ford Motor's (NYSE:F) is expected to be the big loser, with sales down about 17% over the same month last year. At this rate, it would be impressive if Ford can stay in business much beyond 2007. With fuel prices up again, the company's important sales leaders like the F-150 pick-up are likely to do poorly.
DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX) is expected to have another tough month at its Chrysler unit. Sales are expected to be off about 6%. That is not bad compared to Ford, but with parent Daimler trying to sell the US car unit, any drop in units tends to make the company less attractive to a potential buyer.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is expected to see sales drop only 1%. Its Saturn line of cars has been doing extremely well, and it now has more fuel-efficient crossover vehicles in its product line-up. If GM can hold its own while lowering costs, it may even show a modest profit in North America for 2007.
No one should be surprised that Toyota Motor's (NYSE:TM) sales are expected to rise in March. It is projected to have an increase of almost 9% due to the Camry and Prius, both of which get good gas mileage. Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC) sales are expected to rise 3% while Nissan Motor (NASDAQ:NSANY) is forecasted to increase 1.1%.
Of course, all of this means that Detroit's share of the US market will be down again. Soon, the Big 3 may only have a 50% share in North America.
With no turnaround in sight.
Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-03-2007 @ 12:18PM
Dominick Sponcia said...
Why can't most of the United States "born and bred" newspaper reporters give the American auto industry a break? The latest is from Douglas McIntyre who wrote today (4/3)--on Ford's March reported sales "At this rate, it would be impressive if Ford can stay in business much beyond 2007".
Now Douglas give everybody a break--Ford will a force to reckon with in the near term. The American car manufacturers have some of the highest quality and best looking products for less money than the imports. Look around and read Road and Track magazine--
Support American companies--It will make you feel better!!!
4-04-2007 @ 7:51AM
J Grenier said...
Well Dominick you just did it to yourself. Toyota and Honda build more cars and trucks in America with Americans parts and labor than any of the so called American car companies. Maybe that is why the big three are doing so poorly. Most people have figured that out already.
4-03-2007 @ 2:17PM
Jim Carmaker said...
Highest quality and best looking products? Their quality has improved over the years, but best looking is laugable. They've been copying everything under the sun for a long time now. They have been driving themselves into the ground with their stale products and still exhibit a near complete lack of initiative to get out of this artistic rut. That's why everyone I know wants an import.
4-04-2007 @ 11:11PM
GRAMPS said...
The American manufacturers have only themselves to blame, they tried to make deals with the foreign mfgrs. and gave them a BIG Push, against labor , and it has back fired ? I looked at the parking lots years ago, and found foreign cars owned , no doubt by the workers , in the very plants that employed them and paid them the "bread and butter "
wages ! The SHOE is NOW ON THE OTHER FOOT !
4-04-2007 @ 3:46AM
Al Foresz said...
How stupid can the Big 3 be to let toyota come in her and take away our bread and butter in Detroit? All the big 3 wants to do is sell big suv gas guzzlers. The poor and the middle class are buying toyota Prius because it gets the best gas milage. Why are the big 3 not coming out with the same type of car. My next car will be a toyota.