2011 Car Sales Around The World: December Surprise In The U.S.A.

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

U.S. December sales results, and with December, full year results begin to roll in. What we see so far looks like a December surprise: Numbers come in stronger than expected by analysts. Chrysler is up 37 percent in December and 26 percent for the year. GM is up only 5 percent in December, but 13 percent for the year. Ford up 10 percent in December, 9 percent for the year. Volkswagen surprises with 36 percent up in December and 26 percent for the year. Subaru up 26 percent in December, but only one percent for the year. Toyota ( not on the list yet) reports a flat December and the year down by 7 percent.

Table after the jump. Watch this page for more updates. Data courtesy Automotive News [sub]

Note: Sales for BMW and Daimler are estimates by Automotive News, as both companies have not reported yet. The totals remain preliminary also.

December U.S. Light Vehicle Sales

(Developing table)

BMW Group32,23027,64317%305,421266,26915% BMW division26,70023,28015%247,773220,11313% Mini5,5004,32027%57,30045,64426% Rolls-Royce3043–30%348512–32%BMW Group32,23027,64317%305,421266,26915%Chrysler Group138,019100,70237%1,369,1141,085,21126% Chrysler Division23,97413,13283%221,346197,44612% Dodge41,54832,39028%451,040383,67518% Dodge/Ram68,14356,66020%708,650596,62719% Fiat2,325––%19,769––% Jeep43,57730,91041%419,349291,13844% Ram26,59524,27010%257,610212,95221%Chrysler Group138,019100,70237%1,369,1141,085,21126%Daimler AG27,80022,04426%266,811230,93416% Maybach–5–100%4063–37% Mercedes-Benz27,10021,46926%261,573224,94416% Smart USA70057023%5,1985,927–12%Daimler AG27,80022,04426%266,811230,93416% Ford Motor Co. 209,447190,19110%2,143,1011,964,0599% Ford division201,044173,73816%2,057,2101,752,51117% Ford/Lincoln/Mercury209,447190,19110%2,143,1011,931,53411% Lincoln8,4038,0604%85,64385,8280% Mercury–8,393–100%24893,195100% Volvo–––%–32,525–100%Ford Motor Co.209,447190,19110%2,143,1011,964,0599%General Motors234,351224,1475%2,503,7972,211,69913% Buick14,97417,095–12%177,633155,38914% Cadillac16,25916,718–3%152,389146,9254% Chevrolet161,158147,9389%1,775,8021,563,88114% GMC41,96042,1430%397,973333,20419% Hummer–38–100%–3,812–100% Pontiac–130–100%–1,182–100% Saab–––%–608–100% Saturn–85–100%–6,698–100%General Motors234,351224,1475%2,503,7972,211,69913%Honda (American)105,230129,616–19%1,147,2851,230,480–7% Acura13,12915,489–15%123,299133,606–8% Honda Division92,101114,127–19%1,023,9861,096,874–7%Honda (American)105,230129,616–19%1,147,2851,230,480–7%Hyundai Group94,15575,24625%1,131,183894,49627% Hyundai division50,76544,80213%645,691538,22820% Kia43,39030,44443%485,492356,26836%Hyundai Group94,15575,24625%1,131,183894,49627%Jaguar Land Rover5,8804,87521%50,37545,20411% Jaguar1,1371,180–4%12,27613,340–8% Land Rover4,7433,69528%38,09931,86420%Jaguar Land Rover5,8804,87521%50,37545,20411%Maserati23818032%2,3211,89722%Maserati23818032%2,3211,89722%Mazda22,35321,4794%250,426229,5669%Mazda22,35321,4794%250,426229,5669%Mitsubishi5,0324,8743%79,02055,68342%Mitsubishi5,0324,8743%79,02055,68342%Nissan100,92793,7308%1,042,534908,57015% Infiniti10,99012,502–12%98,461103,411–5% Nissan Division89,93781,22811%944,073805,15917%Nissan100,92793,7308%1,042,534908,57015%Porsche1,8342,567–29%29,02325,32015%Porsche1,8342,567–29%29,02325,32015%Saab Cars North America2701,074–75%5,6104,83816%Saab Cars North America2701,074–75%5,6104,83816%Subaru33,70126,69426%266,989263,8201%Subaru33,70126,69426%266,989263,8201%Suzuki2,5652,647–3%26,61823,99411%Suzuki2,5652,647–3%26,61823,99411%Toyota178,131177,4880%1,644,6601,763,595–7% Lexus25,35527,560–8%198,552229,329–13% Scion4,1593,9565%49,27145,6788% Toyota division148,617145,9722%1,396,8371,488,588–6% Toyota/Scion152,776149,9282%1,446,1081,534,266–6%Toyota178,131177,4880%1,644,6601,763,595–7%Volkswagen45,47434,61031%443,840359,88923% Audi12,65510,54620%117,561101,62916% Bentley31719761%1,8771,43031% VW division32,50223,86736%324,402256,83026%Volkswagen45,47434,61031%443,840359,88923%Volvo Cars NA5,3424,75612%67,24021,423214%Volvo Cars NA5,3424,75612%67,24021,423214%Other (estimate)2512433%2,9672,8972%TOTAL1,243,2301,144,8069%12,778,33511,589,84410%
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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  • Majorfrn Majorfrn on Jan 04, 2012

