September 2011 Car Sales: The Needle Creeps Higher
Monthly sales numbers for September 2011 are being reported today by car makers, and the slight progress made in August seems to be continuing with upticks at all the major brands reporting thus far.
According to market analysts at J.D. Power, September retail new-vehicle sales could check in at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 10.3 million unit, which would be the first time the SAAR was above 10 million units since April. With fleet sales counted in, the SAAR could reach 12.9 million units.
On the year, Power predicts total sales of 12.9 million units, with 10.2 million coming from retail customers.
With a few brands reporting so far, some early winners like the Ford Explorer and Chevy Cruze are repeating their success from months past. Are other vehicles failing to launch, or picking up late-in-life strength? The results by automaker, with some still to come:
General Motors: General Motors (NYSE: GM) says it sold 207,145 vehicles in September, up 20 percent over September 2010. Chevrolet sales rose 21.5 percent, with the Cruze topping the 200,000-unit mark in its first year on sale. GMC sold 27.7 percent more vehicles than it did in September of 2010; Buick's sales rose 5.6 percent, and Cadillac was up a slim 1.0 percent.
Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) reported a company-wide increase in sales of 9 percent, with utility vehicles climbing 35 percent and trucks up 15 percent. Total sales were 175,199 units. Ford-brand sales were up 14 percent--the Explorer, up 204 percent--which means a big drop at Lincoln not yet broken out in the numbers.
Chrysler: Chrysler Group LLC says it sold 127,334 vehicles in September, a 27-percent increase over September 2010. Chrysler brand sales rose 36 percent; Ram was up 42 percent, Jeep climbed 24 percent, and Dodge sales rose 10 percent. Fiat has moved 13,861 units so far this year, well off initial targets.
Toyota / Lexus: Toyota says its sales of 121,451 units represented a decrease of 17.5 percent over September 2010. Toyota-brand vehicles accounted for 106,456 of those sales, down 18.2 percent; Lexus was off 11.5 percent at 14,995 units, but Scion was up 7.7 percent at 3,838 sales in September.
Honda / Acura:Honda began to see its sales slump soften, as production returned to normal after the March 11 earthquake in Japan. In September, Honda sold 89,532 vehicles, a drop of only 8.0 percent; for the year it's off 6.2 percent. Acura sales of 10,010 represented a decline of 6.6 percent; on the year, Acura is off 7.9 percent.
Nissan / Infiniti: Nissan reported sales of 84,485 vehicles, a 28.2-percent rise over last year's September; the Versa subcompact was up 68 percent. Infiniti was up 2.1 percent at 8,479 units.
Hyundai: Not yet reported
Kia: Kia's sales boom means the automaker has passed its previous sales record in just the first nine months of this year. September 2011 sales totaled 35,609 units, up 18.4 percent. Kia is up 37.1 percent for the year.
Volkswagen: Volkswagen reported 27,036 units sold in September 2011, a 35.6-percent increase over September 2010. The 2012 VW Passat sold more than 3000 copies in its first month on sale; the Jetta continues to power huge growth in the compact class, with sales up 55.5 percent from the same period in 2010. Year-to-date sales are up 22.2 percent.
BMW / MINI: Not yet reported
Mercedes-Benz: Not yet reported
Subaru: Not yet reported
Mazda: Not yet reported
Audi: Audi says 9,725 vehicle sales in September set a new record, and represented a rise of 19.3 percent over last September. On the year, Audi is up 15.5 percent.
Mitsubishi:Not yet reported
Volvo: Not yet reported
Jaguar/Land Rover: The combined British brands said total sales in September of 3,851 vehicles represented an 11-percent increase from the same month last year. Jaguar sold 1111 vehicles for a 15-percent gain, while Land Rover moved 2740 units for a 10-percent boost. On the year, Jaguar Land Rover is up 9 percent.
Porsche: Porsche says it sold 2,170 vehicles in September, an increase of 10 percent on the month. For the year, the brand is up 28 percent.
Suzuki:Not yet reported
Saab: Not yet reported
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Toyota Floor Mat Safety Recall: My Prius Goes On Notice
You're well aware that Toyota is recalling the 2004-2009 Prius--among a list of vehicles--for an issue with floor mats. Here at High Gear Media, we have at least two vehicles affected by the recall, both 2004 Toyota Prius hatchbacks, both even the same shade of blue.
