General Motors Corp. soundly beat Toyota Motor Corp. in June to retain its traditional U.S. sales lead, but GM sales still dropped 18.2 percent during a dismal month for large automakers.
Toyota’s U.S. sales fell 21.4 percent, while Ford Motor Co. said it sales tumbled nearly 28 percent. Chrysler LLC took a huge hit for the month with sales down 35.9 percent.
GM’s shares bounced more than 2 percent higher in late trading Tuesday after sinking to their lowest level in more than a half century during Monday’s session.
The nation’s biggest automaker on Tuesday reported selling 262,329 vehicles for the month, compared with Toyota’s 193,234. Some industry analysts had expected Toyota to beat GM in the U.S. for the first time, but both companies were hurt by a sluggish economy and poor sales of trucks and sport utility vehicles.
Toyota car sales fell 9.4 percent in June while its truck sales were off 38.8 percent.
GM’s car sales sank 21 percent in June, while its incentive-boosted truck sales were off 16 percent.
For the first half of the year, GM sales fell 16.3 percent compared with the year-ago period. Toyota sales were down 6.8 percent for the first six months of the year.
Toyota took the global sales lead from General Motors in the first quarter, capitalizing on growth in China and Europe as GM saw its North American sales drag down gains in other markets. GM barely won the global sales race with Toyota last year, but Toyota overtook it as the world’s top automaker as measured by global vehicle production in 2007.
To help boost sales, Chrysler said it would extend its $2.99 per gallon gasoline price guarantee through July 31. The guarantee lasts for three years, with Chrysler paying the difference between $2.99 and the pump price for 12,000 miles per year. It had been scheduled to expire July 7.
Even with the promotion, which had been in effect since early May, Chrysler’s car sales were off 48.5 percent, while truck sales were down 30.1 percent.
The company said in a statement the down sales figures reflect a contracting market, especially for pickup trucks and SUVs, and continued reductions in fleet sales.
Honda Motor Co., with its car-heavy lineup, was the only major automaker to report a sales increase in June, a modest 1.1 percent. A 19.3 percent rise in car sales offset a 24 percent drop in trucks.
But Ford, still reliant on trucks and sport utility vehicles, saw its sales drop 27.9 percent.
Nissan Motor Co. also reported a bad month, with sales off 17.8 percent. The Japanese automaker saw truck sales plunge 36.1 percent and car sales fall 7.4 percent.
Industry analysts had predicted June auto sales could drop by double-digits to their lowest monthly rate in 16 years.
Dearborn-based Ford blamed the latest sales decline on high gas prices and low consumer confidence, which sent buyers to the sidelines. It reported steep drops in June sales of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, including a 41 percent year-over-year decline for the F-Series pickup, a perennial best-seller, and a 52 percent drop for the Ford Explorer SUV.
George Pipas, Ford’s top sales analyst, said SUV sales are probably down for good.
“Our view is that gas prices aren’t likely to go down, and more importantly, many consumers have moved on,” he said. “We believe that the segment has merit for certain consumers but is not likely to rebound at any point.”
For the first half of the year, Ford’s sales were down 14 percent compared with the year-ago period.
U.S. auto sales had already fallen for seven straight months as of May, the longest period of consecutive monthly drops in eight years, according to the auto information Web site Edmunds.com.
When customers do buy, they’re picking smaller cars, crossovers and hybrids.
Ford said sales of its smallest car, the Ford Focus, rose 28 percent in the first six months of the year, although Focus sales fell in June. Pipas blamed the decline on supply problems and a cut in sales to fleet buyers.
The automaker said last month it plans to increase production of the Focus as well as the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape small SUVs.
Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president of North American sales, said industry analysts overestimated Toyota’s sales and underestimated GM’s.
He said it’s not possible to quantify exactly how much GM’s month-ending 72-hour sale boosted the June figures, he expects that GM’s sales would have still beaten analysts’ estimates even without it.
Despite slumping demand for light trucks, LaNeve said GM hasn’t given up on selling them.
“We need to run hard, we’re going to remain aggressive on the truck side of the market,” LaNeve said. “It’s still a significant part of the market and we’re going to try and gain share.”
Ford shares sank to a 52-week low of $4.41 early Tuesday but recovered to finish at $4.71, down 10 cents. They have traded as high as $9.64 over the past year.
GM shares rose 25 cents, or 2.2 percent, to close at $11.75 on Tuesday after briefly falling as low as $10.57 during Monday’s session. That was the lowest level for GM since Sept. 22, 1954, according to the Center for Research in Security Prices at the University of Chicago.