    I suppose someone might as well bring on the comments now about how Sergio Marchionne had nothing to do with Chrysler's results. But if you do think he had something to do with it, you might be interested in: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kiley/chrysler-sergio-marchionne_b_1175109.html

    • See 5 previous
    • Geozinger Geozinger on Jan 05, 2012

      @Guzzi: My only concern about Marchionne is the fact that many people are lauding his achievements in turning around Chrysler, when he had little to do with the current product. That was all Cerberus. We should remember however, it was Cerberus' attempt to sell Chrysler off to the first willing fool, I mean buyer. The Automotive Task Force took that chore away from the BK courts and Cerberus. Marchionne is a lucky guy, really. He got lots of money from GM from the screwed up acquisition deal, but used it wisely. It looks like (maybe) he will be wise with the gift from the US Government, too. I hate to see the day come again where Mopar is funding the efforts of a foreign manufacturer and not getting anything in return. I'm talking directly about the situation with Mercedes Benz. It's too bad they didn't put a "treat it nice or we'll take it back clause" in there. The reality is they wouldn't have, because they (the gov't.) really doesn't want it back...

  • Supremebrougham Supremebrougham on Jan 04, 2012

    Well I did my part, I bought a new Ford last month. FWIW, the dealership in the above video is located in Saginaw, MI. I bought a car from them once, They were a real class act, I would do business with them again.

  • ToolGuy First picture: I realize that opinions vary on the height of modern trucks, but that entry door on the building is 80 inches tall and hits just below the headlights. Does anyone really believe this is reasonable?Second picture: I do not believe that is a good parking spot to be able to access the bed storage. More specifically, how do you plan to unload topsoil with the truck parked like that? Maybe you kids are taller than me.
  • ToolGuy The other day I attempted to check the engine oil in one of my old embarrassing vehicles and I guess the red shop towel I used wasn't genuine Snap-on (lots of counterfeits floating around) plus my driveway isn't completely level and long story short, the engine seized 3 minutes later.No more used cars for me, and nothing but dealer service from here on in (the journalists were right).
  • Doughboy Wow, Merc knocks it out of the park with their naming convention… again. /s
  • Doughboy I’ve seen car bras before, but never car beards. ZZ Top would be proud.
  • Bkojote Allright, actual person who knows trucks here, the article gets it a bit wrong.First off, the Maverick is not at all comparable to a Tacoma just because they're both Hybrids. Or lemme be blunt, the butch-est non-hybrid Maverick Tremor is suitable for 2/10 difficulty trails, a Trailhunter is for about 5/10 or maybe 6/10, just about the upper end of any stock vehicle you're buying from the factory. Aside from a Sasquatch Bronco or Rubicon Jeep Wrangler you're looking at something you're towing back if you want more capability (or perhaps something you /wish/ you were towing back.)Now, where the real world difference should play out is on the trail, where a lot of low speed crawling usually saps efficiency, especially when loaded to the gills. Real world MPG from a 4Runner is about 12-13mpg, So if this loaded-with-overlander-catalog Trailhunter is still pulling in the 20's - or even 18-19, that's a massive improvement.
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