U.S. Auto Sales for Month Decline 3.8%; Imports Lose Ground
Total U.S. car sales dipped 3.8% in April as both the domestic and import industries turned in generally sluggish performances, the auto manufacturers reported Tuesday.
The auto industry sold a total of 934,203 domestic and imported cars, compared to 970,796 cars in the April, 1986, sales period.
The eight domestic auto manufacturers reported a 3.9% decline, selling 691,803 new autos in April, 1987, compared to 719,563 in the same period of 1986.
Total import sales declined 3.5%, to 242,203 autos in April, down from 251,233 autos in April, 1986.
Chris Cedergren, an auto analyst for J. D. Power & Associates, a Westlake Village automotive research firm, said that Japanese car sales are starting to be depressed by the large price increases imposed by their manufacturers. “It’s reached a point where consumers are looking at domestic cars as a viable alternative. The Japanese don’t have the cost advantage they had in the past. Domestic cars are more competitive.”
Among the Big Three auto manufacturers, Ford continued its upward swing while General Motors continued its long slide. Ford increased its share of the domestic car market, excluding imports, from 23.7% in April, 1986, to 24% last month. GM had a 54.9% market share in April compared to 56.3% a year ago. GM’s sales have been so weak that it announced that it will have to idle a number of its assembly plants.
Chrysler had a domestic market share of 11.3% last month, compared to 15% in April, 1986. Chrysler’s share dropped in part because it discontinued production of its popular Omni and Horizon models to retool the assembly plant for a new line of full-sized cars.
Among imports, Toyota sold 77,185 cars in April, a 7.1% increase, while Honda sold 57,517 cars, including those built in the U.S. and overseas, for a 1.3% overall increase.
AUTO SALES
% April 1987 1986 change GM 366,547 411,067 -10.8 Ford 188,812 176,291 +7.1 Chrysler 84,654 101,270 -16.4 Honda U.S. 27,566 15,003 +83.7 AMC* 2,837 5,202 -45.5 VW U.S.* 5,198 6,729 -22.8 Nissan U.S. 12,250 4,001 +206.2 Toyota U.S. 3,939 -- -- DOMESTIC 691,803 719,563 -3.9 Toyota Imp. 77,185 72,078 +7.1 Nissan Imp. 29,087 37,276 -22.0 Honda Imp. 29,951 41,752 -28.3 Mazda 13,020 9,986 +30.4 Subaru 12,102 15,393 -21.4 VW Imp. 15,896 14,306 +11.1 Volvo 10,088 9,817 +2.8 Hyundai 21,320 12,282 +73.6 Others* 33,751 38,343 -12.0 IMPORTS* 242,400 251,233 -3.5 Total U.S. 943,203 970,796 -3.8
