Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Industry Statistics Archives

August 13, 2008

4 million Volvo cars built in Ghent plant

On August 8, the four millionth car was built at Volvo Cars Gent. It was a Volvo V50, a sporty R Design version, ordered by VDL, a customer from Breda in Netherlands.

Volvo Cars Gent has been building cars in Belgium since 1965. Initially the plant was set up to avoid the country's high import taxes on finished cars, but over the years Volvo Cars Gent has, together with Volvo Cars Torslanda, become one of the two main Volvo Cars factories.

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August 11, 2008

BMW global sales up 2.2% in July

Munich -- The BMW Group increased its sales volume in July of this year. In total, 125,812 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand cars were delivered to customers.

This represents an increase of 2.2% compared to the same month last year (123,089 units). For the period to the end of July, sales rose by 4.4% to reach 890,699 units (January - July 2007: 853,142 units).

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Multicultural Market Accounts for Over 22% of New Vehicle Sales

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. -- Though overall new vehicle registrations were down 3.3 percent in 2007, Hispanic, Asian and African-American consumers maintained 22 percent of the market, a stable level from 2006, according to R. L. Polk & Co.

In this difficult U.S. auto market, addressing multicultural consumers and understanding their loyalty habits should play a critical role in vehicle manufacturers' brand strategies as they attempt to maintain and grow customers in this important segment.

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August 10, 2008

Chrysler Mexico Sets a New Sales Record in July

Mexico City -- Chrysler Mexico and its Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge brands established a new monthly sales record in July, with 9,859 units sold, an increase of one percent compared to same month in 2007.

It was the best July sales ever in Mexico and the best accumulated year-to-date sales since 2001. During the January-through-July time period, sales reached 69,973 units, 2.7 percent more than the same period in 2007.

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August 6, 2008

Suzuki sales up 2%, driven by SX4 lineup

BREA, Calif. - American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automotive sales of 8,103 units in July, an increase of 2 percent over last year's July sales total.

The monthly results bring Suzuki's year-to-date figures to 64,351 vehicles. Suzuki's market share has increased 14.3 percent through the first six months of 2008.

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August 5, 2008

Car Market Continues to Offer Challenges

ATLANTA -- The Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, the Honda Civic and the Nissan Altima topped the list of the most-searched-for new vehicles in July on AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace with over 3.5 million vehicle listings.

Using research gathered by studying the shopping habits of over 14 million unique monthly visitors to the site, many of whom are in-market shoppers looking to complete a vehicle purchase within the next 90 days, AutoTrader.com has begun compiling this data to offer insight into current and emerging sales trends in the automobile industry.

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Toyota Unit Cuts Staff Amid Weak U.S. Sales

TOKYO -- A production unit of Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it laid off about 800 contract workers in June and August to reduce production of vehicles bound for North America, as car sales in the U.S. continue to slump.

However, a spokesman at Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc. said it will rehire 500 contract staff in the autumn or afterward to prepare to increase output, indicating it expects the production adjustment to end in several months. Toyota last week cut its U.S. sales projection for this year to 2.44 million vehicles from its previous plan of 2.64 million.

US Auto Sales Slump to 16-Year Low in July

DETROIT - U.S. auto sales slumped to a 16-year low in July as automakers failed to keep up with consumers' growing demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. While production changes may help that problem, trouble in the credit and auto leasing markets will continue to take a toll on sales.

General Motors, Ford, Toyota and other automakers said Friday that their U.S. sales fell by double-digits. Nissan Motor Co. was the only major automaker to report a gain, with truck sales up 18 percent thanks in part to the new Rogue crossover and a boost in incentives. Nissan's overall sales rose 8.5 percent.

August 4, 2008

Nissan Delivers Strong Market-Share Gain in July

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Sales of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles took an 8.4 percent share of the U.S. market in July, a 2 percentage-point gain over June and the highest monthly market share in at least 28 years.

Combined July sales for Nissan North America's two divisions amounted to 95,319 vehicles, up 8.5 percent compared with July 2007 and up 25.7 percent compared with June 2008.

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August 2, 2008

GM Reports July Sales Down 26.7%

DETROIT - GM today announced July sales results, highlighted by continued strong performance in small and midsize cars and crossovers. GM dealers in the United States delivered 235,184 vehicles in July, down 26.7 percent.

Weak industry conditions caused by a challenging U.S. economic environment, higher fuel prices and inventory shortages in critical segments such as compact cars contributed to the overall sales decline for the month.

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Chrysler Reports July 2008 U.S. Sales Down 29%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC today reported total July 2008 U.S. sales of 98,109 units, which is 29 percent below the same period last year.

Total July sales reflect a continued contraction of the market of pickup trucks and SUV sales and reductions in fleet sales. The company's recently completed 'Let's Refuel America $2.99 Gas Guarantee' promotion boosted showroom traffic and helped sales of Chrysler's newest highly fuel-efficient vehicles throughout the three-month program period. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

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Mercedes-Benz Reports 11.6% Increase for July Sales

MONTVALE, N.J. -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported sales of 20,733 new vehicles for July 2008, an 11.6 percent increase over last July.

This brings the year-to-date total to 140,012 units, marking a 2.3 percent increase over the same period last year and setting the new record for MBUSA year-to-date sales.

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Mazda Reports July 2008 Sales Down 13.3%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported July 2008 sales of 22,418 vehicles, a 13.3 percent decrease over last year. Year-to-date, Mazda reports 175,559 vehicles sold, down a slight 1.7 percent.

"As fuel prices continue to rise and consumer confidence continues to slip, new-car buyers are honing their choices, deciding on the smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles that a company like Mazda has always made," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO, MNAO.

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Kia Announces Record July Sales, Up 2.5%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best July ever with record sales of 28,021 units, an increase of 5.0 percent over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 185,640 units, an increase of 2.5 percent over the same period last year.

Sportage had its best month of the year with 4,035 units, a 6.2 percent increase over the same period last year, while Spectra had strong sales of 5,910 units.

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Hyundai Reports July Sales Down 6.5%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 40,703 for the month of July, a 6.5 percent decrease over the same period last year.

"Although Accent and Elantra sales continued their upward trend with increases of 96 percent and 31 percent respectively over the same period last year, we experienced an overall slow down for the month of July," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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Mitsubishi Motors Reports July Sales

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total July 2008 sales of 9,644.

-- Galant sales were 2,286, up 30.6 percent compared to July 2007. Calendar year-to-date Galant sales are 3.4 percent ahead of January-July 2007.

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BMW Group Reports July Sales Up 2.2%

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported July sales of 28,977 vehicles, an increase of 2.2 percent over the 28,364 vehicles sold in July 2007.

The BMW Group also reported its year-to-date sales volume of 186,890 vehicles, down 3.0 percent compared to 192,702 vehicles in the same period of 2007.

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August 1, 2008

Subaru July 2008 Sales Up 5%

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported July sales of 16,271 total units -- a 5% increase over the same month in 2007.

The company posted total Year-to-Date sales of 110,366 units, a 5% gain over YTD July 2007 (105,592 units).

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Honda Reports July Sales Down 9.2%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc. posted July total vehicle sales of 138,744, a daily-selling-rate basis decline of 9.2 percent compared to July 2007 results.

Honda Division posted July sales of 125,916, a decline of 8.2 percent versus July 2007. The Fit sold an all-time record of 12,266, up 78.5 percent. Civic Hybrid broke its previous July record, set in 2006, with sales up 27.4 percent to 3,440, while the Accord increased 2.8 percent to 41,382.

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Acura Announces July Sales Down 17.7%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- For the third consecutive month, the all-new TSX remains Acura's best-selling vehicle. In July, TSX sales were 3,474 units, up 15.9 percent over July 2007 sales based on daily selling rate*.

Total July sales for Acura were 12,828 units, down 17.7 percent versus 2007 sales.

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Nissan Announces July Sales Up 8.5%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) (NASDAQ:NSANY) today reported sales for July of 95,319 units versus 87,877 units a year ago, an increase of 8.5 percent.

Sales of Nissan Division vehicles increased 9.9 percent, while sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased by 2.9 percent.

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Audi Reports July Sales Down 4.5%

HERNDON, Va. -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today auto sales for the month of July totaling 6,804, a decrease of 4.5% from last year's figures, yet the brand expects to gain market share based on better overall performance versus the luxury segment average.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued to grow with another record-setting month; compared with last year's July figures, CPO sales rose to 2,669 units, an increase of 21.2%.

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Porsche Reports July U.S. Sales Slip 3%

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United States, announced its U.S. sales for the month of July totaling 3,128 compared to last year's record-breaking July total of 3,230, a decrease of 3%.

This comes despite a very challenging sales environment in the U.S. For the seven months of 2008, Porsche sales are now 18,214 versus 21,089.

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Daimler AG Reports 25% Increase in July U.S. Sales

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported sales for the Mercedes-Benz Cars division (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 23,292 units in the U.S. for July 2008.

Mercedes-Benz USA today reported sales of 20,733 new vehicles for July 2008, a 12 percent increase over last July.

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Porsche Reports July Sales in Canada

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars Canada, importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in Canada, today announced July sales of 146 units sold in Canada, representing a 21% decrease from July 2007 when sales were 184.

Delivering strong sales was Porsche's mid-engine Boxster. The company's sporty roadster drew sales of 41 compared to 14 Boxsters sold in July 2007.

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Toyota Reports July Sales Drop 18.7%

Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported July sales of 197,424 vehicles, a decrease of 18.7 percent from last July, on a daily selling rate basis.

The Toyota Division posted July sales of 175,242 units, a decrease of 17.9 percent from last July. The Lexus Division reported July sales of 22,182 units, a decrease of 24.6 percent from the year-ago month.

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Ford Sales Drop Less Than Expected

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford's redesigned Focus continues to surprise auto industry watchers and customers alike with strong sales, revenue growth, fuel economy and industry-first technology.

While Ford and industry sales experienced a double-digit sales decline in July, Ford Focus sales climbed 16 percent versus a year ago. Year-to-date, Focus sales were up 26 percent, compared with industry-wide small car growth of approximately 9 percent.

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Volkswagen Reports July Sales Up 4%

HERNDON, Va. -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced July 2008 sales of 20,442 units, a 4.0 percent increase over the July 2007 sales of 19,653 vehicles.

On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales are 1.1 percent ahead of 2007 sales through July.

