Car Sales Skid: A plunge in General...

Car Sales Skid: A plunge in General Motors Corp.’s car sales led a 12.6% decline in early October auto sales by domestic makers over the same period in 1988, the companies said. It was the first sales period of the 1990 model year and the first in what analysts have said will be a soft three-month period. The decline was led by a 24.3% fall in GM’s car sales and a 28.7% decline in the company’s truck sales. Overall, the industry leader’s car and truck sales were off 25.7% for the period. Ford Motor Co.’s total vehicle sales were down 0.3% in early October, and Chrysler Corp.’s were off 2.3%. The eight major companies making vehicles in North America said their cars and light trucks sold at an average daily rate of 30,734 during the Oct. 1 to 10 period this year, compared to 34,867 a year ago.

AUTO SALES

Oct. 1-10 % 1989 change GM 68,301 -24.3 Ford 57,355 - 1.8 Chrysler 22,721 - 7.5 Honda U.S. 6,757 -21.7 Mitsubishi U.S. 909 * Nissan U.S. 1,434 +42.7 Toyota U.S. 2,591 +445.5 Mazda U.S. 442 +14.5 TOTAL 160,510 -12.6

There were 8 selling days in the selling period this year and last year.

*No comparison possible.