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Losing momentum: the new 2012 Toyota Camry.
By Joseph Szczesny, TheDetroitBureau.com
Countering earlier concerns about a double-dip recession, U.S. auto sales wrapped up a skittish 2011 on a positive note, surging in the final weeks of the year, with Detroit’s automakers helping drive the overall market to its highest level since the start of the long economic downturn.
Overall sales of new cars, trucks and crossovers increased by 10.2% during 2011, largely paced by a surge in demand for domestic brands. General Motors, Chrysler Group LLC and Ford Motor Co. all finished 2011 with double-digit increases over the previous year. Vollkswagen also reported a 26% gain for 2011 as its new lineup of cars – especially the American-made 2012 VW Passat – has clicked with customers.
Chrysler Group reported U.S. sales of 138,019 units, a 37% increase compared with sales in December 2010 and the group’s best monthly volume since May 2008.
Ford Motor Co. also reported a 16% increase, while GM reported a modest 5% increase.
For the year, Chrysler Group sales totaled 1.37 million units, up 26% versus sales in 2010, the largest percentage sales gain of any full-line manufacturer. The Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each posted solid sales gains during 2011 compared with 2010.
Ford sales finished 2011 with a 17% increase as the flagship “Blue Oval” brand saw sales top 2 million units for the first time since 2007.
Meanwhile, with Chevrolet gaining momentum from a variety of new and older models, GM reported a 14% increase.
“The year finished on a high note, with industry sales momentum strengthening as the year came to a close,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “We saw Ford sales strengthen as well, posting our best December retail sales month since 2005 and closing the year as America’s best-selling brand.”
Reid Bigland, Chrysler Group US Sales chief, noted December marked Chrysler Group’s 21st-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and seventh-consecutive month of sales increases of at least 20%.
“Chrysler Group finished a year of growth on a strong note with our December retail sales soaring 45% to our highest dealer retail sales in four years,” Bigland said. “Looking back, we were the fastest-growing automaker in the country, increasing our market share 1.3%age points during 2011,” he said.
The group’s 37% December increase was driven in part by strong sales of the Chrysler 300 flagship sedan, Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan, Dodge Charger and Avenger sport sedans, Ram pickup truck, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Compass.
Despite concerns about rising inventories, Chrysler Group finished the month with a comfortable 64-day supply of inventory (326,087 units). U.S. industry sales figures for December are projected at an estimated 14 million SAAR.
Royal Oak-based Saab Car USA also reported selling 270 vehicles, down significantly from the 1,074 units sold in December, 2010. However, Saab managed to increase its overall sales in the U.S. despite the financial troubles that forced it into bankruptcy.
Porsche Cars USA also reported a 15% increase in sales for 2011.
More from The Detroit Bureau:
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Well, I guess since so many couldn't afford to keep their homes , they may as well , give a new car purchase a shot....
The newer mobile homes are great, if not so spacious.
If you believe this then you will believe anything.
Who cares? The only true indication of economic growth at this point is MORE JOBS.
Thanks to Obama, the economy is on the right track.
OBAMA/BIDEN - NOVEMBER 2012
So Toyota, where are the millions of "shovel ready jobs" we were promised with the trillion dollar porkulus package?
Obama saved the auto industry. Romney's plan was to let GM and Chrysler go bankrupt. I wonder if anyone will remember that during the campaign? Just one more mistake for Romney to try to defend against the President.
You can "save" any industry by sinking $14 billion taxdollars on it. All he did was preserve the union thugs' stranglehold on the carmakers.
Shorty
Try following the news (you probably will miss the truth if you only watch Fox). Almost all of the money has been paid back ..... EARLY! As part of the deal the auto worker unions agreed to major concessions. It saved an important American manufacturing industry and saved a couple of million jobs in the process. Criticize if you must, but be aware that criticism without truth is just empty bitching.
ps .... calling a group of people "thugs" without justification might entertain your equally uninformed conservative friends, but it adds absolutely nothing to the conversation.
It's interesting to me that the gas guzzlers are the big sellers again. I just don't think Americans will go for small fuel efficient cars unless/until gas prices get significantly higher for an extended period of time (say, at least $5/gallon).
Too late Ron. Have you every tried getting gas in Chicagoland? It's up there with your $5/gallon predictions.
As long as the gov is printing funny money and buying everything under the sun....
I guess there will be gas guzzler sales.
