So with all the talk about how Gas Prices are turning America into a nation of truck hating agrophics forced to stay home eating economy tins of catfood (man that $4 gas... it's costing me an extra $15 a week over last year... best cancel the vacation) I thought that I'd take a look at what's happening with car sales.
Well of course they're down. But that has less to do with the cost of gas (people are still driving, they haven't abandoned cars - just the buying of new ones) and more to do with uncertainty in the economy. If it really is about to tank and with it take your job you don't buy a new car.
And if building stops then the construction industry starts to cut back and you see a slump in truck sales. So far so obvious. And looking at the top 20 sales chart born out by the data. Silverado down 25.6%, F series down 22.7%, Dodge Ram down 30.4%
So who else is losing? Well people are still trading in their minivans for something a little cooler... so the Dodge Caravan is down 26.8%. Probably not a fuel economy story per se, more a 'more modern ways to tote around the kids' story.
More interestingly are the small losses for Toyota Corolla and Camry and the big gains for Honda Civic and Accord. It seems that when faced with the stark option of a new, more efficient car people would rather go for the one with a hint of style and flair over the 'durable appliance' offering from Toyota. Honda have a lot right at the moment... though I'm no fan of the Accord which seems over big, over veloured and over rated.
Ford Focus and Chevy Cobalt also up. Cars in the smallest segment most people consider. The Focus is a 2.0L sedan or coupe here and that's about as small as the majority are willing to go. There's no room for Fit, Yaris or any 'B' cars in the top 20 yet.
This is dull for non-car people I know but the only companies that saw CAR sales increase in June 08 over June 07 were
Honda
Hyundai
Mazda
Kia
Mercedes
Audi
Mini
Maserati
Rolls Royce
Which leads me to believe that people are in the market for
- Luxury
- Fun
- Bargain Basement offers
If only British Leyland still existed... an Allegro Vanden Plas with lots of chrome, a mini chassis and kia price tag would go down a storm
1 comment:
Ah whatever happened to Toyota? Remember the Celica, The Supra?Mind you - the Supra was harder to keep on the road at 100mph than a TVR if Gran Turisimo is anything to go by...
Did you see that in London sales of the Yaris soared in expectation of the change of congestion charge... then Boris scrapped the change. Ho ho. Allegedly people are out-raged... though i don't believe that at all. But good way to force an eco change - threaten, then remove...
Round my way there's a Yugo, 3 Nissan Figaros and an old Fiat Panda in white - and we all know what a dude's car that is. This is how the rich stay rich - they make 'em last!
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