Annual sales figures for 2009 are finally being tabulated, and with those figures some harsh realities have been realized. In a year of economic uncertainty, the automotive industry fell particularly hard, and Chrysler posted its worst sales figures in 47 years.
It was a tough year for all automakers, Ford posted a 15 percent annual drop in sales compared to last year, both Toyota and Honda were down 20 percent, GM posted a 30 percent drop and Chrysler 36 percent compared to last year.
The total estimated sales in the U.S. for 2009 for all automakers is estimated to be 10.6 million – or to give some perspective, the lowest annual volume since 1982.
But likely more startling than any other statistic to rise from the rubble today – Chrysler’s annual sales figures dropped below 1 million units for the first time since 1962 – ending the year just over 931,000 vehicles sold.
