Topic: US Vehicle Sales

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Sorry guys and gals for the poor formatting of what should be a chart at the end.

Nameplate sales should be available in the coming days, with Canada following. US data:

OCTOBER SALES

U.S. auto sales rise 6.1 percent
GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan post gains

Dale Jewett  |   |  Automotive News / November 1, 2006 - 1:19 pm / UPDATED: 11/1/2006 5:12 P.M.
 
DETROIT -- U.S. auto sales in October rose 6.1 percent from a year ago to 1,217,689 units as General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Nissan North America all posted gains.

DaimlerChrysler and American Honda Motor Co. saw sales drop during the month, although American Honda's decline was a slight 0.2 percent from last year.

After 10 months, U.S. auto sales this year are down 2.9 percent from the same period last year to 13,928,582 units. Of the top six automakers, only Toyota Motor and American Honda have gained sales this year.

Sales at GM in October were up 17.3 percent from a year ago, while sales at Ford Motor were up 8.0 percent. Both automakers were helped by comparisons with year-ago sales. Last October sales were down markedly in the wake of incentive-fueled big summer sales and high gasoline prices after hurricane Katrina.

DaimlerChrysler sales were down1.6 percent from October 2005 to 180,209 units.

Toyota Motor's October sales were up 9.2 percent from a year ago to 189,011 -- a record for the month, Toyota said.

Meanwhile, Nissan North America's U.S. sales in October rose 3.9 percent from a year ago to 75,095, helped by the Nissan Versa small car and redesigned Sentra. It was the third month this year the automaker has seen a sales gain.

Automakers said lower gasoline prices drove a rebound in sales of some trucks and SUVs -- pricey vehicles that were shunned by American car buyers earlier this year when fuel prices spiked and that remain a mainstay of revenue for Detroit.

"The real pressure point we saw in April, May has eased," GM sales analyst Paul Ballew said. "We have at least taken the real intense pressure off on those categories that we saw when the gas price was around $3 a gallon."

INVENTORIES IN FOCUS

The Detroit 3 - the domestic brands of GM, Ford and the Chrysler group -- have been struggling to manage inventories of unsold 2006 models under pressure from their dealers, who have slowed orders because of the higher cost of financing unsold vehicles.

Ford Motor said discounts on its 2006 models combined with steep production cuts drove down its inventory in October, particularly for pickups and SUVs such as the Ford Explorer and Expedition.

Inventory for Ford Motor's mass-market brands -- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury -- dropped by 30,000 units in October from September to reach 622,000 units. Of that total, 69 percent were trucks, and 76 percent were 2007 models, the company said.

Ford sales analyst George Pipas said: "Obviously it's been painful these last few months -- in the second quarter and third quarter --to see such a reduction in SUV sales; but I do think we have our inventories more aligned with demand, and that's a positive thing as we head into 2007."

GM said its own inventory was near 1 million units, including about 125,000 large SUVs and 250,000 pickups.

Ballew said the inventory was too high for the large SUV category and production would be cut accordingly. The segment has been an area of strength for GM this year, based on the launch of new models such as the Yukon.

GM and Ford both pulled back on sales incentives in October, while the Chrysler group increased its discount offerings slightly in a bid to clear inventory, according to an analysis by auto tracking Web site Edmunds.com.

The Chrysler group spent an average of $4,214 per vehicle in October, compared with $3,278 for Ford and $2,497 for GM, Edmunds.com said today.

Reuters contributed to this report.
 