The Associated Press reports unadjusted auto sales figures, calculating the percentage change in the total number of vehicles sold in one month compared with the same month a year earlier. Some automakers report percentages adjusted for sales days. There were 24 sales days last month and 27 in June 2007.
Kenworth PremierCare Express Air Conditioning Services are now available at participating Kenworth dealers, the truck OEM announced.
Services available span from a basic inspection to a premium 27-point inspection, and may include evacuation and recharge, receiver dryer replacement, compressor oil-top off and up to five lbs. of refrigerant, Kenworth said.
According to Kenworth, dealer service technicians will check belts, hoses, air conditioning air flow and controls, discharge and suction lines, electrical connections, compressor, evaporator/heater coil and condenser coil.
Tags: Kenworth Dealers
Newly revealed plans for a York County development call for more than 4 million square feet of office space aimed at luring the headquarters of Daimler Trucks North America.
The truckmaker is directly involved in the planning process for the development, known informally as Allison Creek.
“We are working with the local landowners who submitted the development agreement as well as the county, and have asked for some minor changes,” Daimler spokeswoman Amy Sills told the Charlotte Business Journal this week.
Crescent Resources, the developer of the 2,300-acre project, is working with York County on the master plan for Allison Creek. The plan would combine corporate campus uses with residential neighborhoods and commercial development.
Tags: Daimler Trucks part
This Dodge Pickup truck is a powerhouse of a vehicle, providing stylish design and great engineering features, which is why it has been awarded so many titles, including the best vehicle from Santa from Kelly Blue Book. Even if your not Santa but you still have plenty to transport then the wide selection within the Ram 3500 will surely have you eager to use the one which suits your needs.
The regular cab ST has an impressive 5.7lt HEMI V8 engine and to go with that power there is the antilock braking system which you need for added driving ability in wet and slippery conditions, plus other engineering factors are the dual rear wheels, As for the interior there is much to be impressed by with it AM/FM stereo and CD player and for listening quality all the way round the interior you have four speakers.
As for space internally there is a vinyl 40/20/40 split front bench. The regular cab series also has the SLT which boasts
the same powerful engine with the great style of 17 inch steel wheels with stylish chrome wheel skins and if you think the exterior is remarkable then the interior will be equally so with its front seat centre armrest or business console if you so wish.
If we move onto the Quad Cab ST the same standard engine applies with the essential antilock braking technology, plus this Dodge Pickup Truck comes with a cassette stereo. The SLT in the Quad series has the CD stereo rather than the cassette, personal preference required on this one and like the regular cab SLT it also has the stylish chrome wheel skins.
The Quad Cab is an impressive Dodge Pickup Truck with dual zone temperature control and the engineering technology for the tip start. With these added features that would be enough, well Dodge have also incorporated power adjustable pedals and a great AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer, so you and your passengers will be able to listen to your 
favourite sounds on long journeys without repetitiveness.
There is still more in this series, you have the powerful Mega Cab SLT with a 6.7 litre turbo diesel engine and internal furnishings provide you with the central armrests or business console and those stylish 17in wheels with chrome clad skin and for those impressive wheels you get the largest brakes in a crew cab.
Mega cab Dodge Pickup Truck also has the 6.7 diesel engine but you get the tip control and the dual-zone temperature control, plus power adjustable pedals, which all aid driving comfort and ability and for your relation during driving you get the six disc CD changer.
Tags: Trucks, Trucks for sale
Ashok Leyland Ltd, India’s second-biggest bus and truck maker, said on Monday vehicle sales in March rose 27 percent to 10,698 units from 8,437 units a year earlier.
Ashok Leyland, which has ventures with Japan’s Nissan Motor Co for trucks, engines and technology, said domestic sales rose 20 percent to 9,542 units from 7,929 units.
Exports rose 128 percent to 1,156 units from 508 units, it said.
Canadian sales of cars and light trucks dipped in March as a sharp drop at General Motors more than offset increases by import brands, according to data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive consultants Tuesday.
Canadian light vehicle sales totalled 150,023 in March compared with 150,748 a year ago, a drop of half a percentage point. The slight dip followed strong growth in Canadian sales in January and February.
Industry consultant Dennis DesRosiers noted that despite last month’s decline it was the still the second-best March on record.
“Because of the very strong January and February, the year-to-date sales are still up 7.3 per cent to the end of March,” DesRosier wrote in his commentary on the sales data.