Ron, you hit the nail on the head. All these small electric vehicles that the auto manufacturers are coming up with aren't going to cut it. Americans are to use to having room in their vehicles. Couple this with the dramatic increase in the price of these vehicles and the fact that they can only go 30-50 miles on a charge and you have a lot of wasted time and money. Auto manufacturers and the government would do much better to look into another fuel source that will allow vehicles to remain similar to what our nation has become accustomed to, while also decreasing our dependence on oil. There are other alternatives that have been around a long time that have been able to do this. I remember driving in taxi cabs as a private in the Army at Fort Bragg, NC, in the early 80s, that ran on propane. It's just a matter of getting an infrastructure in place to take this on at a national level.
I need a beefy, strong vehicle to tow my 7,000 lb RV with. We enjoy camping and traveling to new destinations within a couple hundred miles from home. My son needs one to tow his 15,000 lb boat. When you see those few foreign pick up trucks on the road they are HUGE but they don't have enough power to tow a wheelbarrow full of dirt let alone an RV or boat. Foreign auto makers build their trucks to cater to a very small portion of U.S. consumers. You can only get the power trucks and vans from American auto makers. We also have a smaller fuel efficient vehicle for all other trips but like the roomy interior we have in our hybrid. We are a family of very tall long legged people. We need headroom and leg room. None of the foreign cars offer that because they are designed and built by little people and they just don't care.
Also there are a lot of self employed people who need the powerful trucks and vans to do their jobs. Contractors for example. Toyota and the other foreign auto makers don't build super duty commercial vehicles. American auto makers build vehicles for American commerce and recreation. That's great!
I'd love fuel efficiency but I'm not willing to sacrifice safety. Now I don't need a rolling tank around me but I test drove a ford focus and I feel like I'm going to hit my head on the door with a large bump, much less getting t-boned. Give me a small car that can handle impacts well from all four corners and we can talk.
As a owner of a '07 Camry and have absolutely loved it, I am not at all surprised about the new '12 Camry losing momentum. Toyota didn't do enough (IMHO) to compete long term. Still, it should be a reliable car (which many people just care about that ...) ... just doesn't differentiate enough from the prior models.
Although, no where in the article does it mention sales of Toyota, pretty lame to mention in the caption and not provide adequate details.
The problem with Toyota that you fail to mention is the 8,000,000 recalls ,the no stopping, the deaths, the lack of response to the data about the deaths, the bragging about not spending for a recall. I would never trust them and I don't know why you do????
Go BIG 3, GO AMERICA! send the 4en invaders back to their motherlands where they belong!
T Gunns I don't see that happening in our lifetime, or any lifetime.
There are more quotes that say this about a "foreign" auto company than a so called american auto company.
Yeah - go back to Mexico Ford and Chevy!!
We need American made cars like the Toyota Tundra, Honda Accord or BMW X-5!!
Oh - I forgot Hyundai ( 85% of their cars are made right here ) They are the most American car company.
Wrong Steve , GM has 54 manufacturing plants in the U.S.. The only company with anywhere close to that is Ford. Hyundai and BMW have one each Toyota has six or seven.
Wade, I thought they got all their parts from Mexico and other places and just put them together here, that is GM of course. The car assembled in the US, not built.
Of course you're conveniently forgetting that it was the crap quality of American made cars that opened the door for Datsun, Honda, etc. to begin with. Granted, America car quality overall has improved over the years, but only because of the competition. What do you think would happen if all foreign cars were banned and the Big 3 only had to compete (and be in collusion) with each other? If T Gunns wants me to drive an American car he can buy it for me.
Cannot agree with you more! How long before the Obama haters start spinning this? What's your bet? He's anti German cars, or anti motorcycle? Or perhaps anti public transit? I'll be waiting and watching.
I wish these companies much success. I hope the unions and management work together to protect jobs and produce quality products. Goodness knows the republicans are doing nothing to help the economy. Oh, I forgot, their plan is to destroy the president, at any cost.
Yes Brian, you are correct, it does say the American-made VW Passatt, made by Americans in Chattanooga, TN; but, I would rather have that and Americans working, than what has happened with a lot of the products from the Big 3. Steve is 100% correct; when NAFTA was enacted, it opened the door for vehicles to be produced in Mexico and Canada and shipped to the US with no tax on them. Any wonder what happened to all those auto manufacturing jobs and why our unemployment rate has climbed; or why Detroit has become a crime filled seas pool? I blame this on the greed that exists in our Congress and today's business model with exorbitant executive compensation packages and unions holding auto manufacturers hostage on production, to get ridiculous salaries for union members. I don't care who makes it, if a vehicle is brought into this country, tax it! Then perhaps more of these foreign companies will decide to open factories here in the US, to avoid this, and we can get Americans back to work! I say this not for just automobiles but, everything. Corporate America is going to go where they can make the most money and not worry a bit over how it affects our nation as long as these executives can reap these ridiculous compensation packages, we're toast. One might say that I'm wrong in saying products should be taxed if they are brought into the country as it would increase the costs of these goods or reduce the profit margin for shareholders but, these pale in comparison to how much money a lot of large businesses are providing to their decision makers.
