U.S. Car Sales: Forward, March!
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 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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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?
WOW did Ford fleet dump last month...