Ford Registers Sales Decline in November

Ford Motor Co. reported lower U.S. sales in November, reinforcing a softening of demand for automobiles from the Big Three as sales rose for most foreign auto makers. Ford completed the monthly reports from the Big Three, whose sales were down 6%. European auto makers posted a 13% gain last month, while the Japanese and South Koreans combined for a 10% increase. Ford’s sales fell 2% as a 12% decline for cars offset a 6% increase for light trucks. Earlier this week, General Motors Corp. said its sales fell 12% and Chrysler Corp. posted a scant 1% increase. Industrywide, sales decreased 2% last month. Light trucks, a category that includes pickups, minivans and sport-utility vehicles, remained the growth segment with overall sales up 7%. Strong truck sales continued at each of the Big Three. Much of the Big Three’s decline was due to GM, which was hurt by strikes in Canada and the U.S. in October. . . . In a separate development, GM announced the retirement of longtime heads of its Buick and Cadillac divisions, two car lines that have been plagued by slow sales in recent years. Edward Mertz, 59, is retiring as general manager of the Buick unit after holding that post since 1986. He will be replaced by Robert Coletta, who had been general sales and service manager of Buick. At Cadillac, John Grettenberger, 59, will retire as general manager. He will be succeeded by John F. Smith.