Domestic Car, Truck Sales Off: Car and...

Domestic Car, Truck Sales Off: Car and light-truck sales by the nation’s major auto makers dropped 13% in mid-July, compared to last year when buyers flocked to showrooms to take advantage of incentives, the companies said. The sales rate during the July 11-20 period last year was among the highest of 1989. Incentives that drew customers into showrooms during the year-ago period were trimmed back this year. The 10 major U.S. vehicle manufacturers said they sold cars and trucks at a combined average daily rate of 34,549 during the period this year, compared to a daily average of 39,726 during the same time last year. Car sales fell 13.3%, and truck sales dropped 12.6%. GM, Ford and Chrysler said their car sales during the period fell 17.8%, while sales of cars made by Japanese companies in the United States rose 23%.

VEHICLE SALES

July 11-20 % change 1990 year to year GM* 139,024 -13.3 Ford* 93,184 -18.8 Chrysler* 45,347 -17.2 Honda U.S. 13,593 +3.2 Mitsubishi U.S. 1,057 +6.6 Nissan U.S.* 6,370 -1.0 Toyota U.S. 9,318 +62.6 Mazda U.S. 2,276 +70.6 Subaru U.S. 588 ** Isuzu U.S.* 184 ** TOTAL 310,941 -13.0

*Includes light truck sales.

**No comparison possible.

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