 Oct. Oct. Pct. 10 mos. 10 mos. Pct.
 2006 2005 chng. 2006 2005 chng.
BMW* 24,492 25,666 –4.6% 254,576 251,586 1.2%
DaimlerChrysler** 180,209 183,191 –1.6% 1,985,381 2,130,359 –6.8%
Ford Motor Co.*** 214,591 198,716 8.0% 2,488,525 2,687,254 –7.4%
General Motors**** 297,401 253,546 17.3% 3,437,282 3,792,988 –9.4%
American Honda† 110,624 110,895 –0.2% 1,271,134 1,223,812 3.9%
Hyundai Group†† 50,576 50,044 1.1% 631,833 615,601 2.6%
Isuzu 638 778 –18.0% 7,412 10,600 –30.1%
Mazda 18,843 19,504 –3.4% 228,082 221,367 3.0%
Mitsubishi 9,288 9,292 –% 99,392 105,420 –5.7%
Nissan††† 75,095 72,279 3.9% 851,459 908,204 –6.2%
Porsche 2,355 2,588 –9.0% 28,766 26,397 9.0%
Subaru 15,404 16,774 –8.2% 164,290 161,562 1.7%
Suzuki 5,950 6,246 –4.7% 87,278 69,732 25.2%
Toyota‡ 189,011 173,085 9.2% 2,117,507 1,887,351 12.2%
VW‡‡ 22,613 24,168 –6.4% 270,057 249,007 8.5%
Other (estimate) 599 530 13.0% 5,608 5,413 3.6%
TOTAL 1,217,689 1,147,302 6.1% 13,928,582 14,346,653 –2.9%
Numbers in this table are calculated by Automotive News based on actual monthly sales reported by the manufacturers and may differ from numbers reported elsewhere.
Source: Automotive News Data Center
Note: Other includes estimates for Ferrari, Lamborghini and Lotus
*Includes Mini and Rolls-Royce
**Includes Mercedes-Benz
***Includes Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo
****Includes Saab
†Includes Honda Division and Acura
††Includes Hyundai and Kia
†††Includes Nissan Division and Infiniti
‡Includes Toyota Division and Lexus
‡‡Includes VW, Audi and Bentley
 

[Snowman]

Can wing format a template you could populate on a monthly basis? 
 

[airbalancer]

Can wing format a template you could populate on a monthly basis? 
 

I agree , but maybe fearless leader is out testing a new ride at lunchtime

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Can wing format a template you could populate on a monthly basis? 
 

A PDF table will be available shortly when the nameplate sales come.

But if there's some other tool I could use, let me know.

[UmroAyyar]

I think PDF table is fine.

The text you posted can be formatted in Excel in less than 2 minutes, not sure if its worth the effort.

Essentially, you'll have to paste that data-table-text in Excel. Then using the menu 'Data---Text to Column' will conver the text in columns and you could save it as a web page, copy/paste the HTML code (it'll have proper table definition). Some text editing might be required.

OR.

You could format the data using the table-definition commands here.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

US nameplate sales, October '06...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

NOVEMBER AUTO SALES

Toyota outsells Ford, again
DaimlerChrysler also passes the Blue Oval

Dale Jewett  |   |  Automotive News / December 1, 2006 - 1:46 pm / UPDATED: 12/1/2006 4:11 P.M.
 
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. topped Ford Motor Co. in U.S. sales in November. It was the second time this year that the Japanese automaker has beat Ford Motor in monthly sales.

DaimlerChrysler also passed Ford Motor in U.S. sales in November, posting a 4.7 percent gain from a year ago. General Motors’ U.S. sales for the month rose 6.1 percent from November 2005.

In July, Toyota Motor Sales snuck past Ford Motor Co. by 1,815 units. But Toyota’s win in November was more decisive -- 15,749 units.

Record November for Toyota, Lexus

Toyota Motor rang up 196,696 sales in November, up 15.9 percent from the same month a year ago. Toyota Motor said sales for the Toyota and Lexus divisions were records for the month of November.

For the year to date, Toyota Motor’s sales totaled 2,314,203 units, up 12.5 percent from the same period last year.

Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. sales in November dropped 9.7 percent from the same month a year ago to 180,947 units. November 2005 also was a tough sales month for the automaker. The data include the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands.

For the year to date, Ford Motor’s U.S. sales are down 7.6 percent from the same period last year to 2,669,472 vehicles.

The gap narrows

Ford Motor is not in danger of being passed by Toyota Motor Sales this year. With one month of sales to go, Ford Motor holds a lead of 355,269 units.

But here’s a sign of the challenge facing Ford Motor: One year ago, Ford Motor’s year-to-date lead over Toyota Motor Sales was 830,723 units -- the gap has narrowed by 475,454 units this year.

George Pippas, Ford sales analysis manager, said who’s ahead or behind of Ford on the sales charts “is not that important right now in the scheme of things.”

Pippas said Ford is more focused on stabilizing its market share and improving retail sales.

GM, DaimlerChrysler post gains

While General Motors’ overall U.S. sales were up 6.1 percent in November, the automaker’s retail sales were up 11 percent for the month, said Paul Ballew, executive director of global market and industry analysis.

Ballew said the automaker is also pleased that its average transaction prices are up compared with a year ago. It plans to continue reducing low-profit sales to fleets.

For the year to date, GM’s U.S. sales are down 8.3 percent from the same period last year to 3,730,840 units.

