October Auto Sales: The Leading Edge Of An Economic Rebound?

(DETROIT) — Chrysler’s U.S. sales rose 5% in March as the company sold more cars and trucks than in any month since the Great Recession began in December of 2007. The strong numbers are another sign that Americans are buying cars in increasing numbers as their financial situation improves. U.S. car and truck sales are estimated to have reached their highest level in nearly six years in March, as buyers armed with tax refund checks were lured by flashy new vehicles and low interest rates.

The Canadian auto industry has seen incredible growth in 2012, and we are pleased that Ford of Canada has outpaced it in November TORONTO — Ford Canada is on the road to taking the title of Canada’s best-selling automaker this year, after reporting its best November in more than a decade and taking first place for sales for another month. The Oakville, Ont.-based subsidiary of one of Detroit’s big three automakers said Monday that its November sales rose to 19,447, up 7.4% from a year ago, marking its best November since 2001.

Floods, falling trees, and the disruption of what’s normally a hot end-of-the-month period for car dealerships will all affect auto sales going forward. So will new Sandy-related incentives from car manufacturers. Ford, GM, and Toyota have all announced new programs to help Hurricane Sandy victims (and simultaneously boost sales), according to InsideLine. Ford and GM are offering $500 discounts, while Toyota has launched an initiative in which customers can get payment extensions and lease-deferred payments on their vehicles.

OTTAWA — While the Bank of Canada acknowledges the economic outlook here and elsewhere “is slightly weaker” than thought, policymakers are also offering up some hope for the near future.

Resilience and the auto industry went hand-in-glove in 2012 as automakers plumped up their bottom lines, ladled on luxury features in new models and turned their once-battered fortunes on their heads.

DETROIT — A better economy and havoc from Superstorm Sandy kept auto sales brisk in November. Signs of a healthier U.S. economy and purchases postponed by Sandy pushed up sales for major automakers last month. Chrysler, Nissan and Hyundai reported strong demand on everything from small SUVs to sedans on Monday. Americans are more confident about the economy than they’ve been in a while: Home values are rising, hiring is up and interest rates remain low. And that means people are willing to make big purchases.

Today, U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson traveled to Cleveland, Tennessee, where he visited the Whirlpool Corporation for a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new, one-million square foot manufacturing facility. The $200 million factory is the largest premium cooking product manufacturing and distribution facility in the world, exemplifying the Secretary’s mission to help U.S. business make it here and sell it everywhere. The opening of the facility marked 100 years of Whirlpool manufacturing Made-in-America products. While in Tennessee, the Secretary also made a stop in Chattanooga to visit the Volkswagen manufacturing plant, which builds the 2012 Passat. Volkswagen recently announced that they were adding a third shift to the operation at their Chattanooga plant in response to increased consumer demand, which will create over 700 additional jobs. This development is just one more example of the continued resurgence of the American manufacturing industry. In fact, today, the Economics and Statistics Administration highlighted data showing that automakers are contributing heavily to the success of American manufacturing. The report finds that auto sales are at the highest level since the first quarter of 2008.