TrueCar Predictions: Detroit Loses Market Share In Strong August
Sales Forecasts August 2012Forecast TrueCarForecast KelleyUnitsYoYShareUnitsYoYShareChrysler142,5939.60%11.4%142,6009.60%11.2%Ford191,4569.50%15.3%191,6009.60%15.1%GM227,0873.90%18.1%225,9503.40%17.7%Honda133,45862.10%10.6%129,45057.30%10.2%Hyundai/Kia117,21217.60%9.3%119,66220.00%9.4%Nissan97,0226.00%7.7%105,00014.70%8.2%Toyota182,89641.30%14.6%176,95036.70%13.9%Volkswagen47,06932.80%3.7%53,50050.50%4.2%Industry1,255,39217.20%100.0%1,273,00018.70%100.0%
When U.S. August sales numbers will be announced next week, TrueCar expects them to be up strongly. The Santa Monica forecaster predicts August new light vehicle sales to be in the neighborhood of 1,255,392 units, up 17.2 percent from August 2011. TrueCar’s forecast would translate into a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (“SAAR”) of 14.2 million new car sales, up from 12.1 million in August 2011.
Echoing the sentiments of Kelley Blue Book, which rendered its August forecast a week ago, TrueCar thinks that the month will be less glorious for the domestics. Said Jesse Toprak, Vice President of Market Intelligence for TrueCar.com:
“Domestics continue to lose market share as the strength of the Japanese recovery continues. Volkswagen is quietly becoming a serious player whose growth can’t be ignored.”
TrueCar’s forecasts are pretty much in-line with those of Kelley.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Honda rocks.
I think that there are some slow times ahead for the auto industry. Gas prices are starting to creep up again and depending on where they land, truck sales could start to suffer. And trucks make up most of Detroit's profits. So alot of things could still happen. There are just alot of problems in the world economy and the future is up for grabs.
Lot's of cool competitive Detroit cars on the way or just entering the marketplace. Talked to some people today with a 2013 Escape and they were raving about the styling, performance and luxury. Dodge Darts, new Chevys and new Cadillacs on the way. 2013 Ram trucks will best the whole Japanese industry in truck technology and gas mileage instantly making the entire Toyota and Nissan truck lineups into antiques.
Now that Chrysler is onwed by the Italians, the import marketshare will forever be un-catchable by the remaining D-2. They can keep pumping up their fleet sales, but no amount of Rentibus, Impalas or Taurus's will make up the difference. Detroit will never be the center of the Automotive Universe again. Say goodbye to the 60's once and for all.