The 4.7 percent increase in U.S. sales in November for DaimlerChrysler included a 3 percent increase for Chrysler group sales, the automaker said. It was the first sales gain for the Chrysler group in nine months.

DaimlerChrysler’s U.S. sales totaled 186,660 units in November, 5,713 units ahead of Ford Motor Co. For the year to date, DaimlerChrysler’s U.S. sales are down 5.9 percent from the same period last year to 2,172,041 units.

Among other automakers:


Nissan North America’s U.S. sales totaled 76,015 units in November, down 1.6 percent from a year ago. For the year to date, Nissan North America’s U.S. sales are down 5.9 percent from the same period last year to 927,474 units.

Brad Bradshaw, Nissan North America's sales chief, said the company's trucks fared poorly in November because Nissan refused to participate in the kind of incentives domestic automakers are putting on big trucks.


The Volkswagen group’s U.S. sales were flat in November from a year ago, with a gain of only 10 units to 26,541 units, as a record-setting sales month for Audi of America was offset by a decline at Volkswagen of America. For the year to date, the Volkswagen group’s U.S. sales are up 7.6 percent from the same period in 2005 to 296,598 units.


Mazda North American Operations got a boost from the CX-7 SUV as its U.S. sales rose 16.7 percent in November from a year ago. For the year to date, Mazda said it has sold 18,904 units of the CX-7. Mazda’s overall U.S. sales for the year to date are up 4.1 percent from last year to 248,874 units.


Mitsubishi Motors America Inc.’s U.S. sales in November totaled 9,256 units, up 4.0 percent from a year ago. The automaker said sales were propelled by the redesigned Outlander SUV. For the year to date, Mitsubishi’s U.S. sales are down 5.0 percent from the same period last year.


U.S. sales for Subaru of America Inc. in November rose 8.8 percent from a year ago to 15,800 units. Sales for the first 11 months of this year are up 2.3 percent from the same period in 2005.


American Suzuki Motor Corp.’s U.S. sales in November totaled 6,395 units, up 12.1 percent from a year earlier. For the year to date, American Suzuki’s sales are up 24.2 percent from the same period last year to 93,673 units.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
 Nov. Nov. Pct. 11 mos. 11 mos. Pct.
 2006 2005 chng. 2006 2005 chng.
BMW* 25,917 26,880 –3.6% 280,493 278,466 0.7%
DaimlerChrysler** 186,660 178,214 4.7% 2,172,041 2,308,573 –5.9%
Ford Motor Co.*** 180,947 200,485 –9.7% 2,669,472 2,887,739 –7.6%
General Motors**** 293,558 276,777 6.1% 3,730,840 4,069,765 –8.3%
American Honda† 106,446 105,860 0.6% 1,377,580 1,329,672 3.6%
Hyundai Group†† 50,620 53,474 –5.3% 682,453 669,075 2.0%
Isuzu 565 738 –23.4% 7,977 11,338 –29.6%
Mazda 20,792 17,817 16.7% 248,874 239,183 4.1%
Mitsubishi 9,256 8,902 4.0% 108,648 114,322 –5.0%
Nissan††† 76,015 77,212 –1.6% 927,474 985,416 –5.9%
Porsche 2,611 2,675 –2.4% 31,377 29,072 7.9%
Subaru 15,800 14,521 8.8% 180,090 176,083 2.3%
Suzuki 6,395 5,707 12.1% 93,673 75,439 24.2%
Toyota‡ 196,696 169,665 15.9% 2,314,203 2,057,016 12.5%
VW‡‡ 26,541 26,531 – 296,598 275,538 7.6%
Other (estimate) 571 585 –2.4% 6,180 5,998 3.0%
TOTAL 1,199,390 1,166,043 2.9% 15,127,973 15,512,695 –2.5%
Numbers in this table are calculated by Automotive News based on actual monthly sales reported by the manufacturers and may differ from numbers reported elsewhere.
Source: Automotive News Data Center
Note: Other includes estimates for Ferrari, Lamborghini and Lotus
*Includes Mini and Rolls-Royce
**Includes Mercedes-Benz
***Includes Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo
****Includes Saab
†Includes Honda Division and Acura
††Includes Hyundai and Kia
†††Includes Nissan Division and Infiniti
‡Includes Toyota Division and Lexus
‡‡Includes VW, Audi and Bentley

[MKII]

Ford Motor Company’s dealers delivered 182,259 vehicles to U.S. customers in November, down 10 percent compared with a year ago.