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Volvo July Sales Down 46.2%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, reports sales of 5,124 units in the United States for July, representing a 46.2 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

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July 30, 2008

July auto sales expected to trend downward

Take automakers' inability to finance leases, combined with gas prices, the weak economy and other problems facing the industry, and you have the makings of what could be one of the worst months for auto sales in more than 15 years.

Auto companies report their U.S. sales for July on Friday, and the results are expected to continue the downward trend that has plagued the industry all year. Auto consulting company J.D. Power and Associates predicts the industry will see its worst July since 1992, with little chance for a recovery in the next 12 months. That forecast is shared across the industry.

VW Passes Ford for No. 3 in Global Sales

Volkswagen AG moved ahead of Ford Motor Co. to become the world's third-largest automaker by vehicle sales in this year's first half, as the U.S. company declined in its home market.

Volkswagen reported a 7.2 percent increase to 3.31 million cars and trucks, while Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said its sales fell 11 percent to 3.09 million. They released the figures last week.

``Given the world energy situation and the product portfolios of both companies, Volkswagen is in a much better position to navigate the rapids we're in,'' said Dennis Virag, president of Automotive Consulting Group, in an interview today.

U.S. Sales to go Down in '08, Toyota Predicts

Toyota Motor Corp. expects its annual U.S. auto sales to fall for the first time in 17 years, reflecting a severe downturn that sideswiped its Tundra pickup and other big vehicles.

The troubles in the U.S. auto market led Japan's biggest carmaker to cut its overall sales forecast for 2008, but Toyota said on Monday that it still expects to sell more vehicles worldwide this year than it did in 2007 because of solid demand in emerging markets.

July 25, 2008

GM Sales Soar Overseas, Struggling at Home

General Motors Corp. set sales records outside the United States in the first half of 2008, but was dragged down by the company's struggling home market, underscoring how critical it is for GM to successfully execute its North American turnaround.

GM reported global sales of 2.29 million vehicles in the second quarter, a 5 percent decline from a year earlier. It lost ground to Toyota Motor Corp. in the companies' continuing battle to be the global automotive leader. Toyota reported preliminary second-quarter sales of about 2.41 million, up about 1.8 percent from a year ago. GM sold 4.54 million vehicles in the first half of the year, while Toyota's total rose to 4.82 million.

July 23, 2008

GM Announces Second Quarter Global Sales of More Than 2.28 Million Vehicles

DETROIT - Record-setting sales performance in GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe regions during the second quarter of 2008 helped General Motors sell more than 2.28 million vehicles globally during the second quarter 2008.

GM sales outside of its North America region grew 10 percent (up 116,000 vehicles). Compared to second quarter 2007, GM's total sales were down 5 percent, reflecting continuing economic pressures and labor disruptions in the U.S. market, which pushed North America sales down 20 percent (236,000 vehicles).

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July 17, 2008

Volkswagen Expects 2008 U.S. Sales Gain

Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker, expects to increase U.S. sales "significantly" in 2008 on new models even as auto demand dwindles. Market share and sales should increase after the vehicles debut later this year, Stefan Jacoby, chief executive officer of Volkswagen Group of America Inc., said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

He didn't say how large any gains might be. "We expect to have growth this year in spite of the market decline," said Jacoby, 50. "In the first half of the year we have gained market share and increased volume slightly." New products are part of Wolfsburg, Germany-based Volkswagen's plan to return to profit in North America, a goal Jacoby said should be reached in 2010.

July 16, 2008

Ford of Europe Sets Sales Record in First Half of 2008

COLOGNE, Germany -- Ford of Europe's sales in its main 51 markets rose by almost two percent to a record 1,003,700 vehicles in the first half of this year.

"Surpassing the one million mark after only six months of the year is confirmation of how well our products are being received by an increasing number of customers," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. "We are also very pleased that despite a general softening of the industry and the challenging economic environment we increased our market share to 8.8 percent in the Euro 19 markets.

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July 14, 2008

GM Achieves Sales Record in Latin America, Africa and Middle East

Miramar, FL - General Motors Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GM LAAM) region broke another record in Q2 2008 selling 346,100 vehicles, up 52,100 units over the same period in 2007.

GM's volume increase of nearly 18 percent for the quarter again exceeded the industry growth rate of 13 percent. In addition, GM's market share in the region climbed to 17.5 percent for the quarter, up .7 share points year-over-year.

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July 10, 2008

GM posts record sales of 1.16 million vehicles in Europe

Zurich -- In the first half of 2008, General Motors (GM) sales in Europe reached a record of 1,160,935 vehicles, an increase of 31,613 units (or 2.8 percent) compared to the same period of 2007. The company market share was 9.5 percent.

"GM is successfully managing to keep its sales momentum in Europe, thanks to an aggressive strategy for growth in Eastern and Central Europe. Despite the headwinds in some of the major western markets, I'm proud to say that our multi-brand strategy is paying off and thanks to a great teamwork we are quickly managing to leverage growth in the key new markets of Europe," said Carl-Peter Forster, GM Europe President.

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July 9, 2008

Ford increases China sales 21%

SHANGHAI - July 8, 2008 - Ford Motor China posted sales of 172,411 units for the first-half of 2008, a 21-percent increase over the same period last year.

First-half sales of Ford brand passenger cars and commercial vehicles reached 103,698 units, a 15-percent year-over-year increase.

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Volvo marks 50 years in Germany

50 years of Volvo in Germany - a success story from the "economic miracle" until the 21st century. This year sees Germany holding the position of third largest market in the world for Volvo Car Corporation, following the USA and Sweden, Volvo Cars' home market.

The fate of the Swedish, premium-brand automotive manufacturer, which celebrated its 80th birthday last year (2007), is controlled in Germany by Volvo Car Germany GmbH based in Rodenkirchen in Cologne.

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250,000th Ford Focus Rolls Off St. Petersburg Production Line

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- The 250,000th Russian-built Ford Focus rolled off the production line today at the Ford plant in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg.

The car, a silver 1.8 litre Ghia Wagon, will be delivered to a customer in Moscow.

The Ford Focus has been Russia's best-selling foreign car for the past five consecutive full years.

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July 8, 2008

BMW Global Sales up 4.7%

Munich -- The BMW Group increased sales of its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands by 4.7% in the period from January through June to reach a total of 764,874 automobiles (prev.yr.: 730,285).

This made the first half-year of 2008 the most successful in the history of the BMW Group in terms of sales. Nevertheless, the company was not entirely able to avoid the difficult economic trends in important individual markets such as the USA and Japan. As such, global sales slipped 2.8% in the month of June to 146,138 units (prev.yr. 150,308).

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July 7, 2008

Chrysler Increases International Sales 4% in First Half

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Chrysler established a record for the best mid-year sales ever outside North America as sales increased four percent (118,386 units) compared to the same period in 2007; a result of the increased demand for fuel-efficient models like the Jeep® Compass, Jeep Patriot and Chrysler Sebring.

June 2008 sales (20,198 units) were 12 percent below those of June 2007, which was a record month for the Company.

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Mercedes-Benz Cars increases sales by eight percent in first half of 2008

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division posted considerable sales growth in the first half of the year. Deliveries of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles rose by eight percent in the first six months of the year, setting a new sales record of 668,100 units (January - June 2007: 617,700 units).

The Mercedes-Benz brand also posted a new record from January to June, with sales rising by four percent to 599,200 vehicles (same period last year: 575,700 units).

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Dealers need 4-cylinder cars

June's horrible U.S. sales numbers would have been better if automakers had enough four-cylinder engines to meet demand. Rising gasoline prices have pushed new-vehicle buyers back to four-bangers to a degree not seen since the last energy crisis in the early 1980s.

More than half of all new cars and trucks purchased in June had four-cylinder engines. For consumers, the availability of a four-cylinder engine is at least as important as the size of the vehicle, says Jim Farley, Ford Motor Co.'s group vice president of marketing and communications. All the major automakers are shifting production away from sixes and to fours. GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai all confirmed they are scrambling to produce more four-cylinder engines.

July 3, 2008

Daimler's U.S. Sales Rise on Small Cars

Daimler AG's June U.S. sales rose because of its new Smart two-seat car, while Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's Mini small cars posted a gain as the company sold fewer luxury vehicles amid a worsening economy.

U.S. sales for Daimler were up 13 percent from a year earlier to 22,121, including 2,545 Smart cars, the Stuttgart, Germany-based company said in a statement. Its Mercedes-Benz luxury brand reported a drop of less than 1 percent to 19,576.

Mini sales climbed 25 percent to 5,211 cars, Munich-based BMW said in a statement. The company's total fell 11 percent to 26,155 vehicles, as the BMW brand slid 17 percent to 20,994.

``BMW sales in June were probably also impacted by the stock market and declining home values,'' said John Wolkonowicz, an automotive analyst at Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. ``BMW's buyers are younger than Mercedes buyers, causing them to feel the pinch more from their declining stock portfolio and home equity.''

July 2, 2008

Honda, Hyundai Avoid Slump as Asians Top U.S. Brands

Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Corp. increased June U.S. sales amid an industry decline, leading Asia-based automakers to outsell General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC for a second straight month.

Demand for fuel-efficient cars boosted sales for Honda and Seoul-based Hyundai about 1 percent each from a year earlier while the U.S. total fell 18 percent. Fuel prices, the housing slump and weakest economic growth in five years pushed June's annualized sales rate to the lowest in any month since 1993.

Auto Sales Likely to Get Worse

General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., the biggest players in the U.S. auto market, predicted Tuesday that sales would fall this year to their lowest levels in more than a decade after already-weak demand tumbled further in June.

Sales of cars and light trucks slid 18.3 percent last month because of record-high gas prices, sinking consumer confidence and insufficient supplies of the most popular small and fuel-efficient models. The selling pace in June translated to 13.6 million cars and trucks on an annual basis, the weakest level in 15 years.

GM cut its sales forecast for 2008 to 14.7 million cars and light trucks. Toyota also lowered its forecast for the year to between 14.8 million and 15.2 million vehicles. That would make this year's sales the lowest since 1997, when 15.1 million cars and trucks were sold.

Mitsubishi Motors Reports June Sales

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total June 2008 sales of 7,494.

-- The fuel-efficient Lancer continues to lead the way for Mitsubishi in the U.S. with 2,688 sales, making June the second best month of the year for Lancer. May 2008 was Lancer's best month with 3,318 sales.

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BMW Group Reports June Sales down 11% in June

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported June vehicle sales of 26,155, a decline of 11 percent from the 29,394 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007.

For the first six months of 2008, BMW Group sales are down 3.9 percent to 157,913 vehicles versus the 164,338 sold in the first half of 2007.