“Our forecast is for sales to ultimately come down a little over the rest of the year and finish down about 50,000 units. Despite the market being up during the first quarter we, at least at this point, are sticking to our forecast. The next three months will tell the tale.”
DesRosiers noted collectively the Big Three Detroit-based automakers - GM, Ford, Chrysler - registered the lowest market share on record as imports posted strong gains.
General Motors soled 29,972 vehicles in Canada in March, down from 35,655 a year ago, a decline of 15.9 per cent.
Chrysler sold 21,602 vehicles, up from 21,011 a year ago, while Ford sold 20,050 cars and light trucks, down slightly from 20,286.
Toyota sold 19,523 vehicles, up from 17,047, up 14.5 per cent, while its luxury Lexus brand sold 1,126 vehicles, down from 1,215, a year ago.
Honda sold 14,197 vehicles, up from 13,242, while Acura sold 1,088 in the month, up from 1,927 last March.
In the U.S., automakers reported double-digit U.S. sales declines in March as demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles plummeted and consumers held back because of concerns about gasoline prices, the housing slump and tightening credit.
GM’s truck and SUV sales were down 22 per cent in March while its car sales fell 14 per cent. New vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu were a bright spot, with sales up 17 per cent, but sales of Chevrolet pickups were down 25 per cent while sales of GM’s gas-guzzling Hummer brand fell 29 per cent. GM’s sales were down 11 per cent for the first quarter.
A 24 per cent jump in sales for Ford’s popular Edge crossover couldn’t make up for falling sales of pickups and large SUVs. Ford’s truck and SUV sales dropped 16 per cent versus March 2007. Sales of the Ford Expedition SUV fell 34 per cent, while sales of the perennially popular F-Series pickup - which will be replaced with a new version this fall - were down 24 per cent.
Ford’s car sales fell 10 per cent, dragged by declining demand for the Ford Mustang and Crown Victoria sedan. Ford’s overall sales for the first quarter were down nine per cent.
Toyota Motor Corp., which beat Ford to become the No. 2 automaker by U.S. sales last year, held onto its lead in the first quarter, outselling Ford by more than 43,000 vehicles. But Toyota took a beating in March, reporting truck and SUV sales down 14 per cent and car sales off 7 per cent. Toyota’s sales dropped 6 per cent for the quarter.
Chrysler’s car sales fell 13 per cent and its truck sales plunged 22 per cent, in part because it cut low-profit sales to rental car agencies. Chrysler saw no boost from its much-hyped, newly redesigned Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans, which saw sales drop two per cent and 21 per cent, respectively. Chrysler’s sales fell 16 per cent for the quarter.
Honda Motor Co., which had bucked the downward trend in February, saw its 3 per cent increase in car sales eroded by a 12 per cent decline in truck and SUV sales. That drop was led by the Honda Pilot SUV, which fell 24 per cent. Honda’s sales were flat for the first quarter.
PACCAR Trucks Melbourne has achieved the highest recognition possible for DAF truck dealers in Australia by winning the 2007 DAF Dealer of the Year Award.
Winning the award is testament to its focus on growing DAF’s presence in the Melbourne market.
Andrew Kneebone, General Manager, Retail Operations for PACCAR Trucks Melbourne, says he is thrilled to win the award, which recognises excellence in overall dealer performance, truck sales, parts sales and customer support.
“It is great to be recognised for our DAF Truck sales and customer service efforts. DAF is a premium European brand – and with good reason. The range meets the needs of virtually every niche market, from smaller rigids for metro and short-haul applications to prime movers for heavy-duty and line haul,” Kneebone says.
“At PACCAR Trucks Melbourne we have a closely-knit team of knowledgeable sales and service specialists who are dedicated to DAF trucks – and this award acknowledges their commitment to providing great customer service.”
PACCAR Trucks Melbourne services the western and northern suburbs of Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong and surrounding districts. It is located only minutes from the Westgate Freeway and the Western Ring Road, and is within easy reach of CityLink, the Tullamarine and Calder Freeways as well as the Western and Hume Highways.
New and used truck sales, an ALLRig parts supermarket, an ALLRig Express truck wash, and state-of-the-art service facilities with 30 service bays including four fast lube service pits are all available at this leading dealership. It operates from 8am to 11pm Monday to Friday, as well as Saturdays until 6pm. A 24-hour breakdown and emergency parts service provides peace of mind for their customers.
