[drgoodword]

I find this enormous plunge in car sales to be one of the biggest signs yet of the tremendous size and duration of the economic catastrophe on the brink of making landfall in the U.S. (And concurrently going global.)

I know the equities markets have defied all kinds of economic gloom (they should have crashed months ago), but I'm surprised the markets aren't reacting to this decisively recessionary news with a good, solid crash. It's now clearly game over for the great post-war (WWII) American bull market economy.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Drifter', 'F')ord Stocks
[flash width=188 height=126]http://freechart.globeinvestor.com/servlet/charting?chart_type=png&chart_style=stock_price&period=1YRD&chart_plot_type=line&symbol=F-N&line_colour=013197&lang=en&chart_fg=B8860B&chart_bg=FFFFFF&img_bg=FFFFFF&img_fg=5E5E5E&price_open_colour=1E90FF&chart_size=tiny&x_scale=true&showTitle=false&showDate=true&chart_width=192&chart_height=130&showHeader=true&showYTitle=false[/flash]
GM stocks
[flash width=188 height=126]http://freechart.globeinvestor.com/servlet/charting?chart_type=png&chart_style=stock_price&period=1YRD&chart_plot_type=line&symbol=GM-N&line_colour=013197&lang=en&chart_fg=B8860B&chart_bg=FFFFFF&img_bg=FFFFFF&img_fg=5E5E5E&price_open_colour=1E90FF&chart_size=tiny&x_scale=true&showTitle=false&showDate=true&chart_width=192&chart_height=130&showHeader=true&showYTitle=false[/flash]

[Mesuge]

VOLT was always a gimmick, you don't go about supposedly
revolutionizing your entire fleet with 10k production volume
and > $40k price tag..

Again, bad karma from EV1/ZEV mandate murder and the NiMH supression fraud will haunt GM till they finally de-tool into riksha/bicycle shop a segment where they belong!

[Waterthrush]

The money quote:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')eorge Pipas, Ford's top sales analyst, said SUV sales are probably down for good.

"Our view is that gas prices aren't likely to go down, and more importantly, many consumers have moved on," he said. "We believe that the segment has merit for certain consumers but is not likely to rebound at any point."

[frankthetank]

Wouldn't they be better off just retooling for mass scooter production or even bicycle production? They could cut costs while increasing sales Person can't buy an American built scooter these days.

Or they might want to pull out the old blueprints for the Metro.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Waterthrush', 'T')he money quote:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'G')eorge Pipas, Ford's top sales analyst, said SUV sales are probably down for good.

"Our view is that gas prices aren't likely to go down, and more importantly, many consumers have moved on," he said. "We believe that the segment has merit for certain consumers but is not likely to rebound at any point."

[Waterthrush]

I give you credit, that is a wise and sophisticated approach! I can't promise not to smile, though

[Pablo2079]

Not surprised that Tundras are not moving. They are new and consequently they have their problems. I've read a few stories about weak tailgates and engine issues.

Assembled in the heart of truck country though (Texas). I'm sure they are getting a following down there...

One of the reasons for Ford numbers being so bad is that they sold Jaguar and Land Rover recently. This alone reduces their sales. Not enough to even come CLOSE to break-even, but brings them more in line at a drop of about 19%.

Seems to me that all car companies will hurt.... as the economy sours, people won't be able to afford much (especially without jobs).

[Geko45]

I'm amazed the GM is still gasping for air. They should be dead already. If it hadn't been for the sale of GMAC just in the nick of time they would be. Once the cash influx from that runs out they are melba toast.

[Denny]

It is surprising but also strangely comforting, when one goes to the Detroit News or Detroit Free Press websites to see sports stories leading the news today.

So, lets stop worrying about the big three. Detroiters aren't. Instead, let's focus on these headlines:

* Hossa signs with Wings; says Detroit best shot at Cup

and

* TWINS 7, TIGERS 0 Tigers shut out for 10th time this season

See Web Page Name

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '
')if I see someone getting mad at what I drive, thats like a bit of icing on my cake.

[dunewalker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pablo2079', 'N')ot surprised that Tundras are not moving. They are new and consequently they have their problems. I've read a few stories about weak tailgates and engine issues.

Assembled in the heart of truck country though (Texas). I'm sure they are getting a following down there...

[gunny7258]

i love my big SUV also but i love my money much more so i drive my corolla around alot more now to save on gas.

[gunny7258]

90's toyota trucks rocked, those things would run forever until the body fell off. I would buy one in a second.

[TheDude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('frankthetank', 'W')ouldn't they be better off just retooling for mass scooter production or even bicycle production? They could cut costs while increasing sales Person can't buy an American built scooter these days.

[frankthetank]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'O')NG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Toyota Motor Corp. (TM:
is planning an overhaul of it U.S. operations following weaker sales in June, with the automaker likely to introduce additional production holidays at its Texas truck factory and two other U.S. facilities to trim output, according to a Japanese media report. Toyota is also planning to transfer some employees at its Indiana plant to other facilities and increase production at a facility producing the Camry sedan and other fuel-efficient vehicles, the Nikkei newspaper reported Thursday, without saying where it got the information. Toyota will also cut production at an automotive facility in Japan, which primarily produces vehicles for the U.S. market ,by about 10% this fiscal year, the report said. End of Story

[catbox]

EV juggernaut!



cb

[dorlomin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'c')ompany's <GM> current market value is smaller than that of Mattel Inc., maker of Matchbox cars,