Post by TonyV on May 3, 2010 12:13:19 GMT -5
May 03. 2010 12:27PM .
Ford sales rise 25%, GM up 19.7% in core brands
Robert Snell / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. sales rose 25 percent last month while General Motors Co. increased its sales 6.4 percent -- fueled by more purchases of pickup and crossover vehicles.
In April, Ford sold 162,996 vehicles. Retail sales rose 32 percent while fleet sales climbed 13 percent.
Sales of GM's four core brands -- Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac -- rose 19.7 percent in April compared with a year earlier, driven by an increase in new crossover vehicles such as the Chevrolet Equinox and sales of full-size pickups. April was the seventh-consecutive time sales of GM's four core brands have posted month-over-month increases.
GM outsold Ford last month, selling 183,997 vehicles.
"It demonstrates that we think our plan is on track," said Steve Carlisle, GM's vice president of U.S. sales operations.
But sales of castoff Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn brands fell 95.5 percent. Inventory of those vehicles should be depleted in about 60 days.
Other automakers will announce April sales totals later today, as experts forecast a year-over-year increase industry-wide but down from March's incentive-fueled spike.
Industry-wide retail and fleet sales last month reached 988,100 units, an almost 21 percent jump from a year earlier but down 7.1 percent from March, according to Edmunds.com.
The decline came as automakers cut incentives last month by nearly $200 per vehicle industry-wide from March, when Toyota Motor Co., in particular, relied on steep discounts.
"Traditionally, summer discounts are worth waiting for, but inventory may be spottier than usual this year, said Edmunds.com Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Anwyl. "The next round of incentives may provide the best opportunity to pick up a great deal on a 2010 model."
GM incentives averaged about $2,900 per vehicle, down $1,100 from a year earlier and $100 less than last month.
Consequently, GM's average transaction price rose $2,500 compared with last year.