Gas Prices making a dent ... finally!

Philip · 2005-10-04T05:03:43+00:00

GM, Ford sales tumble in September; Asian brands see smaller drop October 03, 2005 11:25 PM EDT DETROIT - High gas prices and a summer of heavy discounting sent sales of sport utility vehicles plummeting last month for U.S. automakers. Asian manufacturers, who had avoided the employee-pricing lures Detroit offered, saw their results less affected. Several automakers reported strong car sales in their monthly reports released Monday, but SUVs took a hit industrywide in the U.S. market as gas prices skyrocketed following Hurricane Katrina. Sales of the GMC Envoy and Chevrolet Tahoe fell more than 50 percent compared to last September. The Cadillac Escalade, Mazda Tribute, Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada all saw their sales fall by 18 percent or more. Dodge Durango sales were down 11 percent. General Motors Corp. sales were down 24 percent overall. Its SUV and truck sales fell 30 percent while its car sales dropped 14 percent. GM's overall sales were flat for the first nine months of the year. GM said it knew September would be a challenge after a summer of heavily promoted discounting. GM began letting consumers pay the employee price in June and ended the promotion Friday. "We're coming off the three strongest months in the history of the industry," said Paul Ballew, GM's executive director of market and industry analysis. Ford Motor Co. also took a hit, with sales down nearly 20 percent in September. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury car sales rose 6 percent, but sales of trucks and SUVs fell nearly 28 percent. The company's overall sales were also flat for the first nine months of the year. Ford attributed the declines to the strong summer. Ford began allowing customers to pay the employee price in July, and the incentive helped deplete the automaker's 2005 inventory. George Pipas, Ford's U.S. sales analysis manager, said the company expects SUV sales will stay soft in the near term. Ballew cautioned that gas prices...

Oct 04, 2005 144 Replies

Rate this thread:

badgolferman 20 years ago

Would you rather see a Rebel flag and gun rack in the truck? Those NC boys are proud of their heritage and manhood. They had to choose something to display...

Vote

Doug Kanter 20 years ago

Seriously, my father actually believes that his Navigator gets over 30mpg, and that the window sticker is "just an approximation". Jeez.....

Vote

Philip 20 years ago

"Show us your RACK!!!"

Vote

WickeddollÂ® 20 years ago

What makes you think those flags and guns aren't there?

Natalie

Vote

WickeddollÃÂÃÂ® 20 years ago

"Doug Kanter" >

Now, don't be so harsh on your dad. He sounds like a perfectly logical, reasonable man (Tell him I said so). And please, also let him know that if he should ever want to move to my native Florida, I have just the spot for him at a very good price - near a sinkhole....um LAKE!

Yeah, that's it.

Natalie, whistling innocently

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required