Ford F-Series Knocked Off Sales Perch by Four Cars

Situation
1. Ford F-Series pickup usually best-selling vehicle
2. But 4 cars from Toyota, Honda outsold the truck in May
3. First time F-Series not monthly best-seller since 1992
4. Sales numbers announced same time GM idling 4 truck plants
5. Will affect 10K jobs in US, Canada and Mexico


Significant Points
1. May sales news emphasizes how gas prices shifting market to cars
2. GM truck sales down 37%, F-Series truck down 31%
3. Toyota Corolla, Camry and Honda Civic, Accord outsold F-Series in May
4. Overall auto sales down 11% from year ago; Nissan, Honda did post increases
5. Experts say US market will soon look like Europe w/ move to cars
6. Experts disagree about turnaround for second half of year


Says
"We at GM don't think (move away from trucks) is a spike or a temporary shift." -- Rick Wagoner, CEO, General Motors

"May was a watershed month. We are, as an industry, catching up with the breathtaking choices customers are now making." -- Jim Farley, VP marketing, Ford

"We still think we're somewhere near the bottom and we look for a firming up and a gradual recovery beginning in the back half of the year." -- Steven Landry, VP North American sales, Chrysler



Web Source
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24951523/

[quote="Admin"

We are, as an industry, catching up with the breathtaking choices customers are now making." -- Jim Farley, VP marketing, Ford

"We still think we're somewhere near the bottom and we look for a firming up and a gradual recovery beginning in the back half of the year." -- Steven Landry, VP North American sales, Chrysler



Web Source
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24951523/[/quote]


Classic quotes. Chryslers CEO ought to slap that guy.

The wife and I have been trying to make a "Breathtaking choice" for two months now.
No mileage, no ride, boxy, plastic, cheap might make it to 150,000 is what we have been finding.
We are holding out for the new tdi vw's in the fall. Econo boxes are terrible right now.