Later this week, GM, Ford, and Chrysler are expected to disclose their sales numbers for August. But the numbers may be deceptive, according to the Detroit Free Press. That’s because hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused car sales to tumble unexpectedly as gas prices skyrocketed and the economy took a hit from August to October last year. The weak sales may end up being a bless for the automakers this year, because it will allow them to make easy year-over-year comparisons for the next few months as sales normalize. But even that might not be enough to create the appearance of improvements. Robert Barry, an automotive analyst for Goldman Sachs, predicts weak results for Detroit automakers. “We expect GM sales to be flat, which is a poor showing” given its comparison to last year, Barry wrote. Stay tuned to Leftlane for coverage Friday.
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08/29, 11:26 AM
posted by:
Uncle B
I’ll start being loyal to American car makers when they start being loyal to America and American suppliers.
08/29, 11:29 AM
posted by:
1952 MG TD
Since ONLY GM, Ford, and DCX sales were affected… all the displaced peoples still went out and bought their foreign cars…
:shakinghead:
LLN, please try to be less transparent with your bias.
08/29, 12:16 PM
posted by:
Robert
Again, let’s spin everything to be as negative as possible. Last month’s headline was: Ford is going down as F-series posts massive 45% percent loss. Well, no crap. They sold 125,000 in July 2005 in the midst of employee pricing, but those caveats were found hidden at the bottom of the article. The truth was that profit building retail sales in July for the big three were solid.
So, now comes August. Instead of noting that Chrysler and Ford still had employee discount programs and inventory (unlike the depleted GM at that point), they try to spin it as August was a weak month last year (it wasn’t) and that this month is going to be some great disappointment (only as much as any other month, really, but should show decent retail sales again).
Honestly, I have yet to see really good journalism about the entire set of problems facing the Detroit 3 and instead we get some crap sensationalism thrown together to get web hits and paper sales. *sigh*
08/29, 12:27 PM
posted by:
JOEBLO
Looks like Jon likes the American Revolution up his Euro loving ass……….homo…….
08/29, 12:38 PM
posted by:
Jon
You forgot Japanese loving-ass as well. Is it the rest of the world’s fault that the Americans can’t make a good car?
Jon.
08/29, 12:42 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
The American Revolution may have to retreat with their tails wound tightly between their legs. Nobody is convinced that things over there have improved . One quarters worth of sales without losing their shirt does not mean GM is returning from the grave. 3+ decades worth of mediocrity and garbage will do that to you though
08/29, 12:42 PM
posted by:
al
HAHAHAH Jon good way to put it
08/29, 12:44 PM
posted by:
al
anonymous you actually said something smart!!
08/29, 1:08 PM
posted by:
Michael Schmichael
joeblo you are a tit, i know plenty of women like it up the ass so quit with your homophobia, gay people buy cars too, jerkoff
08/29, 3:14 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
This is why my next vehicle purchase will, again, be from American manufacturer. God bless America.
08/29, 3:57 PM
posted by:
PissTaker
You knobjockey 1c3d0g you should buy the best product you can afford. If That is American, Great, but propping up industries that refuse to make decent product because some knob will buy it just because it’s AMerican benefits nobody
08/29, 6:39 PM
posted by:
miles
yea but gm is still selling more vechicles than any body else..
08/29, 9:02 PM
posted by:
Patrick
I agree with Jon, dont get defensive or pissy just because the U.S. sucks at building cars
08/29, 9:12 PM
posted by:
Anonymous
Take away the rental fleets and Toyota has GM beat.
08/30, 8:57 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
PissTaker: I disagree. An American family will go hungry tonight because *you* chose to buy a stupid import. That’s how I see it. Support your country, God damn it, or go back to Europe/Japan!
08/30, 2:43 PM
posted by:
JOEBLO
Amen 1c3d0g !
08/31, 9:07 PM
posted by:
Oil Investor
Keep buying my FORIEGN oil everyone. Yeah baby, foriegn oil for your GM suvs!