GM and Ford Score Huge Sales Gains In Chilly February

[Purveyor]

Source: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/03/gm-and-ford-score-huge-sales-gains-in-c

In a month that's supposed to be one of the worst of the year, both General Motors and Ford appear to have scored big sales gains.

GM says its sales rose 32% in February compared to the same dreary month a year ago. Ford's sales were up a whopping 43% in the same period. Ford boasted that it saw "higher sales for every brand and in every product category."

Best of all for both, retail sales were up. Those are car and truck sales to people like you and me, not big government, corporate or rental car fleet buyers. Retail sales are the most profitable -- and the strongest evidence to automakers that they are making cars the people are actually will to buy with their hard-earned cash. Ford said those retail sales were up 28%. GM said it was 7%.

Read more: USATODAY

[boomerbust]

1. Poor Toyota

[blue_onyx]

2. That's great news

GM and Ford have great vehicles. I'm happy to see them doing well.

[closeupready]

4. They sure do. I'm very happy to hear this.

:)

[daggahead]

3. Hmmm ...

Too bad that stimulus thing ain't working out, and the cash for clunkers failed.

:sarcasm:

[pampango]

5. You didn't get the memo that car demand was going to crash after the CFC.

:)

[scottsoperson]

6. the economy is gradually improving...

i wish it were faster. november will come quickly.

[scottsoperson]

7. some repubs want the president of the united states to fail

sad

[scottsoperson]

8. i don't know, it sounds like there are some radical lefties who want obama to fail

just read du.

[boomerbust]

9. Ford's U.S. Sales Up 43 Percent; Second-Quarter Production Up 144,000 Vehicles Versus Year Ago

Source: moneycentral.msn.com

Ford brand sales up 46 percent versus year ago, Lincoln up 19 percent and Mercury up 24 percent

Cars up 54 percent versus year ago, utilities up 39 percent and trucks up 36 percent

Ford's U.S. market share for February estimated at 17 percent, up 3 percentage points versus a year ago

Retail sales up 28 percent versus a year ago; fleet sales normalizing – up 74 percent versus last February's depressed levels

Second-quarter North American production plan is 595,000 vehicles, up 144,000 vehicles (32 percent) versus a year ago

Higher sales for every brand and in every product category propelled Ford Motor Company F to a 43 percent sales increase in February versus a year ago. Compared with January, Ford's February sales are up 22 percent.

"The strength of our new products and Ford's leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value are resonating with customers," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. "The good news is we have even more new products and fuel-efficient powertrains coming this year, and we expect our progress to continue."

February sales were higher throughout Ford's line-up. Cars were up 54 percent versus a year ago, utilities were up 39 percent, and trucks were up 36 percent. Among brands, Ford sales were up 46 percent, Lincoln sales were up 19 percent, and Mercury sales were up 24 percent.

Year to date through February, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 250,050, up 34 percent versus a year ago.


Read more: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=PR&Date=20100302&ID=11186051&Symbol=F

---

Poor Toyota

[DFW]

10. Poor Richard Viguerie

He was telling me how Obama "taking over" Ford was "Marxism" and was spelling the end of American capitalism as we know it.

Curses, foiled again!

(Actually, I like the guy, personally, even if politically he is the Prince of Darkness, so sue me)

[No Elephants]

11. Obama took over Ford? American capitalism ended? Gee, I must really need to catch up!

[DFW]

12. Yeah, well, those on the far right have this odd perception of reality

It doesn't jive very well with the real world, but they haven't really caught on yet, and they have this curious affliction that gives them total deafness accompanied by severe dyslexia whenever someone presents the truth to them. The combination is really devastating when trying to introduce them to reality. Believe me, I have tried.

[Joanne98]

13. Ford Tops Sales in February as Recall Slows Toyota

Source: NYT

DETROIT — Toyota Motor on Tuesday said its sales in the United States fell 9 percent in February, in contrast to big gains by its chief rivals, and it was expected to roll out aggressive new incentives aimed at luring customers scared off by its big recalls back into its showrooms.

Sales of the Toyota Camry midsize sedan, one of the primary models affected, were down 20 percent. But the overall decline for Toyota was smaller than many analysts had projected.

Meanwhile, shoppers seeking an alternative to Toyota helped the Ford Motor Company record a 43 percent increase in sales in February. That allowed Ford to surge ahead of General Motors to become the country’s top-selling automaker.

At least for one month, and not by much.

Ford outsold G.M. by 334 vehicles, which is roughly the number its Mercury brand sells each day. In 2009, G.M. outsold Ford by an average of nearly 33,000 vehicles every month.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/business/03auto.html

[skipos]

14. still diggin my Ford Fusion Hybrid

no complaints yet

[madrchsod]

15. may i have one of these...please?

i prefer a black on black ford sho....155mph..20-25 mpg..awd

[liberation]

16. I would like to see some of the sporty Fords from Europe sold over here...

... esp. the ones with cosworth engines!

Also, bring back some of the styling international Fords have. For some reason I can never get used to the homegrown design themes American makers come up with.

Pleeeeease.

[TomCADem]

17. Toyota Now Is Like Ford With The Pinto Back In The Day...

Once you ruin your rep, it is going to take a while to earn back the trust of consumers. Particularly after pursuing a litigation strategy of blaming Toyota drivers for confusing their gas pedal with their brakes. Its like the Pinto of yesterday.

[JCMach1]

18. Minimum 2-3 years and even then the 'myth' of Toyota quality is gone forever

They are officially, just another car company.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

19. Their commercials aren't helping them any...

All of their commercials saying "We care...sha la la la!" really rub me the wrong way, especially after those emails came out.

[Blue_Tires]

20. product is king