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Nissan Announces June Sales Down 11.9%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales for June of 75,847 units versus 92,213 units a year ago, a decrease of 17.7 percent.

Sales of Nissan Division vehicles decreased 18.5 percent, while sales of Infiniti vehicles decreased by 11.9 percent. NNA in the first quarter of the fiscal year sold 252,477 units, versus 256,399 for the April-June 2007 period, a decrease of 1.5 percent.

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Mazda Reports June 2008 Sales Down 7.7%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations today reported June 2008 sales of 23,771 vehicles, a 7.7 percent decrease over last year, but an increase of 3.7 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

There were 24 selling days in June 2008, 27 in June 2007. Despite a tough economic state in the automotive industry, Mazda's year-to-date sales are up 0.3 percent with 153,141 vehicles sold (up 0.9 percent on a DSR basis).

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Chrysler Reports June 2008 Sales Down 36%, Extends Gas Promotion

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler LLC today reported total June 2008 U.S. sales of 117,457 units, which is 36 percent below the same period last year. Total June sales reflect a continued contraction of the market, especially of pickup trucks and SUVs, continued reductions in fleet sales, and increases in Chrysler's newest highly fuel-efficient vehicles. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

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Suzuki reports June sales down 5%

Suzuki reported June 2008 sales of 9,785 units, down 5% from the same month last year.

Audi Reports Increased June Sales

HERNDON, Va. -- New data added below Audi's "Total Sales" on table -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today auto sales for the month of June totaling 8,203, an increase of 5.3% from last year's figures; the brand also experienced a 1.8 percent increase in market share for the month within the luxury segment to reach 7.8%.

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July 1, 2008

Kia Announces Best June Sales Ever, Up 7.6%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best June ever with record sales of 28,292 units, an increase of 7.6 percent over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 157,619 units, an increase of 2.1 percent over the same period last year.

For the just completed quarter, the company reported sales of 89,405 units.

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GM Reports June Sales Down 18.5%

DETROIT - GM today announced June sales results, highlighted by an 8 percent rise in retail car sales and continued strong performance in crossovers.

Despite the significant decline of industry market volume and the limited availability of some of GM's most popular models, GM dealers in the United States delivered 265,937 vehicles in June, down 8 percent (18.5 percent unadjusted). Truck sales declined 6 percent.

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Honda Reports Record Sales in June, Up 13.8%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced total June sales of 142,539, up 13.8 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis(1), setting a new record for the month.

Reflecting a shifting automotive marketplace, total car sales set a new June record for the first time since 1990 at 97,639, up 34.2 percent versus last year. Year-to-date American Honda sales are up 4.8 percent to 798,358.

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Volvo June Sales Down 27%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, reports sales of 7,001 units in the United States for June, representing a 27 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.*

VCNA had projected a 10-15 percent lower sales volume for 2008 and, for the year, U.S. sales are down 14.4 percent.*

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Hyundai Reports June Sales Up 1.3%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 50,033 for the month of June, a 1.3 percent increase over the same record-setting period last year and best sales month ever.

"As consumers continue to shift to smaller cars, our most fuel-efficient vehicles -- Accent, Elantra and Sonata -- continue their upward trend with increases of 70 percent, 51 percent and 12 percent respectively over last year," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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Subaru Reports June Sales Up 5%

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported June sales of 18,007 total units resulting in the company having another month of increased sales.

The 2009 Subaru Forester continues its strong sales start, up 41 percent over the same period last year, while the Subaru Legacy maintains its increase in sales, up 19 percent over the same period last year.

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Acura Announces June Sales Down 16.4%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- The TSX sports sedan posted best-ever June sales, making it Acura's top-selling vehicle for the month as the luxury division posted June sales of 12,456 units, down 16.4 percent* based on the daily-selling-rate.

Acura year-to-date sales of 77,914 are down 14.3 percent versus 2007.

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Mercedes-Benz Reports 19,576 New Vehicle Sales for June

MONTVALE, N.J. -- Mercedes-Benz USA today reported sales of 19,576 new vehicles for June 2008, bringing the year-to-date total to 119,279 units, marking the best sales for the first half of any year company's history.

Highlights for the month include a 25.1 percent increase (5,977 vs. 4,776 units) in sales for the company's volume-leading C-Class.

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Toyota Reports June Sales Down 11.5%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported half-year sales of 1,240,086 vehicles. For the month of June, TMS recorded sales of 193,234 units, a decrease of 11.5 percent from last June, on a daily selling rate basis.

The Toyota Division posted June sales of 172,981, down 10.3 percent from last June. The Lexus Division reported June sales of 20,253 units, a decrease of 21.1 percent from the year-ago month.

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Porsche Reports June Sales in Canada Down 13%

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars Canada, importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in Canada, today announced June sales of 160 units sold in Canada, representing a 13% decrease from June 2007 when sales were 184.

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Volkswagen Reports June 2008 Sales up 0.3%

HERNDON, Va. -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced June 2008 sales of 23,208 units, a 0.3 percent increase over the June 2007 sales of 23,137 vehicles.

On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales remain 0.6 percent ahead of 2007 sales through June.

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Ford Reports June Sales Down 28%

DEARBORN, Mich. -- In the first half of 2008, sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and crossovers to retail customers were higher than a year ago.

Retail sales for cars increased 3 percent and crossovers also were up (less than 1 percent). Together, cars and crossovers accounted for 59 percent of Ford's first half retail sales compared with 49 percent in the first half 2007.

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June 30, 2008

Toyota Could Overtake GM in US Sales in June

DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. could overtake General Motors Corp. in monthly U.S. sales for the first time in June, but the victory could be a hollow one as the weak economy continues to pummel the auto industry and even Toyota struggles to meet U.S. consumers' sudden and insatiable demand for hybrid cars.

Analysts are predicting another double-digit dip in June sales, in large part because buyers are shunning big vehicles.

June 26, 2008

Volkswagen scores global sales record in 2008

WOLFSBURG, Germany - The Volkswagen brand delivered 1.57 million vehicles in the first five months of this year, an increase of 6.7 percent compared with January to May last year and at the same time a new delivery record for this period.

In a difficult market environment, the Volkswagen brand delivered 318,600 vehicles worldwide (- 0.8 percent) in May, thus performing noticeably better than the overall market (- 2.9 percent).

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June 24, 2008

Toyota May Cut U.S. Sales Goal

Toyota may cut its 2008 sales target as higher gasoline prices reduce demand in the U.S. Meeting the company's forecast of selling 2.64 million vehicles in the U.S., its biggest market, this year will be difficult, Executive Vice President Tokuichi Uranishi said at a shareholders meeting in Toyota City, Japan today.

The company will review its overall target next month, he said. Toyota's lead in fuel-efficient cars hasn't been sufficient to shield it from a slump in U.S. sales of larger vehicles.

The company has cut production of Tundra trucks twice because of a 22 percent drop in sales of large pickups including Ford Motor Co.'s F-150 and General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet Silverado through May this year.

June 20, 2008

Ford delays rollout of 2009 F-150

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said today it will delay the introduction of the 2009 Ford F-150 and make deeper cuts to North American truck production plans as industry sales worsen.

The 2009 F-150 will be delayed by two months because of the need to sell down inventory of the current model, Ford said. The revamped model will now go on sale in late fall.

Ford cut its third-quarter production plan by 50,000 vehicles. It now plans to produce 475,000 vehicles in the third quarter.

June sales looking ugly for autos

June is shaping up to be one of the worst months in recent memory for auto sales, with consumers steering clear of large gas-guzzlers and automakers running low on supplies of small, fuel-efficient models that are in demand.

After an unexpectedly weak start to the month, several auto analysts and forecasters predicted a huge drop Wednesday in the annualized selling rate for June to as low as 12.5 million vehicles. That's a figure that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago. The last time annual car and truck sales came in below 13 million was in 1992.

June 14, 2008

Suzuki sales up 2% in May

BREA, Calif. - American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automotive sales of 10,364 units in May, an increase of two percent over May 2007 and the best May sales in company history. The monthly results bring Suzuki's year-to-date figures to 46,463 vehicles.

Suzuki sales continue to be fueled by the popular SX4 model line, which sold an impressive 3,970 units, an increase of 158 percent over 2007.

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June 13, 2008

Ford of Europe Sales Continue to Grow

COLOGNE, Germany -- -- In the first five months of 2008, Ford of Europe sold 828,300 units in its 51 markets, an increase of 2.3 percent

Ford of Europe's business momentum continued through May despite the challenging economic environment. Year-to-date sales in the company's 51 markets have risen by 18,400, to 828,300 vehicles -- an increase of 2.3 percent compared with the same period last year.

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Audi U.S. Luxury Market Share Rises

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Audi of America, Inc. has announced that year-to-date car sales of its sedan and sports car models for 2008 rose to a total of 30,767, a 7.5% increase over last year's figures.

Audi claimed a growing share of the luxury auto market, 6.8% in May, thanks to strong sales of the A4, A4 Cabriolet and TT models, with robust sales in key markets.

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June 8, 2008

Audi on track to sell record 1 million cars globally in 2008

AUDI AG sold more than 426,200 vehicles worldwide from January to May, an increase of 1.5 percent. In the month of May, Audi increased sales to 88,200 vehicles, up an additional 0.8 percent versus the strong prior-year month.

The strongest growth drivers were once again the Asia/Pacific and Eastern Europe regions.

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BMW global sales up 3.9% in May

Munich -- The BMW Group increased its automobile sales once again in May. 133,496 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were delivered to customers (prev.yr.: 128,434) in the month under review.

This represents a gain of 3.9%. For the year to May, sales climbed 6.7% to reach a total of 618,731 vehicles (prev.yr.: 579,745). This is the first time in the company's history that more than 600,000 vehicles have already been sold by the end of May.

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Ford retains leadership of UK vehicle market through May

BRENTWOOD, Essex – Ford was the UK market leader in total vehicle sales in the month of May and for the first five months of this year, according to figures from the Society of Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

So far this year total Ford retail sales have grown by 5.3 per cent to 73,930 – an increase of more than 3,750 over the same period last year. Share of the retail market has risen to 13 per cent.

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June 7, 2008

Audi Celebrates 20 Years in China

Audi celebrated the 20th anniversary of its partnership with First Automobile Works (FAW) in Changchun today and laid the cornerstone for a new assembly hall. The company also announced the local production of the Audi Q5 at the Changchun plant.

