Daily Auto News Auto Sales Hit Historic Low in 2009
Daily Auto News
With a difficult year finally behind them, automakers published final sales tallies for 2009 this week – and the numbers were staggering. By some estimates, the industry suffered its worst year since the early 1970’s. Still, automakers are encouraged by a late year uptick in sales, and many believe a slow recovery is underway.
The Detroit News reports, “Automakers emerging from the worst year since 1970 are cautiously optimistic that a recovery is under way after last year’s collapse in U.S. auto sales. Industry executives and analysts said Tuesday they expect car and light truck sales to rise to 11.5 million or more this year from 10.4 million in 2009, bolstered by a strengthening economy.” That’s still a long way, however, from the 2001 peak of 17.4 million.
The U.S. lost its place as the world’s most significant auto market in 2009. MarketWatch notes, “New data this week showed China …overtaking the U.S. in domestic auto sales.” Chinese consumers “bought 10.43 million vehicles in the January-November period.” Though December figures weren’t available, that means that the Chinese bought more cars in the first 11 months of the year than Americans bought in 12 – the first time the Chinese market has ever outperformed the U.S.
Only three major automakers sold more cars in the U.S. in 2009 than in 2008. Autoblog reports, “Subaru, Kia and Hyundai (in that order) were the three brands to post an overall sales increase in 2009, with Subaru posting a double-digit rise of 15 percent. With 216,652 sales overall, Subaru now sells more vehicles in the U.S. than Volkswagen and Mazda, two direct competitors with larger lineups.”
Toyota, by most measures the world’s largest automaker, saw sales decline by “just over 20 percent for the year,” the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The AP adds, “Nissan Motor Co. sales decreased 19 percent to 770,103 units, and Honda Motor Co. declined 19 percent to 1.15 million units.”
All three domestic automakers saw sales drops, but Ford emerged as the clear winner among the Big Three – its sales fell by about 15 percent, while General Motors posted a 30 percent decrease for the year, and Chrysler 36 percent.
GM’s sales drop, however, may be misleading. Autoblog notes, “Saab, Hummer, Pontiac and Saturn managed to weigh down the company’s sales performance.” GM plans to shutter or sell all four brands early in 2010.
Chrysler’s results were sobering by any measure. The Wall Street Journal reports, “For the full year, Chrysler sold 931,402 vehicles, the first time since 1962 it has sold fewer than one million cars and trucks. … In two years, Chrysler’s sales have fallen 55%. Chrysler no longer conducts monthly sales calls with reporters and analysts.” Chrysler fell to fifth place overall in the U.S. auto market – the first time since its founding that it has finished out of the top four.
Still, analysts see reasons for optimism. The New York Times reports, “Automakers expect the year ahead to be much less turbulent than 2009, when G.M. and Chrysler borrowed billions from the government before filing for bankruptcy, though sales are expected to improve only modestly.”
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