U.S. auto sales were weak in September as automakers report mixed results.
October 2 2007: 2:19 PM EDT
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Overall U.S. auto sales were soft in September, as results ranged from a jump at Honda Motor to falling off a cliff at Ford Motor. General Motors (Charts, Fortune 500), which weathered a two-day strike by the United Auto Workers union during the month without much of a disruption in sales, saw its overall sales of cars and light trucks edge up 0.3 percent in September. When adjusted for one fewer sales day this year, the company saw its daily sales rate climb 4 percent.
Light trucks, which include pickups, SUV's and so-called crossover vehicles, posted a solid 3.6 percent gain in absolute sales, which equates to nearly an 8 percent rise in its daily sales rate. Toyota (Charts), which last month moved past Ford Motor to become the No. 2 automaker in terms of U.S. sales, saw its sales fall 4 percent from year ago levels as it posted a narrow decline in its daily sales rate. That result contrasted with Japanese rival Honda Motor (Charts), where sales jumped 9.4 percent.
On the other extreme, Ford Motor (Charts, Fortune 500) saw sales plummet more than 20 percent in September, as the embattled U.S. automaker continues to lose market share.
The company saw sales of light trucks, fall 9 percent, while the sale of car models plunged 38.9 percent. The decline was widespread across its brand, with only Lincoln and Land Rover posting a sales gain.
Even with the decline in sales at Toyota, the Japanese automaker stayed ahead of Ford's weak sales results.
Industry experts said subprime mortgage problems cut into demand for auto sales in September, as some potential buyers put sales on hold due to concerns about the economy and their home values.
"Under the circumstances, I think the industry parred a difficult hole in September, even though it was below trend," said George Pipas, Ford's director of sales analysis, although he conceded that as far as Ford's sales went, "I don't think we were quite up to par."
Only 25 selling days this Sept, vs 26 last Sept. . . . Adjusted, Toyota sales were only down 0.6%.
Honda up 9.4%, driven mostly by the new Accord and CR-V. Who would have thought so many people were waiting on the new Accord. . . . .ugly styling and all.
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Only 25 selling days this Sept, vs 26 last Sept. . . . Adjusted, Toyota sales were only down 0.6%.
Honda up 9.4%, driven mostly by the new Accord and CR-V. Who would have thought so many people were waiting on the new Accord. . . . .ugly styling and all.
I'm not a fan of it either, but it's got a hardcore following.
toyota down 0.6 %
GM UP 3.8%
Honda up 13.8%
Ford down 21%
Ford is definitely having a very rough time
Honda success with the fugly accord, well, so be it...
GM strong sales from the all new CTS and pickup truck sales up 7.7%
Toyota , well, second month in a row, of....u know
For me, the one thing that really is seeing sales from the all new highlander.... WOW, once again down!!! and this time, down an amazing
27.3% , What the hell is going on??
Yaris, second month in a row down , this time a 17.8%
Corolla, of course down, but still great numbers , plus 29000
For me, the one thing that really is seeing sales from the all new highlander.... WOW, once again down!!! and this time, down an amazing
27.3% , What the hell is going on??
That's because it is FUGLY.
I am a big fan of Toyota, but this one makes me . I was expecting something much nicer when they anounced the redesign; I actually wanted to buy one, until I saw it at the Chicago auto show last winter. Both myself and my wife stood in front of it for 10-15 seconds and thought: No way!
I think that the design of the Highlander has nothing to do with its lack of sales. Its the fact that you can get a Sienna for a lower price, more space and better milage. SUV's are nothing but a fashion statement, and there only practical use is off roading which the average person doesn't do. The SUV craze is over and consumers are finally waking up and choosing their vehicles based on substance over style. Honestly I think Toyota should drop the Landcruiser, Sequoia, and 4runner because I don't think those vehicles are going to make them money anymore.
CheeseHead, what are you talking about. The Highlander may be called an SUV, but it fits squarely in the Midsize Crossover market (or CUV), which if you haven’t noticed, is BOOMING!!! The Highlander, like most Crossovers, are not intended (or marketed) as "offroad" SUV's, but rather "tall cars" with great on-road manners. Other than it's looks, the Highlander seems to be on par with the other Midsized/Large crossovers out there. . . . it's just getting whooped in sales because it's ugly. . . .
CX-9
Acadia
Outlook
Enclave
Tribeca
Pilot
MDX
Q7
XL-7
These are just a few of the NEW Mid/Large CUV's that have come out in the last year. . . . Again, the CUV market is booming, the midsized SUV market is dying (see 4runner sales, down 18.8% YTD).
And as far as the minivan market. . . .it's been dying for years now.
Most people would rather have a stylish CUV than a handy minivan. A CUV does 90% of what a minivan does, and looks better doing it. . . . Most CUV's get as good (or better)mpg as a minivan as well. Sienna gets 17/23 mpg vs these CUV's:
CX-9 16/22
Highlander 18/24
Acadia/Outlook/Enclave 16/24
Tribeca 16/21
Pilot 16/22
__________________
-Behind every argument is someone’s ignorance.
-Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
I may have been wrong about MPG but the price is sure a big difference, the highlander is expensive, you can get a Sienna for cheaper. The Edge and GMU Crossovers are expensive and they have no minivans so they are the only alternative to a traditional SUV
Yeah, the Mini Van market has been in decline for quite sometime. Also in the U.S. there is this stigma with mini vans so...but with CUVs its the "in" thing so more people are switching over to that. CUVs are pretty much mini vans but no sliding door and lack of the name mini van. Its still a legit market as I see tons of them but its not a growing one.
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Im sure for toyota this was a big surprise, and a even bigger dissapointment! Highlander been all new and all that, too much to handle!
I wonder, will the sales recover??
The 2nd gen Highlander hasn't been out long enough to justify it as a failure. 6 months is usually the time it takes for a vehicle to become noticed in the marketplace, unless it's extensively marketed and hyped. People said the same thing of the Tundra when it first came out, and now look. Production is still ramping up. They can't count deposits as sales for the Highlander people are waiting for.
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is seeing sales from the all new highlander.... WOW, once again down!!! and this time, down an amazing 
. I was expecting something much nicer when they anounced the redesign; I actually wanted to buy one, until I saw it at the Chicago auto show last winter. Both myself and my wife stood in front of it for 10-15 seconds and thought: No way!
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