Blame Sandy: October New Car Sales Could Become A Victim

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

U.S. automakers release October sales data this week. If they don’t come in to their liking, they can blame a villain everybody hates: Super Sandy. GM already took precautionary measures and told Reuters that vehicle sales in the Northeast will be hurt by the hurricane.

On top of deluged dealers up and down the East Coast comes the fact that GM’s Maryland transmission plant had to be closed on Tuesday. Not to worry: The plant is expected to reopen today.

A dealer consultant consulted by Automotive News expects a sales dip in November:

“Typically there is a sales dip the first 30 days after a hurricane. Sales levels rise to levels higher than normal 60 to 90 days after the storm, Phillips said. Despite the initial sales loss, shoppers will come back and sales will level out in the long term.”

Forecasters expect October sales to rise between 10.5 and 11.5 percent.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

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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  • MrWhopee MrWhopee on Oct 31, 2012

    I can certainly believe that the Chrysler sitting there in the water would have "the lowest price anywhere".

  • NulloModo NulloModo on Oct 31, 2012

    The market for used vehicles could jump soon - insurance companies are going to be writing a lot of total loss checks in the near future. On the other hand, if you're looking for a used car, especially in the northeast, it might make sense to jump on it now before the market gets muddied with a lot of reconditioned flood cars that may or may not have their provenance revealed on the carfax.

    • Considering how many cars have been totalled - as well as houses, this is an opportunity for new car sales and used car sales. But, you'd be a fool to buy from some dealers who may have water damaged car. I don't see myself shopping in NJ or Far Rockaway or Manhattan for example.

  • 84Cressida 84Cressida on Oct 31, 2012

    Can't think of a better place for that wretched 200.

  • Geekcarlover Geekcarlover on Oct 31, 2012

    Coming soon to a corner used car lot near you. Cheap, nearly new cars. Just ignore that overwhelming Lysol/Febreze smell.

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