In presenting the DAF Dealer of the Year award, Brad Wolstenholme, General Manager, DAF Trucks Australia, said PACCAR Trucks Melbourne is committed to excellence in every department. “We are proud to present PACCAR Trucks Melbourne with our premier award. This dealership has worked hard as a team to not only meet customer needs, but to also set a new standard for the industry,” he said.
“It has invested heavily in training staff and building a solid infrastructure that supports the DAF brand. It is proactive in the marketplace, by identifying and supplying a variety of transport solutions to new and existing customers. Above all else, PACCAR Trucks Melbourne has demonstrated its commitment to DAF customers, by providing them with the best service before, during and after the sale,” Brad added.
“We have had great success with the DAF CF range,” Andrew said. “These models feature a low tare weight for optimum payload, powerful engines and a broad range of chassis and axle configurations The CF series is suitable for a multitude of applications, ranging from inner-city delivery to construction vehicles and intrastate operations. DAFs are designed to make life easier for the professional driver.”
“DAF customer support is very important to us. We have two specialist DAF Sales Consultants and seven highly-trained DAF service technicians. As our DAF business grows, we will add other professionals to the DAF team,” he added.
DAF Trucks Australia, a division of PACCAR Australia Pty Ltd, distributes a range of medium and heavy-duty trucks throughout Australia.
It was a wild spectacle like no other in downtown Detroit, Mich., of all places.
Among a specially imported herd of 120 long horn cattle was a trio of 2009 Dodge Ram pickups, which created their own stampede of photographers directly outside Cobo Hall in January, the scene of the 2008 North American International Auto Show.
It was a raucous introduction for the all-new Ram, which parent Chrysler hopes will also steal sales and market share from General Motors, Ford and Toyota.
First impressions count for plenty in the fiercely competitive light-duty truck category, where brand loyalty runs chasm deep and getting it right the first time is crucial.
Compared to its 2008 counterpart, the ‘09 Ram, which is slated to appear this fall, has undergone a character adjustment. The former blunt nosed, big-rig grille motif, first introduced back in the mid-1990s, has been considerably toned down. Dodge calls the look “grille forward,” meaning the snout is now angled so that its leading edge is about even with the bumper. As a result, the Ram now appears more aerodynamic and less stubby, while still conveying a sense of strength that’s further enhanced by a more prominent cowl bulge.
All three Ram body styles - regular cab, four-door Quad Cab and elongated four-door Ram Crew (which replaces the Mega Cab) - are perched atop a revised chassis that now uses rear coils in place of traditional leaf springs. The idea is to provide a better ride and road manners, while reducing weight (by about 18 kilograms when compared to a leaf-spring setup).
Regular- cab models are available with 6′ 4″ (1.9-metre) or eight-foot-long (2.4-metre) pickup beds, while Quad Cabs are attached to the shorter box only. Selecting the Ram Crew gets you a 5′ 7″ (1.7-metre) bed. Payload capacity tops out at 840 kilograms, while maximum towing capacity is an estimated 4,140 kilograms
The Ram’s interior has also come in for some updating with an all-new dashboard and available extra-wide floor console that can be configured to secure all sorts of bulky gear. Heated and ventilated front seats can be ordered, not to mention a heated steering wheel and dual-zone climate control. Remember, this is a pickup truck we’re talking about and not some posh luxury car.
As well, Ram Crew trucks feature two in-floor storage bins with removable liners that can store up to a dozen beverage cans each. There are also lockable storage compartments built into the rear fenders that can each hold up to 120 355-millilitre (12-ounce) cans. Engine choices remain similar to that of previous models with a 210-horsepower 3.7-litre V6 offered as standard on rear-wheel-drive regular and Quad Cabs, while all four-wheel-drive and Ram Crew trucks run with a 310-horse 4.7-litre V8. The optional 5.7-litre “Hemi” engine, however, comes in for some tuning and now generates a lively 380 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque, instead of the 345 hp and 375 pound-feet produced by the ‘08 version. Dodge claims the gutsier Hemi will propel the 4×2 Ram to 100 km-h in around 6.5 seconds. Hopefully, this engine will be made available in Chrysler’s passenger-car line.
A five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic can be connected to the V6, while V8-equipped trucks come with a five-speed automatic.
When it comes to four-wheel-drive, buyers can choose between a part-time system and an on-demand setup that automatically engages when road conditions warrant.
Ram model designations include base ST, SLT, TRX, Sport and Laramie, with base content varying widely between each model. But what shouldn’t change is the Dodge’s ability to work and play with enough gusto to keep up with the competition.
And, as the Ram demonstrated in Detroit, that’s no bull.