When and if American manufacturers make a car I WANT - a 2 door hatchback that's sporty, but efficient coupe that looks good, performs well, is reliable and affordable - I WILL buy it. Until then I will continue to look at, and buy, foreign makes. If the 'big three' want to compete, COMPETE!!
Hey TAB, see comment #2.4.
And maybe reread the article. It's all about the U.S. auto makers competing and doing very well.
Wrong Richard. They assembly more cars then any other maker in U.S.. Do your homework before making false statement. Search google and see with our own eyes.
Do not tell "Romulian Romney" this news America! He voted to destroy Detroit by letting the American Auto Industry die off. Imagine the loss of US Auto Jobs this would have cost?? The "Romulian" is very used to firing workers, and bankrupting US Corporations at will. Read his economic record on this issue America.
^ Romney is basically Gorden Gecko from Wall Street.
All he knows how to do is destroy companies, and sell off the spare parts for profit.
He uses the profits from his destruction in order to do nothing for a living but run for President for the past 10 years almost!!!
Imagine - Gordon Gecko for President!!!!
That's Willard.
ooooooooooooo, more bad news for repubs....car sales UP. Things moving upward; economy inching forward.....Dang, they just can't get brake.
The bailout didn't "save" the auto industry. It simply maintained the status quo by allowing the union thugs to keep their stranglehold on the companies while costing the American taxpayers $14 billion. The same unions that were responsible for this mess in the first place.
Yep!!! That's going to an interesting debate question to Mr. Romney isn't it??!!
Obama is a economic genius. He recognized the only reason why the auto companies were failing was because of the blood sucking policies of mr grover, the gop, & the rushbo. The were thriving 8 years before but were all over the verge of economic collapse by 2007.
The only reason the auto companies were failing was because of sh*tty management and greedy unions. Obama a economic genius? He couldn't could his balls twice and come up with the same number.
Agree Yab...I wonder where marshal gets his Kool-aide from?
We know one thing, he doesn't get his Kool-aide from the same place you get yours.
Obama rocks.....
Obama/Biden again in November 2012!!!!!!!!
One missing item from the analysis - how many of the cars were sold to the government as fleet cars? When the government owns part of the company this is not an "arms length" transaction - but rather in financial terms, a sale to a related party. In addition, how many of the sales were subsidized by tax credits for purchasing the Volt? Until these questions are answered ... the information is misleading
"One missing item from the analysis - how many of the cars were sold to the government as fleet cars?"
Who cares?? They were still sold. The money is still green.
One missing item from the analysis - how many of the cars were sold to the government as fleet cars?
^ Still looking for that cloud in the blue sky eh? Must stink to hate the President so much that you root against your own country.
Charlie...if the gov bought them it was with Fed money...which is funny money...which is not green.
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie....if car sales go up...it's bad for repubs. If auto companies profits increase, it's bad for repubs. If more people are working to supply these cars....it's bad for repubs. So they'll discredit good news ANYWAY they can. As things go well for our economy it means Obama might not be to blame for everything....and WOW repub's cannot deal with THAT thought!
Sorry - not the way it works. You can't buy from youself and call it a sale. If you could, Sam's Club would sell to WalMart and call it a sale ... the money isn't green - it is fake.
Auto sales are up. The DOW is up. Employment is slowly recovering. Domestic energy production is at an all time high. Exports are up. Corporate profits are near record levels. Great news for Americans --- bad news for republicans.
Let's see:
GE is buying uo to 25k chevy volts with the base platform made in China. - http://nlpc.org/stories/2011/09/25/chevy-volt-production-create-green-jobs-%E2%80%93-china With the gov't giving heafty rebates to GE with our tax money. These number just don't add up.
There was an article today that claims used car sales will sore this year. What do you think that will do new car sales.
Boeing announced today that they are closing factories, laying off 2500 workers.
Corporate profits are up because of longer worker hours and lower or stagnant salaries, Now that the holidays are over, watch the unemployment numbers - it started already with the number released today.
If we are producing so much energy, why are energy prices so high on heating oil and gas here in the northeast. Why are we being pushed to drill baby drill both in the preserve in Alaska and off-shore.
