Feds Predict The Future Of The Auto Industry, Foresee Chrysler Freefall, GM Stagnation

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer
Automaker2008 model year2025 model year% ChangeAston Martin1,3701,182-13%BMW353,120550,66556%Chrysler-Fiat1,659,950768,241-54%Daimler287,330441,78654%Ferrari1,4507,658428%Ford1,770,8932,224,58626%Greely/Volvo98,397143,69646%General Motors3,095,1883,197,9433%Honda1,511,7791,898,01826%Hyundai391,027845,386116%Kia281,452460,43664%Lotus25231625%Mazda302,546368,17222%Mitsubishi100,729109,6929%Nissan1,023,4151,441,22941%Porsche37,70651,91538%Spyker/Saab25,95626,6053%Subaru198,581331,69267%Suzuki114,658124,5289%Tata/Jaguar-Land Rover65,180122,22388%Tesla80031,9743897%Toyota2,211,5003,318,06950%Volkswagen318,482784,447146%TOTAL13,851,76117,250,45925%

Reasonable minds can disagree about the wisdom of the auto bailout, but according to analysis by the EPA and Department of Transportation (based on data from the Department of Energy and auto forecasters CSM), the Government’s rescue of GM and Chrysler may not have been the best idea (at least from a market perspective). According to data buried in the EPA/DOT proposed rule for 2017-2025 fuel economy standards [ PDF here], Fiat-Chrysler is predicted to be the sick man of the auto industry by 2025, losing over half of its 2008 sales volume, while GM is expected to improve by only 3%, the second-worst projected performance (after Aston-Martin). In terms of percentages, even lowly Suzuki and Mitsubishi are projected to grow faster than The Mighty General. Ouch.

On the other hand, the proposed rule notes that data will be finalized before the final rule comes out. Besides, the agencies appropriately admit (in as many words) that projecting auto sales so far into the future is one hell of a crapshoot. Still, with the obvious exception of “Saab-Spyker” and with some skepticism about the projection’s optimism about overall market growth aside, these are not the craziest guesses I could imagine. Who knows what the future holds, but it certainly is a bit troubling that the government’s own data suggests the two automakers it bailed out may well have some of the weaker performances of the next 14 years. At least the Treasury could have sold off their remaining GM stock before this report was released…


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Dec 23, 2011

    Such long-range predictions will match the quality of global warming predictions, or Popular Science future car stories from the 70s.

    • Loser Loser on Dec 23, 2011

      Or the global cooling predictions of the 70's.

  • Volt 230 Volt 230 on Dec 23, 2011

    "Tesla almost 4,000% HA HA HA funny crap this is" , says Yoda

  • Kevin I traded in my 2022 Civic Si after a year and this is one factor. It is Sep. 24 and still no recall, just a TSB so Honda can sweep it under the rug.This plus a terrible engine/tuning, bad safety tech, missing features, and the most rattling interior I've ever heard ensured I won't be buying another Honda ever again and I've loved Honda since the 2000's. They are not the same brand, or they are the same but cars are more complicated so the cracks really show now. Either way people were also having steering issues with the 10th gen civics also and Honda ignored them. Don't buy a Honda please. Everything about my Si besides the handling felt like a beta car, not a complete product.
  • 1995 SC Blazer
  • Jalop1991 you know, I can't help but remember the Dilbert cartoon where Dilbert commented to the janitor about how Dilbert has two cans under his desk, one for trash and one for recycling, but he's noticed that the janitor who comes around at night has only one large can. This is all smoke and mirrors. Mark my words, we will see stories down the road about place like this taking the recycling fees and dumping the batteries in a pit in some third world country.
  • Arthur Dailey Forget the 90`s. The cars and their names were largely forgettable. Bring back real car names. Wildcat. Riviera. Spitfire. Interceptor. Pinto (as someone else noted). Corvair. Speedwagon. Matador. Imperial. de Ville. Or even better Packard, Hudson, Studebaker, De Soto and Dusenberg. If VW can resurrect the Bugatti name, then why not?
  • Macmcmacmac Aztec.
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