November car sales were 3 percent lower than a year ago, reflecting lower deliveries to fleet customers. Sales to individual retail customers were up reflecting higher sales for the company’s new mid-size sedans (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ). Fusion was up 66 percent, Milan was up 29 percent and MKZ was up 83 percent. These 2007 models feature standard side-air bags and available all-wheel drive.

Overall, truck sales were down 13 percent, but the company's all-new, full-size sport utility vehicles (Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator) posted higher sales. Expedition sales were up 14 percent and Navigator sales were up 65 percent.

U.S. Inventories Lower

At the end of November, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury inventories were estimated at 631,000 units. This level is 122,000 units lower than a year ago. The company estimates 85 percent of the inventory is new 2007 models.

North American Production

In the fourth quarter 2006, the company plans to produce 620,000 vehicles (240,000 cars and 380,000 trucks). This plan is 15,000 units lower than the previously-announced plan reflecting the temporary suspension of Freestar production at the Oakville Assembly Plant ( Ontario, Canada).

In the first quarter 2007, the company plans to produce 750,000 vehicles (240,000 cars and 510,000 trucks). In the first quarter 2006, the company produced 876,000 vehicles (316,000 cars and 560,000 trucks). Earlier, the company indicated first half 2007 production would be 8-12 percent lower than the first half 2006. The first quarter 2007 plan is consistent with the high end of this range.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061202/AUTO01/612020383/1148/AUTO01

[sirAQUAMAN64]

US nameplate sales, Nov '06...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/AUTO01/701040353/1148

[sirAQUAMAN64]

US nameplate sales, Dec '06 and YTD...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

JANUARY AUTO SALES

Ford, GM post big sales drops
Toyota Motor outsells Ford

Dale Jewett  |   |  Automotive News / February 1, 2007 - 1:58 pm / UPDATED: 2/1/2007 3:43 P.M.
 
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. outsold Ford Motor Co. in Janaury, as Ford Motor's U.S. sales dropped 19.0 percent from a year earlier.

Combined U.S. sales for the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands totaled 175,850 units in January, up 9.5 percent from a year ago.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor's U.S. sales in January totaled 165,688 units. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, Ford had warned that its January sales would be down about 20 percent, citing a reduction in lower-profit sales to rental fleets.

It was not the first month that Toyota Motor had surpassed Ford Motor in U.S. sales. But it gave the Japanese automaker a lead in a year in which many analysts expect it will top Ford Motor in U.S. sales and overtake GM on a global basis.

Ford, which is racing to cut jobs and shutter plants as its market share declines, said its retail sales had declined by about 5 percent in the month.

Sales of its market-leading F-series pickups were down 15 percent in January.

"We are focused on getting this business back to profitability, full stop," Ford's chief sales analyst George Pipas said. "Where we are in sales races and rankings or where people forecast we are going to be is a distraction we are not going to be bothered with."

Closing on the leader
General Motors was the top-ranked automaker in U.S. sales for the month. It posted sales of 244,614 units in January, a 16.6 percent drop from January 2006. GM says it also is dialing back sales to rental fleets.

GM posted higher sales for its recently introduced pickups in January. Retail sales of the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups were up 7 percent in the month, the company said.

GM trimmed its planned first-quarter production in North America by 3.6 percent from its plan of a month earlier, cutting expected output by 40,000 units to 1.08 million.

GM said it was making the production cut in conjunction with an earlier announced move away from lower-margin fleet sales and a need to manage inventories.

"For us it was not a great sales month, but we're doing OK, and more importantly we continue to execute according to plan," said Paul Ballew, GM's chief sales analyst.

Toyota Motor is eating into GM's U.S. sales lead. One year ago, GM led Toyota Motor in U.S. sales by 132,506 units. In January, GM's lead over Toyota was sliced almost in half to 68,764 units.

Toyota's sales rise marked its 20th consecutive monthly sales gain and reflected strong sales of its cars, including the Toyota Camry, Lexus ES 350 and Lexus LS 460.

January was also a strong month for American Honda Motor Co. Combined U.S. sales of the Honda and Acura brands rose 2.4 percent from a year ago to 100,790 units -- a record for the month, the automaker said.

American Honda said sales for the month were driven by redesigned versions of its SUVs --the Honda CR-V, and Acura MDX and RDX.

Audi sets record

A record month for Audi helped propel the Volkswagen group's U.S. sales to 23,251 units in January, up 3.2 percent from a year earlier.