Foreclosures are projected to increase, the average price of housing fell again, your children's, children, children will be paying for the debt being created, and so on and so on and so on.
Real estate sales are in the toilet - it will be at lease 10 years for housing to recover, seniors, if they have a job, will never retire.
And there's a lot more
I'm sure glad your so happy.
I find the fact that Boeing is laying off 2500 workers to be completely dumb founding when every other week you hear how they have signed another multi-billion contract for aircraft. Something just isn't right!
Living on Long Island
That story at the link is a bunch of half truths. GM will only be importing Volts to China until they can get the line there up and running. That line is for China consumption, and possibly southeast Asia, China currently has prohibitive import tarrifs for GM to import models, and also why GM has China specific models. What that article does not say is that NA production will not cease, in fact production at the Michigan plant that builds the Volt is upping production to 60,000 units per year for NA consumption.
The second point is that the vehicle that is being developed will be an electric only vehicle from all reports that I have read, Yes, it will be based off of the same Delta chassis that underpins the Volt, Cruze, Opel Astra and a few others.
Another common reported item is that the Volt was taxpayer funded for development, this is not true. The Volt development was started close to 6 years ago, long before the government bailout, now if you wanted to say that GM used DOE loans and grants to fund the program then you would be correct, and those loans were fully repaid before the bailouts.
The bottom line of this article is that GE is buying Chevrolet Volts and then they are exporting them to Shangai, GM makes money and helps pay for the development costs of the Volt.
Republicons are pissed because things are getting better with our economy. Sorry repubs...Obama rocks...!!!
It's no surprise that car sales are up. No matter how badly people don't want to buy, you reach a point where you have no other choice. It would be interesting to see those numbers broken down by how many purchased because they wanted to versus because they had to.
So the article is about the "Big 3" automakers, but the article picture is of a Toyota? What gives?
Did you happen to read the pictures caption?
"Losing momentum: the new 2012 Toyota Camry."
Toyota does have plants in America....Don't be mad because things are getting better.
The bad times in American history: years 2000 -20008. Guess who was President? Good answer.
It doesn't matter makememad because guess what??!!! They all could have went to Toyata, Honda, Volkswagen, and other foreign companies, instead they chose GM,Ford, and Chrysler. Let's continues this great surge America we're about to take our country back slowly but surely.
Plenty of people are still buying Toyotas, Hondas, etc. Read what the article actually says. The Big 3 are just doing better this year than they did last year. Considering how badly the whole auto industry did in 2010, it's not that big a shock that they would be doing better this year. I wouldn't try to morph that into some huge surge of consumer confidence in the American car companies.
Soon. Very soon...this vine will turn into a semi-racist, anti-Obama, and "Gov't Motors" whine !
The usual suspects just can't help themselves. They know who they are...!!
Thank you, POTUS Obama! Four more years...!! No doubt!!
Apparently you have not been reading MSNBC. About 90% of the stories are about the republican candidates. Hard pressed to find any story about Obama. How much attention was given to NDAA 2012? It has been a cover story all around the world except for here. No wonder foreigners know more about our govt then we do.
C_D_J55.
Maybe we're reading different posts but most of the political slander I've been reading on here are Demo's ripping on the Reps. So if anything I would say that most the mud slinging started with them, and I've hardly read any Obama bashing at, surprisingly enough. However with posts like yours you certainly encourage it. Personally I don't claim either party and simply support the issues I agree with. Frankly I think that the problems our country faces are much larger then just one particular party and that both are to blame for our present situation. Issues from our past are even part to blame, such as NAFTA which was a bad idea from the start and only now are the effects being truly felt even though many predicted this sort of long term effect. Bush spent tons of cash on the wars and Obama saw fit to multiply that amount, simple fact. When people on here throw stones then I think it's only fair to try and consider both sides. Far as I'm concerned 2012 is the year all these "career" politicians sign up for unemployment and we vote in some fresh blood. Wall Street and the lobbyist have got their hands in too many pockets in congress and it's time to start over. Same goes for our international trade / NAFTA / import tax policies as others on here have mentioned. Just mho...
The car to buy is the Camry. Why? Because it isn't popular and trendy, but it still is built like a tank. The 4-cylinder model in particular gets good mileage and will go easily 200,000 miles with regular oil changes.
If you are looking for basic no-nonsense transportation, this would be it. But wait for the rebates and price discounts. If toyota is that desperate, then make them lower their prices.
