By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com
May 2, 2006
People were buying new cars in April but they weren't American models. Sales by Detroit's Big Three automakers tumbled while Asian and European cars and SUVs zipped off the lots.
Rising gasoline prices in April beat back new U.S. car and truck sales hurting demand for most sport-utility vehicles and increasing demand for fuel-efficiency at the dreaded gasoline pump.
General Motors saw a 7 percent sales drop with the exception of newly launched lineup of GM SUVs. The Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade put together a 15 percent sales gain in April.
At Ford, sales of the once popular Explorer SUV were down 42 percent in April as the number 2 U.S. automaker saw its April sales decline by 7 percent. Overall Ford truck sales were down 15 percent.
DaimlerChrysler reported U.S. sales sank 6 percent to 211,365 passenger vehicles for April 2006.
Sales at the automaker's North American Chrysler Group, which includes the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands, fell 8 percent.
A Brighter Picture
But the April sales news is far from gloomy in most of Asia and Europe.
Toyota and Honda recorded strong sales gains while hauling in more market share from U.S. rivals Ford and GM.
At Toyota, April brought an almost 9 percent gain led by demand for its redesigned Camry sedan and a strong showing by Toyota's new Yaris subcompact.
Honda sales of the new Fit compact hatchback and Ridgeline pickup truck pushed overall sales up 6.5 percent for the month.
BMW's automobile sales were up 23 percent in April to 18,427 versus 14,970 in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales also were up 23 percent, to 68,311 automobiles compared to 55,397 in the same period of 2005.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. reported April sales of 10,841 units which is an increase of 17.5 percent compared to April 2005 sales of 9,230.
Mazda North America sales rose slightly in April on stronger demand for cars, partially offset by a decline in truck sales. The company recorded total U.S. auto sales of 22,385 vehicles, up 1 percent from 22,249 in the same month a year ago.
Porsche Cars North America Inc., the U.S. arm of German carmaker Porsche AG, reported U.S. auto sales rose in April boosted by a strong showing by the 911 series.
The company sold a total of 3,341 vehicles, up 9 percent from 3,065 in April 2005. Adjusted for one fewer selling day in April of this year compared to last, sales rose 13 percent.
Sales of the Porsche 911 series rose 22 percent to 1,229, while sales of Boxster/Cayman series rose 24 percent to 1,177. Sales of the company's Cayenne SUV line fell 14 percent to 921.