Audi of America said its U.S. sales totaled 6,399 units in January, up 5.2 percent from a year earlier, setting a record for the month. It credited the A4 sedan and the Q7 SUV for the gains. U.S. sales for the Volkswagen brand were up 2.3 percent to 16,610 units, the automaker said.

January was a positive month for American Suzuki Motor Corp. Its sales of 8,179 were up 13.4 percent from January 2006.

But U.S. sales declined in January for Porsche Cars North America and Subaru of America.

Porsche's U.S. sales fell 7.7 percent from a year ago to 2,984 units in January.

Subaru started the year with U.S. sales of 12,074 units, down 2.5 percent from a year earlier.

Reuters contributed to this report.


 Jan. Jan. Pct. 1 mos. 1 mos. Pct.
 2007 2006 chng. 2007 2006 chng.
BMW* 21,845 22,250 –1.8% 21,845 22,250 –1.8%
DaimlerChrysler** 173,396 167,956 3.2% 173,396 167,956 3.2%
Ford Motor Co.*** 165,688 204,523 –19.0% 165,688 204,523 –19.0%
General Motors**** 244,614 293,131 –16.6% 244,614 293,131 –16.6%
American Honda† 100,790 98,394 2.4% 100,790 98,394 2.4%
Hyundai Group†† 50,245 48,318 4.0% 50,245 48,318 4.0%
Isuzu 500 708 –29.4% 500 708 –29.4%
Mazda – – –% – – –%
Mitsubishi 9,383 7,469 25.6% 9,383 7,469 25.6%
Nissan††† 82,644 75,891 8.9% 82,644 75,891 8.9%
Porsche 2,984 3,232 –7.7% 2,984 3,232 –7.7%
Subaru 12,074 12,384 –2.5% 12,074 12,384 –2.5%
Suzuki 8,179 7,210 13.4% 8,179 7,210 13.4%
Toyota‡ 175,850 160,625 9.5% 175,850 160,625 9.5%
VW‡‡ 23,251 22,530 3.2% 23,251 22,530 3.2%
Other (estimate) 604 553 9.2% 604 553 9.2%
TOTAL 1,072,047 1,125,174 –4.7% 1,050,202 1,102,924 –4.7%

[sirAQUAMAN64]

US January manufacturer sales chart - http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/misc/zoom.pbs&Site=C3&Date=20070202&Category=AUTO01&ArtNo=702020385&Ref=H3&Profile=1148

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/AUTO01/702020385/1148

A NEW BIG 3?

Ford falls to 4th in Jan. sales

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

For the first time in recent memory, Ford Motor Co. fell to No. 4 in U.S. auto sales behind General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, demonstrating just how far the automaker has fallen as it battles to stop a decade-long decline in market share.

At the same time, the Detroit automakers' share of the American auto market fell to just 50.6 percent in January as they narrowly avoided selling fewer cars and trucks than foreign makers in a month for the first time ever.

In November, Ford came in at No. 4 behind GM, Toyota, and Chrysler parent DaimlerChrysler AG, but those results included the automakers' foreign brands.

Last month, Ford's domestic brands -- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury -- were outsold by Chrysler's U.S. brands -- Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.

Ford's U.S. brand sales dropped 19.6 percent to 153,026 vehicles in January, while demand for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep models rose slightly to 156,308 units.

Ford sales analyst George Pipas dismissed Ford's slide in the rankings as irrelevant. "Where we are in sales races is a distraction we're not going to be bothered with," he said.

While analysts said Chrysler could tumble back behind Ford this year, January's topsy-turvy numbers show how irrelevant the old realities that once defined Detroit have become.

Ford attributed most of its January decline to a planned reduction in sales to car rental companies, a strategy the automaker said will make it stronger in the long run.

"(We) are focused on restructuring our business to be profitable at lower volumes," said Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas Group. "Our customers benefit from this plan because their vehicles' residual values will improve -- a trend we already are seeing with our newest products."

It was a theme echoed by rival GM, which also saw a big drop in sales that it blamed on a deliberate cut in sales to daily rental fleets. Overall, GM's sales were down 16.7 percent, with 242,252 vehicles sold compared to 290,935 a year ago.

Paul Ballew, GM's executive director for global market and industry analysis, said the company has been weaning itself off the daily rental business for the past couple of years and expects that to continue for several more months.

"There's more tough medicine coming on the rental side," he said, adding that GM hopes to cut its sales to rental agencies by about 200,000 units annually.