Problem is, a LOT of Toyota dealers are scumbags - real trash, who do all the old tricks 1950's car dealers did. Maybe THAT is why their sales are down!
In an unrelated story, The city is going broke. cut back on police protection. Dept of education wants more money.
Let's see:
GE is buying uo to 25k chevy volts with the base platform made in China. - http://nlpc.org/stories/2011/09/25/chevy-volt-production-create-green-jobs-%E2%80%93-china With the gov't giving heafty rebates to GE with our tax money. These number just don't add up.
There was an article today that claims used car sales will sore this year. What do you think that will do new car sales.
Boeing announced today that they are closing factories, laying off 2500 workers.
Corporate profits are up because of longer worker hours and lower or stagnant salaries, Now that the holidays are over, watch the unemployment numbers - it started already with the number released today.
If we are producing so much energy, why are energy prices so high on heating oil and gas here in the northeast. Why are we being pushed to drill baby drill both in the preserve in Alaska and off-shore.
Foreclosures are projected to increase, the average price of housing fell again, your children's, children, children will be paying for the debt being created, and so on and so on and so on.
Real estate sales are in the toilet - it will be at lease 10 years for housing to recover, seniors, if they have a job, will never retire.
And there's a lot more
I'm sure glad Charlie-1915998 is so happy
Big surprise here! Car companies that needed bailouts just to survive are rescued further by big Ben Bernanke and his money press which effectively dropped interest rates to nothing so that the American Sheeple could once again feel better about jumping back into some good debt towards a new vehicle that they probably didn't need anyway. Shiny new car makes people feel all better about themselves and such a good rate!!! who cares if the salesprice was a little higher to counter the 0% offers, we don't care about that number stuff, we just consume and consume like big govt , big banky's, and big oil want us to.
Everything is just rosy until crude gets over $125 again, and it will! Then watch how quick all these shiny new cars specially the ones with V-8's hit the market in mass just like in 2007 - 08. But yeah hey how about those car sales numbers?! WooHoo!!
So many trolls went straight to politics!!! Ever thought that Americans are just starting to believe in the American Motor companies again??? I Especially love "C_D_J55", Dude ur a TROLL!!! Quit spitting out pro-Obama lines about how people are going to "attack" him, no one has and now they might just because you had to start it!!!
I'm just gettin' started, Top. Awwww... Don't be mad, b/c I cut your BS anti-Obama rant dead in it's tracks!
Whine on...! I'm "laffing" atcha! Does little baby TopofTHEline wanna glass of warm milk before bed?
at no point in time did i say anything anti-obama. I was simply pointing out that you are a TROLL!!! You couldnt even get the criticism right!!!!
And I got to your sorry butt BEFORE you started your 'baggernut whine! Un-da-stand?
Keep whinin'. Got a guilty conscience?
I have been looking at new trucks. I have a Dodge Ram 1500, 2006 model. 115,000 miles on it, bought it new in "07" Have that sneaky feeling something bad is going to happen with it? Most people are in my situation. They feel like they have held out long enough for a new vehicle. I will wait for another year. Then see what I will do? Get out from under a truck note for a while. I buy American brand vehicles. More and more there is the out source of our jobs. My truck was assembled in ST Louis, Mo. The parts are from all over the plant. Ford was the only auto maker that did not take bail out money. Priced one of there trucks. Just too much money when you think about it. You can almost buy a house for the same amount. Ironic isn't it?
I dont disagree!!! I just bought a 2011 dodge ram, and i love it. It was the best bang for your buck!!! the truck cost me 27,000 brand new 5.7hemi 4x4. The funny thing is I just bought a house also for $35,000!!!its a modest home at 1400sqft. It was a foreclosed home but it is in great shape and needs very little work. we laugh because my truck is worth as much as my home!!!
people buying cars to live in since their Barny-Dodd dream as expired?
No it was just a run of the mill B of A predatory loan.
LOL!!! Teatard Republicans just hate good news.
Car sales are not up. It's a conspiracy of the big three auto companies, the media, soros, and obama.
The stockholder are being lied to and soon all three will be bankrupt in February. or march.
Car exhaust is good for you and can no way harm this planet.
After jogging start your car and suck on the tailpipe for a great pick me up.
I think about buying a new car from time to time, however, the 4 Toyota's I own run as good as the day I bought them. I may buy a new Tacoma again someday.......and KEEP the old one.
Things are much better in this economy thanks to OBAMA........We know the republicons hate this fact...Eat your heart out repubs...
Obama/Biden again in November 2012.
Bullseye!
And, your truth only hurts the neo-nut's virgin feelings.