“We hope to deliver up to 200,000 vehicles per year to customers in China by 2015. The new assembly hall is an important milestone toward achieving this goal,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG during the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the joint venture between FAW and Audi in Changchun.

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Mercedes global sales up 10% on year

Stuttgart – The Mercedes-Benz Cars division - with the brands Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach - sold a total of 111,100 vehicles in May 2008, a decrease of four percent from the 116,000 units sold in May 2007.

Unit sales over the first five months of the year rose ten percent at the division, however, reaching the new record level of 548,800 vehicles (January-May 2007: 500,500).

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Chrysler Achieves Three Straight Years of International Sales Growth

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler reached an unprecedented sales milestone in May by achieving 36 consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth in markets outside North America.

Chrysler International sales for the month grew by 5 percent (21,505 units) compared to May 2007, establishing a new record for the best May sales in the Company's history. Year-to-date sales were up 7 percent (98,188 units) versus the same time period last year, driven by a vehicle lineup that offers customers fuel- efficient and versatile options.

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June 5, 2008

Best Selling Pickups in the United States for May 2008

Pickup truck sales dropped 36.1% in the U.S. in May, and as they say, that's gonna' leave a mark.

For the year to date pickup sales are down 21%, with only the Toyota Tundra selling more than last year [8.5%].

Even with plant idlings and closings, it's becoming pretty obvious there is overcapacity in the market, and we wouldn't be surprised if one of the manufacturers pulls out or shuts down pickup truck production altogether.

Best selling pickups trucks for May 2008:

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Top Selling Minivans in the Unites States for May 2008

The minivan segment saw sales drop 16.6% in May, with Chrysler holding on to two of the top three spots, thanks in part to their gas rebate plan.

Of particular note was the 80% drop in Hyundai Entourage sales, that one can only hope was due to a supply problem -- point being, this is a bad time to be getting into the minivan business, as Volkswagen is about to find out.

The top 8 best selling minivans in the United States for May 2008:

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Chrysler reports 7% sales increase in Canada

Windsor, Ontario -- Chrysler Canada’s sales grew seven percent in May (27,325 units) and extended the unprecedented streak of year-over-year sales increases to 22 consecutive months.

May sales were driven by Chrysler’s one-two punch of their all-new minivans and the newly crowned most popular crossover in Canada, the Dodge Journey. Sales were also bolstered by the increased demand for fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Jeep Patriot and Dodge Caliber.

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June 4, 2008

Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008

With total SUV sales down 19.5% in May, not even the crossover segment was able to escape unscathed -- the smaller ute/station wagon category was also down 5%, as consumers decided they didn't even want mini-SUVs over more fuel efficient cars.

Besides the usual suspects a couple vehicles did well in consumers' quest for smaller wagons, including the Dodge Journey, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. Also of note is that GM placed both the GMC Acadia and Saturn Vue in the top 15, which is good news for that new platform, and for the parent company that suffered a big blow for the month.

After the jump, the top 15 best selling crossovers for May 2008:

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Top Ten Best Selling Cars in the United States for May 2008

American consumers voted with their wallets at car dealerships in May, and overwhelmingly chose fuel efficient cars over trucks and SUVs, by the highest margin in recent history. Nearly 60% of vehicles bought were cars, while bigger vehicles dropped to 43% of purchases.

There was big news in the battle for the best selling car, as the Honda Civic pulled in front of Toyota's Camry and Corolla, with the Nissan Altima taking its usual fifth spot behind the Honda Accord.

But even the domestics did well in this new reality environment, as Chevy posted three best sellers to the top ten, and Ford had two, with the Focus that has been doing well, but also with the Fusion sedan that had its best sales month ever.

Top Ten Best Selling Car in the United States for May 2008:

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June 3, 2008

Honda Civic is the Best Selling Vehicle in the United States

Folks, today is a historic day in automotive history: The Honda Civic was the best selling car in the United States in May, beating out the long time leader, the Toyota Camry, by 53,299 [Civic] to 51,291 [Camry].

What's even more amazing is that the Toyota Corolla even beat out the Camry, 52,826 to 51,291.

And to make Honda's achievement even more amazing, it beat out the Ford F-150, long the best selling vehicle, by 53,299 [Civic] to 42,973 [F-150].

Today is a great day in Honda land, indeed, and congrats are well deserved.

Volvo Reports Sales for May Down 21.4%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, recorded 7,238 units sold in the United States during May. While the figure is 21.4 percent lower than May 2007 sales, the company is on track to meet its projected sales volume for 2008.

"Last year, we said 2008 sales would be 10-15 percent lower than 2007 as we balanced margin and volume," said Doug Speck, president and CEO. "We're down 11 percent, year-on-year, and that's essentially where we expected to be for a variety of business and economic reasons."

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Audi of America Reports May Sales Down 2.9%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today auto sales for the month of May totaling 8,534, a slight decrease of 2.9% from last year's figures, however, the brand expects to record an increase in market share for the month. Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued their record-setting trend; compared with last year's May figures, CPO sales rose to 3,364 units, an increase of 42.7%.

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Mitsubishi Reports May Sales Up 7.9%

CYPRESS, Calif.-- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total May 2008 sales of 10,430.

-- Galant sales in May were 2,783, an increase of 7.9 percent over May 2007. Galant sales are up 14.5 percent calendar-year-to-date.

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BMW Group Reports May Sales Up 3.1%

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported May vehicle sales of 31,781, an increase of 3.1 percent from the 30,819 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007.

For the first five months of 2008, BMW Group sales are down 2.4 percent, to 131,758 vehicles versus the 134,944 sold January through May of 2007.

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Subaru Reports All Time Record May Sales, Up 13%

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported the Company's best May sales ever with 18,436 total units sold. Retail sales were up 13% over the same month in 2007, driven by strong consumer demand.

The new 2009 model year Subaru Forester was up 66%, the Tribeca SUV posted a 4% gain and the Outback wagon saw a 9% loss.

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Chrysler Reports May Sales Down 25%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC today reported total May 2008 sales of 148,747 units, which is 25 percent below the same period last year.

Total May sales reflect a combination of record sales of Chrysler's newest highly fuel-efficient vehicles, an unusually high 40 percent cut in monthly fleet vehicle sales and a continued industry wide slowdown in pickup truck and SUV sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

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Kia Announces Best Month Ever, May Sales Up 9%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever for the second consecutive month with record May sales of 31,047 units, an increase of nine percent over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 129,327 units.

May's record sales were led by Spectra and Optima, which both had their best months ever with 9,407 and 8,197 units sold respectively, increases of 10.5 and 120.8 percent over same period last year. Rio also continued with strong sales in its best month of the year at 4,474 units, a 28.6 percent increase over the same period last year.

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Acura Announces May Sales Down 9.9%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- In its first full month of sales, the all-new 2009 Acura TSX posted its best month in the model's history with 4,564 units sold- topping the previous mark of 3,911 set in April of 2006.

So strong are TSX sales that for the first time ever, it topped the monthly sales of TL and MDX. Acura sales for May were 14,893 units, down 9.9 percent based on Daily Selling Rate* while year-to-date sales totaled 65,458 units, down 13.8 percent compared to 2007.

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Hyundai All-Time May Sales Record, Up 6%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 46,415 for the month of May, a six percent increase over the same period last year, and its best May ever.

"We are very pleased with our results for May and the fact we were able to break the record set in 2007 for the month during a period of record-setting oil prices and a sluggish economy," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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American Honda Reports Best Month Ever -- Civic Soars to Record

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., May sales of 167,997, up 11.3 percent on a daily-selling-rate basis, shattered the company's all-time sales record for any month as Civic sales reached 53,299, up 28.3 percent versus last May and surpassing the previous monthly record for any car in the lineup.

New all-time records set in May included (previous record in parentheses):

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Mazda Reports Best May Since 1996, Sales Up 4.2%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported its best May in 12 years with 27,921 units sold in the U.S., a 4.2 percent increase over last year. Year-to-date sales are up 1.9 percent with 129,370 vehicles sold.

"Soaring fuel prices are driving customers to make sensible transportation choices; it's a new marketplace," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO, MNAO. "We're finding more and more buyers are shopping for the stylish, fun-to-drive, and affordable to own and operate cars and crossover SUVs that we build."

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GM Reports May Sales Down 28%

DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 272,363 vehicles in May.

The sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossover vehicles could not make up for soft truck demand and a decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike.

Approximately 15-18,000 sales were lost in May, or will be retimed, due to various work stoppages including the American Axle strike. Compared with a strong May 2007, total sales were down 30 percent (28 percent unadjusted). Truck sales declined 39 percent.

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Nissan Announces May Sales Up 4.4%

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported May sales of 100,874 units, compared to 93,062 in the prior year. Adjusted for the number of selling days, sales were up 4.4 percent, marking a record May.

On the same basis, Nissan Division sales rose 5.7 percent, from 82,314 units to 90,379 units, while the Infiniti Division saw sales of 10,495 units decrease from 10,748 units the prior year, a decline by 6.0 percent.

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Toyota Reports May Sales Down 7.9%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Toyota today reported May sales of 257,404 vehicles, a decrease of 7.9 percent from last May, on a daily selling rate basis.

"The all-new Corolla really found its stride this month," said TMS President Jim Lentz. "Launched amid soaring fuel prices and economic uncertainty, Corolla strikes a sweet spot for buyers seeking refinement in addition to fuel efficiency and affordability."

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Ford Reports May Sales Down 16%

DEARBORN, Mich. -- For the second time in its nine-year history, Ford Focus sales eclipsed the 30,000-unit milestone in May.

Focus sales totaled 32,579, up 53 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales to individual customers more than doubled (up 105 percent). The first time was October 2001, when industry sales soared in response to zero-percent financing.

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Porsche Reports 16% Drop in May Sales

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United States, today announced May car sales of 2,796 in the United States, representing a 16% decrease from its all-time May sales record in 2007 of 3,348.

Porsche's venerable Cayenne series continued to perform well with sales of 1,192, up 7% over May 2007 sales of 1,119. Year-to-date Cayenne sales were up 12%. Continuing to draw market strength was the recently introduced Cayenne GTS model with sales of 371.

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Mercedes-Benz Sets Another Record With Best May Sales

MONTVALE, N.J. -- Mercedes-Benz USA today reported its highest May on record with sales of 21,785 new vehicles, a 0.1 percent increase over last May.

Sales for the month brought MBUSA's year-to-date volume to 99,703 new vehicles, a 1.1 percent increase compared to the first five months of 2007.

