Driven in part by the Cash for Clunkers program, several automakers have posted strong July sales. Subaru set a July record with sales up 34.2 percent, while Ford Motor Company says that July was its first month in over a year to post an increase in monthly sales – but GM, Chrysler and Toyota all posted less-than-stellar numbers.
Though the long term effects of Cash for Clunkers have yet to be determined, the program clearly helped spur new car sales during the last week of July, particularly among four-cylinder models. July is not traditionally a strong month for automakers since current year inventories tend to be weakening and plants are shut down for year-to-year retooling.
June sales saw sales perking up a bit and Volvo and Subaru even posted positive results.
Don’t forget that sales figures are to be compared to July 2008 numbers and keep checking this space as we will post updates when we get them.
The good
Hyundai saw sales go up 12 percent thanks in part to Cash for Clunkers. The automaker says that 22 percent of its July sales were Cash for Clunkers trade-ins. Other than the Santa Fe SUV, all of Hyundai’s volume products saw sales increases over July 2008.
Toyota posted the strongest overall sales month of any automaker, with sales of 156,355 units, though it was down 10.8 percent overall. Only the Prius, RAV4 and Highlander saw increases of sales – up 29.7 percent (to 19,173), 32.5 percent (to 15,912) and 39.1 percent (to 9,407), respectively.
Though sales at General Motors weren’t especially hot overall, the Chevrolet Impala posted a 9.6 percent gain (to 14,649, which outsold Malibu) and Pontiac G8 sales continued to be strong as the automaker clears out remaining inventory (up 63.3 percent to 2,404). On the truck side of things, the all-new Chevrolet Equinox saw a 77.8 percent increase (to 10,834).
Hefty demand for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI pushed the automaker up to its first sales increase in a year. Though VW doesn’t break out diesel sales, its Jetta sedan saw an 8.5 percent increase (to 9,663), while the SportWagen increased 612.4 percent (to 2,415).
Chrysler ’s Cash for Clunkers rebate-matching program succeeded: Sales of all of the automaker’s four-cylinder volume models, aside from the Sebring, increased substantially. The Jeep Compass and Patriot increased 95 percent (to 2,736) and 134 percent (to 8,084), respectively, which helped push the brand to a mere 2 percent drop off compared to last year’s numbers.
Mazda ’s Mazda6 saw a 1.9 percent increase (to 2,517), while the Mazda5 continued to surprise by increasing a hefty 45.5 percent (to 1,944).
Honda ’s Civic and CR-V both saw increases over last year’s figures – 3.1 percent (to 30,037) and 9.9 percent (to 19,151), respectively.
Continuing its strong numbers so far this year, Subaru saw sales increase 34.2 percent (to 21,839), which pushed year-to-date sales up 4.3 percent overall. Subaru is on track to be the only automaker to post improved annual sales over 2008.
Ford division saw a 2.9 percent increase overall, driven mostly by Fusion (up 66 percent to 17,610) and Focus (up 43.6 percent to 21,830). Numerous Ford dealers reported that their Focus inventories, in particular, were essentially depleted. On the truck side, Escape sales were up 94.2 percent (to 20,241), Flex sales were up 64.7 percent (to 3,631) and Ranger sales were up 64.5 percent (to 7,695).
Mercury also saw a 6.6 percent increase in sales thanks to hefty demand for the Milan (up 59.8 percent to 2,934), Mariner (up 70.5 percent to 3,682) and even the Grand Marquis (up 3.8 percent to 2,667).
Volvo sales were up 25.7 percent thanks to a 257.2 percent increase in demand (to 1,461) for the S60, which was heavily marketed to clear out old inventories.
The bad
Despite gains in efficient car sales, Mini saw a 3.8 percent (to 4,872) drop off during July.
General Motors saw sales slide overall, with no division reporting positive numbers. Most troubling, perhaps, is the 53.6 percent slide in Cadillac sales. Though not the biggest drop off under the GM umbrella (just 574 Saab s found new buyers, a 71.7 percent decline in demand), it represents a lot of volume for one of the four brands GM intends to keep around.
Dodge saw increases in demand for its Caliber and Avenger models, as well as the Journey and Caravan, though sales were off 8 percent versus last year’s numbers.
Chrysler division’s sales slumped 21 percent, even though the PT Cruiser saw a 4 percent increase in demand.
Despite some strength, Mazda sales were down 15.1 percent overall (to 19,032).
Overall Honda division sales were down 15.8 percent (to 106,028).
Mercedes-Benz saw decreases across the board with the exception of the E-Class. Helped by the all-new model, E-Class sales rose 12.5 percent (to 5,556). R-Class sales trickled to just 36 units, a 95.2 percent decrease from July 2007.
Not helped by the Cash for Clunkers program due to its fairly high line-wide consumption, Lincoln was Ford’s sore spot. Sales were down 24.3 percent despite a 95.2 percent increase in Town Car sales (to 1,841).
The ugly
Acura , down 32.5 percent to 8,662.
Audi , down 5.8 percent to 6,407.
Chrysler, down 21 percent to 16,549.
BMW , down 31.5 percent to 16,381.
Buick , down 29.1 percent to 7,099.
Cadillac, down 52.6 percent to 6,171.
Chevrolet , down 9.3 percent to 124,948
Dodge, down 8 percent to 50,075.
Ford, up 2.9 percent to 142,135.
GMC , down 20.4 percent to 21,860.
Hummer, down 57.4 percent to 799.
Honda, down 15.8 percent to 106,028.
Hyundai, up 12 percent to 45,553.
Jeep , down 2 percent to 22,276.
Lexus , down 16.5 percent to 18,517.
Lincoln, down 24.3 percent to 6,672.
Maserati , down 49.5 percent to 98.
Mazda, down 15.1 percent to 15,032.
Mercury, up 6.6 percent to 10,031.
Mercedes-Benz, down 21.7 percent to 16,228.
Mini, down 3.8 percent to 4,872.
Pontiac, down 13.2 percent to 22,024.
Saab, down 71.7 percent to 574.
Saturn, down 66.1 percent to 5,968.
Subaru, up 34.2 percent to 21,839.
Toyota, down 10.8 percent to 156,355.
Volkswagen, up 0.7 percent to 20,590.
Volvo, up 25.7 percent to 6,441.
