Auto Sales Drop: Sales of North American-made...

Auto Sales Drop: Sales of North American-made cars and light trucks sagged 17.7% in mid-May from a sluggish period a year earlier, and dealers said they hoped that spring weather and new incentives would lure more customers soon. A 21.9% drop in the Big Three auto makers’ domestic car and light truck sales was partly countered by a 52.9% rise in sales of transplant cars, those built in North America by overseas makers. General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler said their average daily vehicle sales dropped to 28,983 units in the May 11-20 period from 37,126 a day in mid-May last year. Combined sales of the cars made domestically by Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda and Subaru increased to an average daily rate of 3,041 during the period, from 1,989 a year earlier.

VEHICLE SALES

May 11-20 % change 1990 year to year GM* 111,925 -21.4 Ford* 77,567 -22.9 Chrysler* 42,372 -21.6 Honda U.S. 11,076 +22.4 Mitsubishi U.S. 1,154 +52.0 Nissan U.S.* 4,451 +42.7 Toyota U.S. 8,820 +117.0 Mazda U.S. 1,272 +45.3 Subaru U.S. 100 ** TOTAL 259,110 -17.7

*Includes light truck sales.

**No comparison possible.

There were 8 selling days in the selling period this year and 9 last year.