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Porsche Reports May Sales in Canada

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars Canada, importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in Canada, today announced May sales of 208 units sold in Canada, representing a 17% decrease from May 2007 when sales were 252.

Porsche's trendy mid-engine Cayman experienced a 62% increase in sales with 42 units sold in May 2008 vs. 16 vehicles sold in May 2007.

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Daimler AG Reports 12% Increase in the U.S. for May 2008

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars division (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 24,480 units in the U.S. for May 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported its highest May on record with sales of 21,785 new vehicles, a 0.1 percent increase over last May.

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Volkswagen Reports May Sales Steady

HERNDON, Va.— Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced May 2008 sales of 22,346 units, a 0.1 percent increase over the May 2007 sales of 22,325 vehicles. On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales are 0.6 percent ahead of 2007 sales through May.

A sign that people are ready for top down summer driving is that both the New Beetle convertible and Eos posted strong May sales results.

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June 2, 2008

Success: Mercedes Sells 300,000 C-Classes in First Year

In the year since its market launch, the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is continuing the success story of the predecessor model: more than 300,000 customers have purchased either a sedan or station wagon variant of the new model since it’s official introduction on March 31, 2007.

“The sedan got off to an excellent start, and since its premiere at dealerships at the end of last year, the new C-Class station wagon has also been enjoying high popularity,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars.

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May 22, 2008

Ford Lowers Production; Profit Outlook Revised

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) today said it is making adjustments to its production plan and revising downward its near-term North American Automotive profit outlook, while planning further manufacturing capacity realignments, additional cost reductions and changes to its product mix to respond to the rapidly changing business environment in the U.S.

The company said it is increasing 2008 North American production of the hot-selling Ford Focus, Fusion, Edge and Escape, Mercury Milan and Mariner, as well as the Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln MKX. At the same time, Ford is reducing 2008 production of large trucks and SUVs, as gas prices soar and customers move more quickly to smaller and more fuel-efficient cars and crossovers.

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May 21, 2008

Crossovers overtake U.S. in consumer interest

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The gap in consumer interest between crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) continues to widen, according to a report released today by NADAguides.com.

The company, a vehicle pricing and information website, says consumer interest in crossovers increased 14.8 percent in April 2008 compared to April 2007, while SUV interest was down at almost the same rate of 15.9 percent during that same timeframe.

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May 16, 2008

Ford Europe sales up 6.4% in April

COLOGNE, Germany – Ford of Europe's business momentum continued with another strong sales month in April.

Ford sales in the Euro 19 countries were up by 6.4 percent to 129,500 units, for a market share of 8.1 percent. When sales in Russia, Turkey and the 30 Ford European Direct Markets are added, Ford of Europe's sales for April totaled 161,140 units, an increase of 8 percent over the same month last year.v

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May 15, 2008

Worldwide Prius Sales Top 1 Million Mark

Tokyo -- Toyota announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius—the world's first mass-produced gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle—have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year.

Currently, Prius sales are robust in more than 40 countries and regions, particularly in Japan and North America. Nearly 60%, or 591,600 Priuses have been sold in North America.

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May 12, 2008

Auto Industry Predictions: We're 3 for 4!

A new report from Comerica Bank shows that the average vehicle purchase, excluding finance costs, is $24,627, the lowest quarterly average in 2 1/2 years.

This jibes with our recent prediction that average transactions would drop below $25K, which you can read about here.

And while we're on a victory lap, we also would like to point out we were one of the first to point out the damage the housing crisis would have on vehicle sales, which we detailed in this video from last August.

Also, at the beginning of 2008, we were among the first to report that this would be a year of tremendous rebates.

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May 10, 2008

Ford Kuga crossover driving sales in UK

BRENTWOOD, Essex – The launch of Ford's new crossover, the Kuga, will strengthen the appeal of the blue oval, which has seen popularity rise by over six per cent with private car buyers.

The Ford Kuga goes on sale next month in the expanding compact 4x4 segment. With the lowest CO2 emissions in its segment, the Kuga is expected to be another winner with retail customers.

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May 9, 2008

Volvo's milestone customers pack for a dream trip

Here are the happy owners of Volvo number 15,000,000. Aimee and Paul Kay bought a piece of Volvo history when their C70 was delivered in San Diego - and to top it all off the couple get to travel to Göteborg in Sweden and visit Volvo's Torslanda factory.

The 15th million Volvo was transported more than 8000 kilometres from the Volvo factory in Uddevalla to San Diego on the US west coast.

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One million hybrids on American roads

In December 2007, an auto dealership employee somewhere in America handed a new owner the keys to the one millionth hybrid vehicle sold in this country. In that month, industry sales of 30,892 hybrids brought the cumulative total to 1,012,442 units.

This event occurred a month after Toyota recorded the sale of its 500,000th hybrid in the United States, and only a few months after Toyota Motor Corporation reached the one-million-unit mark in global production of hybrid vehicles.

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May 8, 2008

Mercedes sells 500,000th SLK

Stuttgart - With the delivery of the 500,000th vehicle since its market launch in 1996, Mercedes-Benz has now reached another milestone with the successful SLK compact roadster.

All in all, about 310,000 customers opted for a model from the first generation of this dynamic two-seater, and its successor has now sold 190,000 units since its market launch in March 2004.

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Chrysler Mexico Sets a New Sales Record

Mexico City -- In April 2008 Chrysler Mexico and its brands Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® sold 9,505 units, an increase of 19.3 percent vs. the same month in 2007. This is the second-best April ever for Chrysler Mexico and the best accumulated year-to-date sales (40,629 units) since 2002.

Dodge reported 6,967 vehicles sold, 37.8 percent more than in 2007, powered by the Dodge Dakota pickup and the all-new Dodge Journey.

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BMW Group posts 12.5% increase in global April sales

Munich -- The BMW Group once again continued its upward sales trend for all three car brands in April. Overall, in a month-on-month comparison, the company recorded a 12.5% increase in the number of vehicles delivered to reach a total of 133,205 (prev.yr.: 118,378).

For the year to April, 485,155 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles have been sold. This is an increase of 7.5% (prev.yr.: 451,311) compared with the same period in 2007.

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May 7, 2008

Mercedes-Benz global sales up 22%

Stuttgart — Combined sales of the four brands of Mercedes-Benz Cars (Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach) reached a total of 119,000 units for April, an overall increase of 22 percent from the 2007 figure (97,800).

Since the beginning of the year, Mercedes-Benz Cars has thus delivered 437,700 vehicles, representing a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year (384,600).

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May 6, 2008

Nissan GT-R Sold Out in US, Attracts 1,500 Europe Pre-Orders

CASCAIS, Portugal, 5th May 2008 - Just one month after the European order books were opened for its all-new supercar, Nissan has received over 1500 orders for the GT-R.

Selected dealers across Europe began taking orders on 2nd April, with on-line orders starting two days later. Since then the 56 nominated High Performance Dealers across Europe have already taken a year’s supply of orders in one month. Nine hundred and fifty orders for GT-R have been taken in the UK alone.

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Honda Reports an Increase in April Sales

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted an April sales result of 135,180 vehicles, a decrease of 1.3 percent over April 2007 sales of 126,419 vehicles, on a daily-selling-rate basis*, the company announced today.

American Honda posted April car sales of 82,252 units, up 7.1 percent over last year, and April light-truck sales of 52,655 units, a decrease of 12.1 percent compared to year-ago results. Year-to-date American Honda total vehicle sales rose 0.5 percent over the same period last year, to 487,822 units.

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Acura Announces April Sales Results

TORRANCE, Calif. -- The TL performance luxury sedan was Acura's top-selling model with April sales of 4,291 units, eclipsing MDX sales for the first time in months.

Acura sales for April tallied 13,025 units, down 20.9 percent based on the daily selling rate* compared to April 2007. Year-to-date** Acura vehicle sales totaled 50,565 units, down 14.9 percent compared to 2007.

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May 4, 2008

Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008

Americans rediscovered cars in April 2008, with small cars in particular accounting for nearly one in five of all vehicles sold in an otherwise down month.

Toyota had four vehicles in the top twenty, General Motors had three; Nissan, Hyundai and Kia had two apiece. And Dodge has a hit with the Caliber, which made the list at number 9.

With people paying nearly $4 per gallon of gas nationwide, it appears that the free market has achieved what environmentalists have been clamoring about for years -- to conserve fuel by buying smaller vehicles.

The top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008:

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Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008

Overall, pickups and SUV sales were down 17.4% in April and are down 13.5% for the year to date. The one bright spot is the crossover and small wagon category, which was down 0.4% for the month but has edge up 1.9% for the year.

In general, crossover utility vehicles are built on car platforms, while traditional SUVs are built on truck frames. CUVs are smaller, lighter and get better gas mileage than big SUVs -- one way to think of them is that they are really modern station wagons, but shorter and with a higher profile.

This months list of the top ten selling crossovers features three vehicles from General Motors, and two each from Ford and Toyota. Also of note, the new Nissan Rogue made the list at number ten.

The top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008:

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Top ten best selling cars for April 2008

With gas prices at record highs in the U.S., consumers are buying cars in greater percentage than light trucks and SUVs, a reversal of a long-term trend.

In April, 52.6% of vehicles sold were cars, a gain of 5.2% over the same month last year.

Of particular note is that both General Motors and Toyota both notched three cars apiece in the top ten.

The top ten best selling cars for April 2008:

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May 3, 2008

Beltley increases profiability in first quarter

Crewe -- Bentley Motors has announced its financial results for the first quarter, ending 31 March 2008, reporting consistent profitability despite a slight decrease in sales.

Bentley net revenue decreased by €15m or 4.4% to €338mn compared to the first quarter of 2007, primarily due to exchange rate effects. However, operating profit increased by €1m to €39m compared to the same period in 2007.

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Suzuki sales up 5% for April

BREA, Calif. – American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automotive sales of 9,669 units in April, an increase of 5 percent over last year’s April sales total. Year-to-date sales stand at 36,099 vehicles.

April sales were led by Suzuki’s midsize crossover SUV, the XL7, which sold an impressive 3,082 units, an increase of 33 percent over 2007.

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May 2, 2008

Volvo's 15 Millionth Car Comes With a Trip to Sweden

SAN DIEGO -- Paul and Aimee Kay bought a piece of Volvo history when they took delivery of their 2008 Volvo C70. This special vehicle had traveled more than 5,000 miles from its factory birthplace in Uddevalla, Sweden to reach its new home. For the brand, reaching this milestone has been the establishment of a heritage renown around the globe: safety leadership.

