GM's Four Core Brands Post 43% Sales Increase In March; Ford Sales Zoom 39.8%

[Purveyor]

Source: DOW JONES NEWSWIRES / DETROIT FREE PRESS

General Motors Co. reported a 43% increase in March domestic sales for the four brands the company will keep following its restructuring amid continued strength for crossovers and cars.

Higher customer incentives were expected to boost sales in March, having been sparked by Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, 7203.TO), which is looking to draw back customers scared by its safety recall. Meanwhile, analysts have said they expect improved access to credit and leasing will boost sales throughout the year.

The results were the first since GM last month overhauled its sales operations in North America for the second time in four months, the latest sign that Chairman and Chief Executive Edward E. Whitacre Jr. isn't allowing executives much margin for error in turning around the company.

GM is projected to fall behind crosstown rival Ford Motor Co. (F) in the U.S. for the second consecutive month, according to Edmunds.com. Excluding strike impacts, Ford in February beat GM in the U.S. for the first time in at least 50 years.

Among the four brands GM is keeping, Buick led the way with a 76% sales surge. Cadillac and the much bigger Chevrolet reported sales jumped 42% and 41%, respectively, while GMC had a 45% increase. GM said total combined sales for those brands were 185,406 for the month, the sixth-straight month of gains. GM's total sales, which includes four brands the auto maker is ditching, were up 21%.

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Ford Sales Zoom 39.8%
By BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

Ford said today that its total U.S. sales increased 39.8% in March compared to the same month a year ago.

For the month, Ford sold 183,783 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo cars and trucks compared with 131,465 a year ago.

Without Volvo, which Ford is in the process of selling, Ford’s total sales in March increased 43% compared with last year.

Ford said its performance in March was driven by an increase in almost all models of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks. Ford said sales of its cars increased by 53%, SUVs increased 46% and pickups increased 30%.

http://freep.com/article/20100401/BUSINESS0102/100401047/Ford-sales-zoom-39.8



Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201004011129dowjonesdjonline000541&title=update-gms-four-core-brands-post-43-sales-increase-in-march

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. Excellent news!

[impik]

2. That Obama guy, only saved the auto industry

[backtomn]

4. Wait a minute........

Ford was the only U.S. company not taking money from the government. Of course the 'performance of GM's 4 best brands' (nice spin) ignores that they have more than 4 brands and that their market share dropped from 18.2% to 17.6% in March, although they increased sales. Chrysler lost money for another month. (source MSNBC...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36096785/ns/business-autos/). Also, some of the success might have been from Toyota's troubles.

Let's wait until we have some better news.

[blue_onyx]

6. GM total sales are still up 21%

Very typical of DU. When there's positive GM news, gotta find some way to spin it negatively.

[blue_onyx]

3. Great news!

I know a lot of people wondered why GM kept Buick but I always felt it had the potential to be a very strong brand. The fact that it is showing the biggest increase in sales proves it.

[kestrel91316]

5. Ford Focus is on my "possible next car" list. If I win the lottery, I think

I'll get a Nissan Leaf (rather than a Prius, in part because Toyota has not been behaving nicely).

[tclambert]

8. Do you know someone who works at Nissan?

You vote with every dollar you spend for where you want jobs to go, what kind of country and what kind of world you want. I have neighbors who work for Ford, so I'm hoping you go with Ford for their sake. Thanks.

[newtothegame]

7. Corporate success is evil. nt

[safeinOhio]

9. Whoa, how can that be

now that GM has been totally taken over by the Socialist President who controls every aspect of the company. Now that they only build small one and a half cylinder cars that the public does not want. I think some teabagger lied to me.