Fleet sales are an easy way to boost market share and move inventory, but they generally create little profit and cause a lot of damage to a brand by driving down resale values and filling the highways with stripped-down versions of an automaker's cars and trucks.

"It's a good sign that they're de-emphasizing fleet," said George Magliano, director of North American auto industry research for Global Insight in New York. "The business isn't very profitable."

Ford's sales to car rental companies were down 65 percent compared to January 2006.

Overall fleet sales -- including those to more profitable corporate and government fleets -- represented 28 percent of Ford sales for the month, compared to 39 percent last January.

GM's overall fleet business was down 30 percent year-over-year, with sales to daily rental fleets down about 40 percent.

While both Ford and GM said cutting back on sales to rental car companies is an important part of their North American turnaround strategies, both automakers also saw a decline last month in retail sales to consumers.

GM's retail sales were down 8 percent for the month and Ballew acknowledged the company had been hoping for better results.

"January was certainly not a stellar month," he said. "We were modestly down from where we expected to be."

Ford's retail sales were down about 5 percent year-over-year, proof that it is continuing to give ground to foreign rivals including Toyota and Honda Motor Co.

Toyota's U.S. sales totaled 175,850 units, a 9.5 percent increase that made last month the company's best January ever.

Honda posted a more modest 2.4 percent gain, selling 100,790 cars and trucks in January, while Nissan Motor Co. sold 82,644 vehicles -- up 8.9 percent.

Both Ford and GM suggested that Chrysler was picking up some of their unwanted fleet sales.

"DaimlerChrysler has jumped in a big way," Ballew said. "So has Hyundai/Kia."

But Chrysler suggested its competitors were trying to deflect attention from their own problems.

Steven Landry, Chrysler's vice president of sales and field operations, said his company's daily rental business was down 10 percent last month and will continue to fall throughout 2007.

"Our overall three-year plan is to continue to bring it down over time," Landry said, crediting new products for most of Chrysler's gains -- a claim supported by analyst Alex Rosten of the online auto research site Edmunds.com.

He said daily rental companies are scaling back purchases and keeping vehicles longer. "No one's picking up the slack because the slack isn't there," Rosten said.

Partly as a result of declining fleet sales, GM said Thursday that it will cut first-quarter production by another 40,000 vehicles to better match supply with demand.

January is always a tough month to read. Bad weather often keeps retail customers at home, and it is also the month in which automakers get the payback for year-end sales incentives.

[safristi]

WHO IS FILLING the rental fleet shortfall....LEXUS !!!! MAYBACH??

[UmroAyyar]

Toyota and Hyundai are filling the fleet sales void now.

I often see nicer looking Camry than mine as Taxi. 

[safristi]

  Yeah I BET   and NOT AS BANGED UP.......

[G35X]

Just for your comparison purpose the following is the passenger vehicle sales in Januay this year in Japan ("kei" cars included):
Source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA)

Japanese population: 127 mil, a little more than 1/3 of U.S.

Passenger Vehicle sales in Japan, January 2007

Daihatsu---------37,712
Honda-----------31,216
Honda import-------315
Isuzu----------------1
Lexus------------4,123
Mazda-----------18,139
Mitsubishi--------11,866
Nissan-----------45,377
Nissan import---------9
Subaru------------9,538
Suzuki----------- 40,954
Toyota-----------96,923
Toyota import-------713

Alfa Romeo---------214
Audi---------------680
Bentley-------------32
BMW-------------1,831
BMW Alpina-----------2
BMW MINI----------744
Cadillac-------------30
Chevrolet-----------242
Chrysler------------211
Citroen-------------142
Ferrari   ------------38
Fiat----------------110
Ford---------------404
Hummer-------------61
Hyundai------------153
Jaguar   ----------151
Jeep---------------102
Lamborghini----------14
Land Rover----------70
Lotus---------------35
Maserati------------ 21
Maybach-------------2
Mercedes-Benz---2,489
Opel-----------------3
Peugeot------------382
Porsche------------272
Renault------------188
Roｌｌs Royce----------6
Saab---------------16
Smart--------------56
Volvo--------------560
VW--------------3,087
Others--------------56
   
Total-----------308,256
Total last year--325,364
2007/2006---------94.7%

[Cord]

Isuzu has a ways to go. 

[tpl]

I do like to see that the Japanese  buy BMWs and M-Bs.  Those Chevrolet and Cadillac sales are presumably to GIs about to go home ?