The first Volvo car left a Swedish factory in April, 1927. This new Swedish car was called the OV4 ("OV" -- Swedish for "Open Car" and "4" denoting the number of cylinders).

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Chrysler Canada Achieves 21 Consecutive Months of Sales Growth

Windsor, Ontario -- Chrysler Canada achieved the best April sales in more than five years, and marked 21 consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases. Total sales for the month reached 24,266 units, up eight percent over April 2007.

Fueled by retail growth, Chrysler Canada outperformed the Canadian marketplace and reinforced its position as Canada’s second-highest-volume automaker.

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Porsche Holds its Own in North America

Stuttgart -- Despite the increasingly poor economic outlook, sales by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, in the USA and Canada in April 2008 show a good result: Deliveries of 3,099 vehicles to customers were only 5 percent below the previous year’s figure of 3,248 units.

The driving force behind this development was the second generation of the Cayenne SUV with its lower fuel consumption engine remaining in great demand among customers.

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Audi Reports Increased April Sales Down 4.6%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today sales for the month of April totaling 7,730, a decrease of 4.6% from last year's record figures.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued their record-setting trend; compared with last year's April figures, CPO sales rose to 3,175 units, an increase of 56.4%.

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Preliminary Honda Sales Report Shows April Increase

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Due to technical difficulties, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is forced to delay the posting of final April 2008 sales numbers until the issue is resolved.

All reported numbers are approximate and are expected to show increases when final results are tallied. Preliminary sales tabulations show that American Honda April sales will exceed 134,000 vehicles, compared to 126,419 vehicles for April 2007.

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Mitsubishi Reports April Sales Down 26.3%

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total April 2008 sales of 8,878.

-- Lancer was the volume leader at 2,598. This was the best month for Lancer sales in 7 months.

-- Galant sales were 1,402 for the month. Galant sales year-to-date are up 16.8% compared to the first four months of 2007.

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Kia Announces Record April Sales Up 15.6%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced its best sales month ever with record April sales of 30,066 units, a 15.6-percent increase over the same period last year, and year-to-date sales of 98,280 total units.

Kia's April growth was led by Spectra and Optima, up 4.8 percent and 89.3 percent respectively over the previous month. Rondo sales increased 118.3 percent over the same period last year with 2,583 unit sales.

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Chrysler Reports April 2008 Sales Down 23%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC today reported total April 2008 sales of 147,751 units, which is 23 percent below the same period last year.

Overall sales were most affected by slowing truck and SUV demand and a dramatic cut in daily rental-fleet sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

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Subaru Reports Record April Retail Sales, Up 22%

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported April sales of 16,771 total units -- a record for the month of April. Retail sales were up 22% over the same month in 2007, driven by strong consumer demand.

Both the Forester and Legacy model lines recorded substantial gains over the same period last year. The newly introduced 2009 model year Subaru Forester was up 49 percent while the Subaru Legacy was up 32 percent. Sales of all Subaru model lines were up while Forester and Impreza totals represent records for the month of April.

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Video: Dodge Challenger Hot Rod Sold Out

Four significant stories from Chrysler LLC the week of May 2, 2008: Stories include: April sales, Bob Nardelli on CNBC, Challenger SRT8 sold out and SRT ride-and-drive.

GM Reports April Sales Down 16%

DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 260,922 vehicles in April. Retail car and crossover sales were up more than 9 percent.

A sharp sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossovers could not make up for soft truck demand and a sharp decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike. On a non-adjusted basis, retail sales were down 11.5 percent and total sales for the month were down 16 percent.

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Nissan April Sales Slightly Higher

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 75,855 units in April, an increase of 4,731 vehicle sales compared with April 2007.

- Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 66,318 units in April, compared with 61,179 during April 2007. Adjusted for a difference in the number of in selling days, this represents a 0.1 percent increase.

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Mazda Reports 12.8% April Sales Increase

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported a double-digit increase in sales for April with 23,760 units sold in the U.S., a 12.8 percent increase over last year. Year-to-date sales are up 1.3 percent with 101,391 vehicles sold.

MAZDA3 reported sales of 9,234 units, up 14.8 percent.

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BMW Group Reports April Sales up 9.6%

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported April vehicle sales of 31,448, an increase of 9.6 percent from the 28,692 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007.

For the first four months of 2008, BMW Group sales are still down 4.0 percent, to 99,977 vehicles versus the 104,125 sold January through April of 2007.

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Toyota Reports April Sales Down 4.5%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported April sales of 217,700 vehicles, a decrease of 4.5 percent from last April.

"Smaller vehicles are going over big," said TMS President Jim Lentz. "With oil prices at record levels, compact cars and hybrids continue to lead the way."

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May 1, 2008

Mercedes-Benz USA Reports April Sales of 20,271

MONTVALE, N.J. -- While experiencing a marginal three percent decrease in its April sales (20,271 vs. 20,895), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a 1.4 percent increase for the first four months of the year (77,918 vs. 76,880), bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

Highlights for the month include growth in the sales volume-leading C-Class model line which posted a significant 33.5 percent gain (6,850 vs. 5,131 units) for the month and a 37.8 percent jump (23,991 vs. 17,413 units) for the year-to-date.

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Porsche Reports Cayenne Sales Up 23% in U.S.

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in the United States, today announced April new-car sales of 2,863 in the United States, representing a 5% decrease from April 2007 sales of 3,015.

Continuing to perform well was Porsche's popular Cayenne series. Sales for the high-end SUV reached 1,218, an increase of 23% over April 2007 when sales were 993. Year-to-date Cayenne sales were up 14%. The recently introduced Cayenne GTS model continues to show strong market appeal with sales of 443.

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Daimler AG Reports 22,954 Unit Sales in April

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported total group sales (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 22,954 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for April 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

While experiencing a marginal three percent decrease in its April sales (20,271 vs. 20,895), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a 1.4 percent increase for the first four months of the year (77,918 vs. 76,880), bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

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Ford Focus Posts Huge Gain in Overall Down Month

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford's new Focus continues to defy gravity -- and the U.S. economy -- with a 88 percent jump in retail sales versus last April and the highest total Focus April sales since 2000.

"Focus is the right car at the right time," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "This is the little car that delivers in a big way for customers, with outstanding fuel economy, cool features including SYNC, a fun drive and the right price, right along with the rest of our newest cars and crossovers."

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Porsche Reports Boxster Sales Up 56% in Canada

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars Canada, importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in Canada, today announced April sales of 226 units sold in Canada, representing a 3% decrease from the same period last year when sales were 233.

Porsche's trendy mid-engine Boxster experienced a 56% increase in sales with 50 units sold in April 2008 vs. 32 sold in April 2007.

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Hyundai Reports Flat April Sales

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 39,280 for the month of April, a 0.4 percent increase over the same period last year.

"In a pretty tough economy, we are pleased that sales were slightly up over April 2007," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales. "Car buyers showed strong interest in our more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Accent, Elantra and Sonata sold well reflecting concerns with the overall economy and rising fuel prices."

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Volkswagen Reports April 2008 Sales Up Over Last Year

HERNDON, Va. -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced April 2008 sales of 19,415 units, a 1.7 percent increase over the April 2007 sales of 19,086 vehicles. On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales are 0.8 percent ahead of 2007 sales through April.

A sign that spring is definitely in the air is Volkswagen's innovative coupe-convertible-sunroof Eos posted its best sales month ever with sales of 1,663 units, representing a 45.6 percent increase over April 2007.

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April 28, 2008

GM to Reduce Full-Size Truck Production

DETROIT – GM announced today that it is eliminating one shift of production at its full-size pickup truck assembly plants in Pontiac, Mich.; Flint, Mich.; and Oshawa, Ontario; and its full-size SUV assembly plant in Janesville, Wis. The decisions were made to bring production capacity more in line with market demand.

Under this plan, approximately 88,000 units of full-size pickup and 50,000 units of full-size SUV production will be removed from GM’s North American production capacity for the remainder of the 2008 calendar year.

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April 24, 2008

Chrysler: The Demise of the Minivan is Overrated

by Stuart Schorr, Chrysler Senior Manager, Sales, Mopar and Dealer Communications

If you want to talk about hamburgers, you call McDonald's. And if you want to talk about minivans, then come to us.

So we had to pause when we read a recent news story that perpetuated the myth that shoppers are moving away from minivans. Because here at Chrysler LLC, minivans are a strong and profitable part of the market, serving the needs of hundreds of thousands of families.

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April 23, 2008

Bosch Produces 200 Millionth Oxygen Sensor

ANDERSON, S.C. -- As Earth Day 2008 is celebrated globally in a multitude of ways, the associates at the Robert Bosch LLC plant here are proudly celebrating the production of 200 million oxygen sensors at the site since first manufacturing the product in 1988.

The oxygen sensor, which was first developed by Bosch more than 30 years ago, is one example of the many Bosch products that reflect the company's slogan of Invented for Life.

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Chevy Malibu Continues To Win New Customers

DETROIT – It’s been approximately six months since Chevrolet’s redesigned Malibu was launched. In that time, it has received critical acclaim – including being named 2008 North American Car of the Year – and numerous recommendations by consumer groups.

More importantly, the new Malibu is resonating with customers. In only the first quarter of 2008, market share is up 1.3 points over the same period in ’07.

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GM Announces First Quarter Global Sales of More Than 2.25 Million

DETROIT - General Motors sold 2.25 million cars and trucks around the world in the first quarter of 2008, according to preliminary sales figures released today, with a record 64 percent of all sales occurring outside the United States.

GM global first quarter sales were down less than one percent. Robust first quarter sales in GM's Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GMLAAM) and Asia Pacific (GMAP) regions, and improved sales in the GM Europe (GME) region helped offset a 10 percent decline in GM North America (GMNA). Sales outside GMNA were up 8 percent compared with last year.

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Volkswagen Group reports record global sales

WOLFSBURG, Germany - The Volkswagen Group started the second quarter of 2008 with another global record: Under increasingly difficult market conditions, Europe’s largest automaker expects to deliver some 550,000 vehicles in April, an increase of 7.0 percent compared with April 2007.

As a result, Group deliveries during the first four months of the year will exceed the two million mark for the first time.

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Chrysler Salutes High Volume Dealers

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC awarded nearly 200 dealerships across the nation with the 2007 Chrysler-Jeep Pacesetters Award and the 2007 Dodge Charger Club Award.

The Pacesetter winners are Chrysler–Jeep and the Charger winners all are Dodge-brand dealerships. The dealers each were selected for selling a minimum of 1,000 retail units during the 2007 calendar year.

