US Auto Makers Still Losing Share to Foreign Rivals

Mark Reuss, president of North America for General Motors Co., is unconcerned about the automaker’s declining market share in Canada and in the U.S., and remains focused instead on building a profitable base for GM to grow. Last year was difficult for GM in North America. Its U.S. market share fell to 18% from 19.6% in 2011; in Canada, it fell to its lowest in more than a century at roughly 13.5%, down from 15.3% a year earlier, after its sales fell by 6.6%.

Chrysler Canada says it’s enjoying the longest auto sales growth streak in its history. The resurgent automaker, rescued by U.S. and Canadian government loans after filing for U.S. bankruptcy protection in 2009, says January had the 38th consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth in Canada. Overall, the company says it sold 17,013 vehicles in Canada last month, up three per cent from 16,584 vehicles sold in January 2012. Chrysler says those figures mean it’s starting the year as the No. 1 seller of vehicles in Canada.

US and other auto manufacturers banking on increased car sales in China for 2012 have three reasons to be concerned. Blistering growth in Chinese auto sales is expected to plunge China is taking efforts to dampen foreign investment in autos Trade wars The Wall Street Journal reports

Courtesy to Dr. Sam Subramanian from www.alphaprofit.com, we are glad to present an in-depth look into the auto shares and an analysis of their current investment potential. As with the first investment guest feature, we aim to enrich our blog with a more professional rather than theoretical market view. Ways to Keep Winning in the Auto Group

Shares in the auto industry have been among the leading performers over the past year, with the Dow Jones US Automobiles & Parts Index advancing 140%.Given the massive run-up in auto equities, is there money still to be made in these stocks?I believe the answer is yes.

Japan's government-owned bank is planning to set up a 50 billion yen ($617 million dollar) fund to support auto parts makers hit by the March 11 quake and tsunami, an official said Monday.The Development Bank of Japan will launch the fund in June, asking major commercial banks for investment, the bank official said."The East Japan Great Disaster seriously damaged supply chains of auto parts makers, and we have been discussing possible financial support for them," said the official, who declined to be named.

AFP - Japan's government-owned ba