(Updates with more information on international sales, Ford
truck sales topping GM)
The annualized rate of U.S. vehicle sales likely remained
stubbornly below 10 million in June, though there are signs of
improved business at the retail level and continuing gains in other
key global markets.
Ford Motor Co. (F) beat expectations with an 11% year-on-year
decline, according to data released Wednesday, while General Motors
Corp. (GMGMQ), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM) and Chrysler LLC all
lagged.
Executives noted a "softening" in domestic sales at the end of
the month, while Ford officials noted the emergence of regional
variations in U.S. sales, with central regions outperforming
relative weakness on both coasts.
The sharp declines at GM and Chrysler, 34% and 42% respectively,
were caused in part by tumbling fleet sales, as the companies
tightened their inventories and dealers reduced their stock of
vehicles. Fleet sales fell 49% and 95%, respectively.
Still, Chrysler did note its retail market share rose by 1
percentage point from a year earlier to 9% while GM said its retail
sales rose month-to-month for the fourth-straight month. Ford's
share rose 3 percentage points from a year earlier, while Toyota's
ongoing woes meant it was outsold by Ford in the U.S. for the
third-straight month and put the company behind Ford on a
year-to-date basis.
The ongoing struggles in the U.S. contrast with key markets
showing improvement, helped in part by scrappage programs at a more
advanced stage than in the U.S. France logged a 7.1% increase in
auto sales while Italy was up 12% and the rate of decline in Japan
abated. China has also remained a source of relative strength for
most manufacturers.
Ford's U.S. light-vehicle sales totaled 154,873, with Ford,
Lincoln and Mercury car sales down 11% and sport-utility vehicles
falling 20%, much less than prior months. Trucks and vans declined
just 6.9%, helping Ford top GM in that segment.
June had 25 selling days, one more than a year ago.
GM's total was 176,571, with trucks slumping 40% and cars down
24%. At the end of June, GM's inventories were down 26% to about
582,000 vehicles, and down about 33% compared with January.
Toyota slid 32% to 131,654 as car sales slumped 36%. The Corolla
saw a 53% plunge, while Camry sales dropped by a more modest
37%.
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (HMC) reported a 30% drop to 100,420, with
cars slumping 41% and trucks off just 4.9%. "We are seeing signs of
strength in our light truck segments with solid gains for Honda's
Odyssey and Pilot models this month," said sales executive John
Mendel.
Chrysler's 42% decline to 68,297 was led by a 48% drop for cars.
Chrysler, which didn't produce any vehicles for fleet sales in
June, reported it finished the month with 195,272 units in
inventory, down 56% from a year ago and representing a 71-day
supply.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (NSANY) posted a more-modest 23% decline
in sales to 58,298.
Ford's shares were even at $6.07 in recent trading. Nissan's
American depositary shares were up 1.2% to $12.22, while Toyota's
ADS were up 0.3% to $75.78.
-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480;
john.kell@dowjones.com
(Doug Cameron contributed to this story)
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