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April 16, 2008

GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East Quarterly Sales up 20%

Miramar, FL - General Motors Latin America, Africa and Middle East (GM LAAM) region posted an all-time Q1 record in 2008, selling 323,400 vehicles, up 52,900 units over the same quarterly period in 2007.

GM’s volume increase of 19.6 percent for the quarter outpaced the 11.7 percent industry growth rate for the region. In addition, LAAM’s market share increased to 17.9 percent for the quarter, up 1.2 share points year-over-year.

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April 15, 2008

Ford Gains Market Share in Europe

COLOGNE, Germany -- Ford of Europe strengthened its leadership position in March across Europe's 19 main markets, increasing its market share to 9.9 percent despite soft overall industry sales.

Ford sold 187,400 vehicles in the 19 markets last month. When strong sales in Russia, Turkey and the 30 Ford European Direct Markets are added, total sales for the month were 221,100.

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April 11, 2008

Video: "Under the Pentastar" Chrysler news recap

This week’s "Under the Pentastar" includes a speech by Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli to the Society of American Military Engineers; International sales 34 consecutive months of sales gains; Five stars for Journey, and a preview of four new Dodge Journey marketing campaign TV ads.

April 9, 2008

GM Europe sales reach all-time record

Zurich -- In the first quarter of 2008, General Motors (GM) Europe sales reached an all-time record of 572,137 vehicles*, an increase of 18,111 units compared to Q1 2007. The company market share was 9.6 percent.

“The Chevrolet brand’s strong growth – especially in Eastern and Central Europe – continued in the first quarter of 2008. As the new Aveo, Chevrolet’s European best-seller, is just being launched in many markets, we are confident to see this trend continue throughout the year,” said Jonathan Browning, GM Europe Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales.

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Volvo Sez: "We're Big in Poland!"

Volvo Car Corporation has been recognised as the most popular and best-perceived car brand on the Polish market. What is more, Volvo Car's Polish workshops are recognised as offering the best service with the highest quality. All according to a reader survey in the "Auto Świat" motoring weekly.

The National Auto Test competition is held annually by the motoring magazine "Auto Świat", which is the Polish edition of "Auto Bild". The readers answer a highly detailed questionnaire on the Internet and share their opinions on their cars as well as car ownership experiences.

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Ford Posts 47% Increase in China Sales

SHANGHAI, China -- Ford Motor China delivered record first quarter sales of 90,791 units, a 47 percent year-over-year increase, continuing the company's strong growth in the critical China market and outpacing the overall industry.

Ford posted record first quarter sales despite the severe winter storms that slowed commerce in China in January and February.

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April 8, 2008

Chrysler Sets New Records For Sales Outside North America

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler's March sales of 24,032 units outside North America are the highest monthly sales total on record for the Company in critical international markets.

An increase of seven percent in March 2008 over the same month last year also extended the company's international growth streak to 34 consecutive months and pushed first quarter 2008 sales up nine percent to a first quarter record of 57,346 units.

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April 7, 2008

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales Up by 15% in 2007

WASHINGTON -- Newly released sales figures from R.L. Polk reveal a record number of Alternative Fuel Automobiles (AFAs) rolled off dealer lots in 2007.

In total, close to 1.8 million AFAs were sold last year, roughly 250,000 more than were sold in 2006. Sales of E-85 capable/flexible fuel vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles were up significantly while clean diesel vehicle sales fell slightly.

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BMW Group Posts Record Global Sales

Munich -- The BMW Group increased its sales in the first quarter of 2008 by 5.7% to 351,787 automobiles (prev.yr.: 332,933). Deliveries of BMW brand cars to customers in the first three months rose by 2.7% to 293,550 vehicles (prev.yr.: 285,840).

MINI recorded a significant increase of 23.6% to 58,054 units (prev.yr.: 46,980). Rolls-Royce Motor Cars handed 183 automobiles over to customers in the first quarter (prev.yr.: 113/+61.9%).

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April 5, 2008

Chrysler Invites a Closer Look at March Sales Numbers

by Stuart Schorr, Chrysler Senior Manager, Sales, Mopar and Dealer Communications

You've already got the standard sale results for the month, with the basic month-to-month individual model comparisons.

But when I sift through the stacks of sales data, calculator in hand, some interesting trends surface that give a more in-depth understanding of what’s happening in the market and the showroom floors. Here are two for March:

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April 4, 2008

Mercedes-Benz Posts 4% Global Sales Increase in March

Stuttgart – In the first quarter of 2008, the Mercedes-Benz Cars division delivered more Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles than during the first three months of any previous year.

A total of 318,700 customers worldwide opted for a model from one of the four brands during the first quarter of the year (Q1 2007: 286,800), which corresponds to an increase of 11 percent. March sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars were up four percent to 131,500 units (March 2007: 127,000).

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April 3, 2008

Global Analysis: U.S. Auto Sales Will Rebound in 2009

NORTHVILLE, Mich. -- U.S. light vehicle sales will begin a slow but steady recovery in 2009, building to 17.7 million units by 2014 as the vehicle mix changes, according to a new analysis by automotive market forecasting firm CSM Worldwide.

During its Global Outlook Briefing for automotive industry executives, CSM predicted domestic sales gradually will return to the historical growth average of 140,000 vehicles per year as the housing downturn bottoms out and the credit crunch eases.

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April 1, 2008

Subaru Reports Strong March Sales

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported March sales of 16,685 total units. Retail sales were up 1% over March 2007, while fleet deliveries were lower than at the same time in 2007. Fleet deliveries are expected to be made up later in the year.

Both the Impreza and Legacy model lines recorded gains over the same period last year. The 2009 model year arrived in dealerships the last week of the month and sales were reported as brisk.

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Suzuki Posts 2.6% Sales Increase

BREA, Calif. -- American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automotive sales of 10,510 units in March, a year-over-year daily selling rate increase of 2.6 percent over last year’s March sales total.

Suzuki Auto’s strong sales month, which kept it on-pace to match the company’s record-setting 2007 sales year, resulted in a total year-to-date sales volume of 26,430 vehicles.

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Audi Reports Flat March Sales

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today sales for the month of March totaling 7,987, a decrease of 0.4% from last year’s figures.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued their record-setting trend; compared with last year’s March figures, CPO sales rose to 3,283 units, an increase of 35.2%.

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Kia Announces March Sales Down 10%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced March sales of 24,871 units and year-to-date sales of 68,214 units.

Spectra and Rio had their best selling months of the year with 8,022 and 3,514 units sold respectively.

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BMW Group Reports March Sales down 5.4%

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. -- The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported March vehicle sales of 27,404, down 5.4 percent from the 28,980 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007. For the first quarter of 2008, BMW Group sales are down 9.2 percent, to 68,529 vehicles versus the 75,433 sold in the first three months of 2007.

The results reflect BMW Group's expectations for the month. As planned and already communicated, BMW of North America expects a stronger increase in sales in the second half of the year.

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Nissan Reports March Sales

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 106,921 units in March, up 3.6 percent on a daily sales rate basis. NNA posted a sales increase of 3.0 percent for fiscal year 2007, ending March 31, 2008, versus FY06.

-- Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 93,100 units in March, a 3.1 percent increase on a daily sales rate basis compared with March's 97,242 units sold.

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Chrysler Reports March Sales Down 19%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC today reported total March 2008 sales of 166,386 units which is 19 percent below the same period last year.

Total March sales reflect a combination of positive consumer response to new models, a sustained and planned reduction in daily- rental fleet vehicle sales and an industry-wide slowdown in large pickup truck and SUV sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted.

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smart sells 100,000th unit

Stuttgart – The smart fortwo continues its string of successes. Since the end of March 2007, the new model of the innovative two-seater has been purchased by a total of 100,000 customers, representing a sales increase of more than 80 percent.

Yesterday afternoon, Ulrich Kowalewski, director of the Mercedes-Benz Center Munich handed over the 100,000th second-generation smart fortwo to a 36-year-old customer in the recently re-opened smart Center Munich.

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Hyundai Posts 2% Sales increase in March

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced record sales of 42,796 for the month of March, a two percent increase over the same record-setting period last year.

"We are very encouraged by our March results, especially considering the challenging market we are in," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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Mazda Announces March Sales Down 12.8%

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported U.S. sales of 32,929 vehicles, its best month since last year's best-ever March.

Including the U.S., Canada and Mexico, total MNAO sales were 43,496 vehicles. Mazda Canada, Inc. and Mazda Motor de Mexico both reported best-ever March sales with increases of 11.7 percent and 12.0 percent respectively.

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Mitsubishi Motors Reports March Sales Down 14.2%

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total March 2008 sales of 10,750:

-- Galant was the volume leader at 2,676, up 26.6% from last March's volume.

-- This was Galant's best first quarter in three years.

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GM Reports March Sales Down 13%

DETROIT – GM dealers in the United States delivered 282,732 vehicles in March, a decrease of 13 percent when compared with the same month a year ago.

For the first three months of 2008, GM total sales of 805,720 vehicles were down 11 percent compared with a year ago. Retail share appears to have remained stable throughout the month and the quarter.

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Mercedes-Benz USA Reports March Sales Down 3.7%

Highest First Quarter on Record Despite Marginal Decrease for the Month

MONTVALE, N.J. -- While experiencing a marginal 3.7 percent decrease in its sales for the month of March (20,808 vs. 21,612), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a three percent increase for the first quarter of 2008 (57,647 vs. 55,985) bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

Highlights for the month include growth in various segments of Mercedes' diverse product portfolio.

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Acura Announces March Sales Down 15.8%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- The MDX luxury SUV remained the top selling Acura model with March sales of 4,434 units. Total Acura sales for March tallied 13,288 units, down 15.8 percent based on the daily selling rate* compared to March 2007. Year-to-date**, Acura vehicle sales total 37,540 units.

"The economy is challenging all automakers to raise their game," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of sales. "Acura is ready for the challenge with three new sedans coming to market this year, including the all-new TSX which goes on sale later this month."

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Daimler AG Reports 22,542 Sales for March 2008

NEW YORK -- Daimler AG today reported total group sales (Mercedes-Benz and smart combined) of 22,542 passenger vehicles in the U.S. for March 2008. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.

While experiencing a marginal 3.7 percent decrease in its sales for the month of March (20,808 vs. 21,612), Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) maintained a three percent increase for the first quarter of 2008 (57,647 vs 55,985) bringing year-to-date sales to the highest level in the company's history.

