U.S. Car Sales: Forward, March!

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Despite high gas prices and a still shaky economy, customers appear to be tired of their old cars and frequented the surviving car dealers en masse in March. Better inventories, juicy lease deals and new models light a fire under sales. We will update this table throughout the day as new numbers come in.

Chrysler continued its winning streak with group sales up 34 percent, sales of the Chrysler brand are up a whopping 70 percent. Up 5 percent, Ford reports more sedate numbers. GM is up a healthy 12 percent in March, and 3 percent for the year.

Amongst the transplants, Nissan’s sales climbed 12.5 percent. Volkswagen reports a a gain of 34.6 percent for the VW brand, group sales rose 30 percent.

Automaker Mar. 2012 Mar. 2011 Pct. chng.YTD 2012YTD 2011 Pct. chng.BMW Group29,83826,41213%75,82565,04717%BMW division23,94020,29518%61,54952,61617%Mini5,8666,087–4%14,18012,34115%Rolls-Royce32307%96907%BMW Group29,83826,41213%75,82565,04717%Chrysler Group163,381121,73034%398,051286,95039%Chrysler Division34,72620,46370%79,33842,79685%Dodge52,07644,10218%126,222101,97724%Dodge/Ram79,81967,61218%195,717158,80123%Fiat3,712500642%8,8505001670%Jeep45,12433,15536%114,14684,85335%Ram27,74323,51018%69,49556,82422%Chrysler Group163,381121,73034%398,051286,95039%Daimler AG25,51222,97411%66,92557,28117%Maybach4333%12933%Mercedes-Benz24,50922,5469%64,64955,99516%Smart USA999425135%2,2641,26779%Daimler AG25,51222,97411%66,92557,28117%Ford Motor Co.222,884212,2955%537,822495,5089%Ford division214,081203,7945%516,986475,2539%Lincoln8,8038,5014%20,83620,0074%Mercury–––%–248–100%Ford Motor Co.222,884212,2955%537,822495,5089%General Motors231,052206,62112%608,320592,5463%Buick13,10515,663–16%37,33644,739–17%Cadillac10,53712,164–13%30,96640,513–24%Chevrolet173,073148,19717%448,134416,5058%GMC34,33730,59712%91,88490,7891%General Motors231,052206,62112%608,320592,5463%Honda126,999133,650–5%320,165307,9784%Acura11,16612,611–12%30,80531,368–2%Honda Division115,833121,039–4%289,360276,6105%Honda 126,999133,650–5%320,165307,9784%Hyundai Group127,233106,05120%301,633247,39322%Hyundai division69,72861,87313%163,573142,62015%Kia57,50544,17830%138,060104,77332%Hyundai Group127,233106,05120%301,633247,39322%Jaguar Land Rover5,5204,31528%13,98710,76830%Jaguar1,32187451%3,3282,50133%Land Rover4,1993,44122%10,6598,26729%Jaguar Land Rover5,5204,31528%13,98710,76830%Maserati25720029%60247327%Maserati25720029%60247327%Mazda32,37630,9055%82,02364,55927%Mazda32,37630,9055%82,02364,55927%Mitsubishi7,1607,560–5%16,60720,167–18%Mitsubishi7,1607,560–5%16,60720,167–18%Nissan136,317121,14113%322,361285,35813%Infiniti10,18511,287–10%26,22027,836–6%Nissan Division126,132109,85415%296,141257,52215%Nissan136,317121,14113%322,361285,35813%Porsche2,4602,588–5%7,1597,0072%Porsche2,4602,588–5%7,1597,0072%Saab Cars –830–100%–2,069–100%Saab–830–100%–2,069–100%Subaru32,38726,91620%80,56867,45719%Subaru32,38726,91620%80,56867,45719%Suzuki2,6312,4975%6,5616,702–2%Suzuki2,6312,4975%6,5616,702–2%Toyota203,282176,22215%487,283433,92412%Lexus20,14020,682–3%49,09647,3564%Scion6,6945,54021%15,17112,75919%Toyota division176,448150,00018%423,016373,80913%Toyota/Scion183,142155,54018%438,187386,56813%Toyota203,282176,22215%487,283433,92412%Volkswagen48,37937,13130%124,29392,74234%Audi11,5859,81818%29,47025,38316%Bentley20613750%45032041%VW division36,58827,17635%94,37367,03941%Volkswagen48,37937,13130%124,29392,74234%Volvo Cars NA6,6936,3695%16,41815,4406%Volvo Cars NA6,6936,3695%16,41815,4406%Other (estimate)2622553%7867653%TOTAL1,404,6231,246,66213% 3,467,389 3,060,12413%

Final table courtesy Automotive News [sub]

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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  • Speed3 Speed3 on Apr 04, 2012

    Oh just a few other observations, why isn't Maserati grouped with Chrysler. Isn't it part of Fiat. And speaking of Italian exotics, is it safe to assume that Ferrari and Lamborghini are lumped in the "other" category?

  • 86SN2001 86SN2001 on Apr 04, 2012

    WOW did Ford fleet dump last month...

    • See 2 previous
    • Mike978 Mike978 on Apr 04, 2012

      @DanielCTA 86 - are you suggesting Ford is lying? You might not like the Focus and Fusion but both have been good sellers for Ford. If their sales went up 5% and retail by 9% then fleet must have gone down. And if they increased fleet in Fusion and Focus then they musty have cut massively on something else - any suggestions?

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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