GM, Ford, Chrysler Post Gains in March U.S. Deliveries
By Craig Trudell and Tim Higgins on April 02, 2013
Ford Motor Co. ( F) and Chrysler Group LLC reported the best monthly sales in their home market since 2007 led by models such as the Ford Fusion and Dodge Dart, while General Motors Co. (GM)’s Cadillac jumped almost 50 percent.
With U.S. automakers fielding their most competitive cars in decades, Ford (F) delivered 235,643 light vehicles in March, a 5.7 percent increase. Chrysler sales rose 5 percent, extending a streak of monthly gains to 36 months, the longest stretch in its records that date back to 1985. GM’s 6.4 percent expansion trailed analysts’ estimates for a 12 percent climb.
The Dart, one of four Chrysler cars that set sales records last month, and Fusion are among small and mid-size models by U.S. automakers having success at taking on Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and Honda Motor Co. Ford, Chrysler and GM are pacing the U.S. auto market, a bright spot in the economic recovery.
“We are definitely seeing the fruits of the restructuring and the emphasis on really competitive product coming out of Detroit,” said Rebecca Lindland, an automotive consultant with Rebel Three Media & Consultants in Cos Cob, Connecticut. For people under 45, “this is the first time we’ve really seen competitive products out of Detroit that attract younger buyers and the nice thing is that it’s sedans.”
Ford rose 1.2 percent to $13.05 at 11:52 a.m. New York time, while GM gained 0.2 percent to $27.86.
Cadillac Cars GM’s Cadillac, with two new luxury sedans, drove much of the automaker’s growth in March with a 49 percent sales increase by the brand compared with the same month last year. Cadillac last month sold 3,587 ATS compact sedans and 3,061 XTS full- sized sedans; both vehicles first went on sale last year.
The ATS, in particular, has been winning praise. Consumer Reports in its May issue said the car’s “impeccable fit and finish is among the best we’ve seen from GM” while the vehicle’s “sharp handling, eager performance and responsive steering give up nothing to the best European sports sedans.”
GM, which is introducing 13 new Chevrolets this year and showed a redesigned Cadillac CTS during last week’s New York auto show, said all four domestic brands reported increases last month. The Detroit-based automaker’s Chevy Sonic led small cars such as Ford’s Fiesta, Honda’s Fit and Toyota’s Yaris in its segment through February.
March Estimates U.S. light-vehicle sales probably climbed 4.2 percent in March to 1.46 million, the average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The annualized industry sales rate, which is adjusted for seasonal trends, may have risen to 15.4 million, the average of 15 estimates, from 14.1 million a year earlier. GM forecast a 15.2 million rate in its e-mailed statement.
Edmunds.com raised its forecast for full-year light-vehicle sales to 15.5 million, which would be the best year since 2007. GM maintained its outlook for 15 million to 15.5 million light- vehicle sales.
Chrysler forecast a 15.6 million industry sales pace for March, including medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which typically account for at least 200,000 deliveries per year, in a company statement. The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker topped the 3 percent increase that was the average of 10 analysts’ estimates in a Bloomberg survey. Chrysler said March was its best sales month since December 2007.
Ford, boosted by sales of the redesigned Fusion, exceeded the 4.4 percent gain that was the average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Fusion sales rose 6 percent in March to 30,284, while the Escape utility vehicle surged 28 percent to 28,934, the Dearborn, Michigan-based company said in a statement.
Car Records Chrysler’s Dart, which was introduced in June, set a monthly sales record of 8,091 units. The automaker majority owned by Fiat SpA (F) also set sales records with its Dodge Avenger, Challenger and Chrysler 200 cars as well as its Ram pickups.
“We’re at a point now where the cars coming out of Detroit are on par with the best the Japanese can offer and it’s led to a more competitive market,” Alec Gutierrez, an analyst at researcher Kelley Blue Book, said in a telephone interview.
Cars such as the Dart and the 200, which had an 11 percent sales increase last month, are buoying Chrysler’s deliveries as the automaker retools its Jeep factories to make redesigned models such as the Compass, Grand Cherokee and new Cherokee. Chrysler’s North American production this year through February slipped 5.8 percent to 360,862 vehicles.
Dart Traction “We’re seeing the Dart gain a little bit of traction,” Gutierrez said. “Last year, the story was all around Jeep and that brand keeping Chrysler’s story going along. There’s going to be a little bit of a lag in their product line on the Jeep side for now.”
Among Chrysler models setting records in March, the Ram pickup gained 25 percent to 33,831 while the Avenger rose 33 percent and Challenger surged 42 percent.
American sedans are providing stiffer competition to stalwarts like Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord and are steering U.S. auto sales to a fourth straight annual gain, the longest streak since 2000. Through February, Fusion was the fifth best-selling model in the U.S., behind Ford’s F-Series pickup line, GM’s Chevrolet Silverado truck, Camry and Accord.
Toyota’s U.S. sales increased 1 percent in March, trailing the 1.6 percent the average estimate of eight analysts. The company is based in Toyota City, Japan. Camry remained the best- selling car this year through February, with 11,244 more deliveries than Accord and 12,893 more than Fusion.
Nissan, Honda Nissan Motor Co. (7201), whose Altima mid-size sedan fell behind Fusion through the first two months of the year, reported a 1 percent sales gain for March. The Yokohama, Japan-based automaker beat eight analysts’ average estimate for a 2.1 percent decline.
Honda (7267) may report an 8.5 percent increase in March, the average of eight estimates. John Mendel, the head of U.S. sales for the Tokyo-based carmaker, in an interview forecast 138,000 deliveries for the month, which would be an 8.7 percent gain.
Ford’s F-Series truck line, with 101,330 sales through February, and GM’s Chevrolet Silverado pickups at 77,088, were the two best-selling models for the first two months, according to researcher Autodata Corp.
Hyundai Motor Co. (005380) and Kia Motors Corp. (000270), the Seoul-based affiliates, may have combined to sell 6.8 percent fewer vehicles in March compared with a year earlier, the average of seven estimates.
Volkswagen AG (VOW), based in Wolfsburg, Germany, posted a 5.8 percent gain in combined sales for its Volkswagen and Audi brands in March, trailing the 11 percent gain that was the average of four estimates. Deliveries for the Volkswagen line rose 3.1 percent to 37,704, its best March since 1973, according to an e-mailed statement.
To contact the reporters on this story: Craig Trudell in Southfield, Michigan, at ctrudell1@bloomberg.net; Tim Higgins in Southfield, Michigan, at thiggins21@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jamie Butters at jbutters@bloomberg.net
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