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Toyota Reports March Sales Down 3.4%

TORRANCE, Calif. -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported March sales of 217,730 vehicles, a decrease of 3.4 percent from last March.

The Toyota Division posted March sales of 192,791, a decrease of 2.9 percent from last March. The Lexus Division reported March sales of 24,939 units, a decrease of 6.9 percent from the year-ago month.

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Honda Claims Sales Increase on Fewer Units Sold

[Editor's note: In plain English, Honda sold 4,658 fewer vehicles in March 2008 compared to the same month last year. The company is claiming this is an increase, due to the fewer number of days they had to sell cars.]

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted a March 2008 sales result of 138,734 Honda and Acura vehicles, an increase of 4.2 percent based on the daily selling rate,* the company announced today. March 2007 sales results included two additional selling days and totaled 143,392.

Led by strong sales of the Accord, Civic and Fit, American Honda total car sales posted record monthly results of 83,214, an increase of 11.1 percent. Year-to-date, American Honda total vehicle sales reached 352,642, an increase of 0.9 percent.

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Ford Has Some Brights Spots Amidst 14% Sales Drop

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Sales for Ford's redesigned small car and acclaimed crossover utility continued to buck economic trends during March.

Retail sales for the Ford Focus were the highest for any month since August 2005 -- with retail sales up 36 percent in March and 35 percent in the first quarter compared with the same periods a year ago.

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Porsche Reports North America Sales Down 24% in March

Stuttgart -- In March 2008, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, held its ground well in a market environment characterized by recession fears in the US and Canada.

At 2,624, the number of vehicles delivered to customers was down by 24% on the figure for the previous year. As before, the second generation of the sport utility Cayenne with its reduced consumption engines resonated strongly with customers.

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Porsche Reports March Sales in Canada Down 14%

ATLANTA -- Porsche Cars Canada, importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne SUVs in Canada, today announced March sales of 157 units sold in Canada, representing a 14% decrease over the same period last year when sales were 183.

Porsche's new-generation Cayenne experienced a continued increase in sales with 58 units sold vs. 45 Cayennes sold in March 2007.

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Volkswagen Brand Sales Surge 12.9%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced March 2008 sales of 19,587 units, a 12.9 percent increase over the March 2007 sales of 17,355 vehicles. On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales are 0.4 percent ahead of 2007 sales through March.

The Jetta, consistently Volkswagen’s top sales performer, posted a 19.7 percent increase over March 2007 results. Passat sales were 13 percent ahead of March 2007 totals.

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March 28, 2008

Honda Sets All-Time Record for Auto Production in February

TOKYO, Japan – Honda Motor Co., Ltd., announced a summary of automobile production, Japan domestic sales, and export results for the month of February 2008.

Production in Japan experienced a year-on-year decrease for the sixth consecutive month, since September 2007.

Production in regions outside of Japan experienced a year-on-year increase for the 31st consecutive month (since August 2005), setting an all-time record for the month of February.

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March 27, 2008

Prediction: March Sales Report Will Ignite the Rebate War

With one weekend left in March to sell cars, we are predicting the sales reports will ignite the rebate war that has been building over the last several months. One auto analyst is predicting March sales will come in over 10% lower than last year, and that should take the lid off any restraint automakers have been holding onto to get people into the showrooms.

The industry standard, Automotive News, has already written at least two editorials this years urging automakers not to go the rebate route, but since March is the end of the first quarter of the calendar year, we feel rebates will pick up substantially.

But we're already seeing big rebates get quietly piled on, notably in pickup trucks, and also from Chrysler, Nissan, Ford and even Hyundai. It is not uncommon to see rebates of from $1,500 to $6,000 on many vehicles.

Many of you have already subscribed to our rebate data service, Current Auto Rebates, that detail the info for every vehicle. When the current programs expires, mostly on March 3, there will be plenty more big dollar giveaways to be had, so you may want to subscribe to the updates if you're shopping for a new vehicle.

One more note: to ensure you're getting the best deal and service possible, we suggest using the free price quote tool available on these pages and inside Current Auto Rebates, because it puts the dealership in the position of trying to win your business, as opposed to you walking in cold off the street.

Previous coverage:
Video: How the Housing Bust will Hurt Auto Sales
Housing, Mortgage Crunch Will Drag Vehicle Sales to Lowest Level in Nine Years
With Home Prices Dropping, Car Prices Are Sure to Follow
The Great Rebate War of 2008: Pickups Fire the First Shot

March 19, 2008

Report: U.S. Vehicle Sales to Reach Lowest Point in More Than a Decade

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- New-vehicle sales in 2008 are expected to reach their lowest levels since 1994, dropping to 14.95 million cars and light trucks, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

New-vehicle sales for 2008 were originally forecasted at 15.7 million units.

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March 18, 2008

Chrysler Mexico Reports February Sales Up 13.6%

Mexico City -- Chrysler Mexico reported February sales of 10,452 Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge brand vehicles, an increase of 13.6 per cent compared to February, 2007.

This marks the best February sales for Chrysler Mexico since 2001 and is the 9th consecutive month of sales growth for Chrysler Mexico.

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March 13, 2008

Suzuki sales up 3% in February

Brea, Calif. -- American Suzuki Motor Corp. today announced automotive sales of 8,800 vehicles in February, an increase of 3 percent over last year's February figure. Suzuki Auto's strong February resulted in a total year-to-date sales volume of 15,920 vehicles.

February sales were led by Suzuki's midsize crossover SUV, the XL7, which sold 3,761 units.

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Bentley reports record sales, profitability

Crewe -- Bentley Motors has announced its financial results for the year ending 31 December 2007, reporting record revenue and operating profit. For the calendar year, Bentley increased its net revenue by €36m or 2.7% compared with 2006, to set a new record of €1.37bn. Operating profit increased by €18m or 13.1% to a new operating profit record of €155m.

These results reflect Bentley’s record sales performance last year when the company surpassed the 10,000 unit mark for the first time.

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March 12, 2008

Chrysler Announces February Int'l Sales Up 10%

Auburn Hills, Mich. -- During the first two months of the year, vehicle sales increased 10 percent (33,314 units) compared to the same time period in 2007.

In February, Chrysler’s International sales grew nine percent (16,530 units) over February 2007, marking the 33rd consecutive month the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineup’s sales grew outside of North America.

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25,000 Dodge Vipers Prowl the Streets

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler LLC's Conner Avenue Assembly Plant reached a manufacturing milestone today, building its 25,000th Dodge Viper.

The new owner of the milestone 2008 Viper SRT10 is none other than Kurt Busch, who received the vehicle in a ceremony held at the Detroit facility in recognition of his racing accomplishments as the top Dodge driver in the 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

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Ford of Europe Posts 5.4% Sales Gain

COLOGNE, Germany -- Ford of Europe's growth momentum continued in February with year-over-year sales in its main 21 markets increasing by 5.4 percent to 125,500 units. The company's market share was 8.1 percent.

This strong performance, driven by its acclaimed new models, boosted the company's year-to-date sales by 3.3 percent to 267,900 vehicles.

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March 11, 2008

Nissan Europe Reports February Sales for 2008

ROLLE, Switzerland -- Nissan Europe has reported a record February with sales of 53,606 units, representing an increase of 65% year on year. Sales were up for the eleventh consecutive month.

The Qashqai compact cross-over is celebrating its first anniversary on the European market and the success story continues with yet again another record month of 15,286 units. The first year of sales recorded 148,534 units meaning that one in four Nissan models sold across Europe is now a Qashqai.

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March 7, 2008

Ford's UK division looks to spring sales success

BRENTWOOD, Essex – Ford dealers across the country are set to deliver the most "08"-plated vehicles this month.

While the new Fiesta, on sale later this year, was unveiled at this month's Geneva motor show, the current Fiesta continues to be the UK's top selling model among private, or retail, buyers with 9,348 sold to these customers so far this year.

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BMW Global Sales Rise 9% in February

Munich -- In February, BMW Group continued to gain momentum strongly again, as planned. In the month under review, the number of automobiles delivered rose by 9.0% to 105,994 (prev.yr.: 97,256).

For the year to the end of February, 198,628 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles were sold (prev.yr.: 191,357). This corresponds to a growth rate of 3.8% in comparison with the same period last year.

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March 6, 2008

Chrysler's Press Sees International Sales Growth

Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Jim Press made his first appearance at a European auto show today, speaking at the Geneva International Motor Show, and he sees strong growth ahead.

“We’re aiming high. We plan to double our international sales from 2007 to 2012 to more than 400,000 units,” Press said.

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Chrysler Sez: Don't Write Off Minivans

As February sales results fade into the history books, here’s some industry insight you need to know. Chrysler's new minivans are a big hit!

“What?” you say. You’ve read that Chrysler minivan sales are down 18% in February and consumers are moving away from minivans. But think twice before buying into the conventional wisdom. The truth reveals itself when you dig a little deeper.

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March 4, 2008

Ford cuts production due to slow sales market

DEARBORN – Ford Motor Company today announced plans to further align its capacity with demand at four U.S. manufacturing facilities as it works to return its North American operations to profitability by 2009.

Chicago Assembly Plant and Louisville Assembly Plant will operate on one shift beginning this summer. The date for the shift reduction has not been finalized. Cleveland Engine Plant #2 will operate on one shift beginning in late April.

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Subaru Reports Strong February Retail Sales

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported February sales of 12,907 total units. With retail sales higher than February 2007, both the Impreza and Legacy model lines recorded gains over the same period last year.

Sales of Subaru vehicles are up over the same period in 2007, led by strong sales of the company's Impreza, Legacy sedan and Tribeca models.

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Audi Reports February Sales Down 6.9%

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today sales for the month of February totaling 6,152, a decrease of 6.9% from last year's figures.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued their record-setting trend; compared with last year's February figures, CPO sales came to 3,021 units, an increase of 57%.

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Mitsubishi Reports February Sales Down 6.4%

CYPRESS, Calif. -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total February 2008 sales of 9,105.

-- Galant was the volume leader at 2,424, up 16.4% from last February's volume and up 22.2% calendar year-to-date.

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March 3, 2008

Mazda Reports Sales Up 6.7% in February

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported another strong sales month with 23,548 units sold in the U.S., a 6.7 percent increase compared to last February. Year-to-date sales of 44,760 are up 8.4 percent year-over-year.

Mazda's crossover SUV lineup is taking the industry by storm. The winner of the 2008 North American Truck of the Year and 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year, CX-9, reported sales of 2,200 units, up 88.4 percent versus last year.

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