One of them's mine, and in the nearly six years we've owned our Prius, it's been relatively fault-free. Early on, we replaced the navigation screen under warranty. Two accidents cost about $3500 each, though they were parking-lot scrapes--the price of very light wheel spindles, suspension A-arms and lots front-end plastic.
Every car company has recalls, and Toyota is no stranger to them. This recall has some unfortunate related deaths, and it's also been an ongoing, growing recall for a few years. While Toyota says there's no evidence the floor mats are to blame, it's expanding the list of affected vehicles in the hopes of getting ahead of what could be an even worse calamity for families, as well as the company. And in the meantime, while it works on a solution, Toyota's released an interim solution involving zip-tie fasteners, making sure that mats would be held in the proper position.
In the meantime, the company's sent out letters to owners of the affected vehicles, which include:
2007-2010 Toyota Camry
2005-2010 Toyota Avalon
2004-2009 Toyota Prius
2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
2007-2010 Toyota Tundra
2007-2010 Lexus ES 350
2006-2010 Lexus IS 250 and Lexus IS 350
The letter includes the hedge that "this defect does not exist in vehicles in which the driver side floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured," but it does offer advice to all owners of the vehicles in question. Namely, to remove all floor mats from the driver's side until the issue is resolve, and to learn how to shut down their vehicles in case of an accident. We're betting thousands of Prius and Lexus owners never knew that holding down the "Start/Stop" button was the equivalent of a reboot--but now, we do.
So if you're among the 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus owners affected by the recall, but you haven't received a letter, here's mine in text and PDF--with wishes for safe driving:
Toyota Floor Mat Recall, 11/2009
___________________________________
Certain 2004 through 2009 Model Year Prius
Potential Floor Mat Interference with Accelerator Pedal
Safety Recall Campaign (Interim Notice)
Dear Toyota Owner:
This notice is being sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Toyota has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2004 through certain 2009 model year Prius vehicles. The defect is the potential for an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat to interfere with the accelerator pedal and cause it to get stuck in the wide open position. Toyota has determined that this defect does not exist in vehicles in which the driver side floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured.
Toyota is currently developing a campaign remedy and will notify you when it is ready. In the meantime, we are providing important information regarding the issue and steps you may take in the interim.
What is the risk?
A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
What will Toyota do?
We will notify you again as soon as a campaign remedy is available for your vehicle.
What should you do?
We request that you take out any removable driver's floor mat and NOT replace it with any other floor mat until the campaign remedy is ready and implemented on your vehicle.
In the event you choose not to take out your removable floor mat, Toyota strongly recommends that you ensure that the correct floor mat is being used, that it is properly installed and secured, that it is not flipped over with the bottom-side up, and that one floor mat is not stacked over another. Information on proper floor mat installation for your vehicle is enclosed with this notification. Please visithttp://wwww.toyota.com/floormats for information on other models.
What should you do if you experience accelerator pedal interference?
Should the vehicle continue to accelerate rapidly after releasing the accelerator pedal, this could be an indication of floor mat interference. lf this occurs, Toyota recommends you take the following actions:
First, if it is possible and safe to do so, pull back the floor mat and dislodge it from the accelerator pedal; then pull over and stop the vehicle.
If the floor mat cannot be dislodged, then firmly and steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet. Do NOT pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF, or to ACC. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
--If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
--If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.
What if you have other questions?
Please visit http://www.toyota.com/floormats for further information. Your local Toyota dealer will be more than happy to answer any of your questions as well. If you require further assistance, you may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371 Monday through Friday. 5:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 am through 4:00 pm Pacific Time.
Toyota will advise you in a separate letter when a campaign remedy is your available for vehicle. After you receive that separate letter, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590; or call the toll-free 1-888-327-4236 Vehicle Safety Hotline at (TTY: l-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov, if you believe that Toyota has failed or is unable to provide a remedy without charge or within a reasonable time after the earliest date we advise you in that writing a campaign remedy
is available for your vehicle.
lf you are a vehicle lessor, Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the vehicle lessee within ten days.
We have sent this notice in the interest of your continued satisfaction with our products
Sincerely,
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Consumer Reports, J.D. Power Rank Vehicles, Dealers
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power carry a lot of weight in the auto industry, and yesterday they delivered a one-two punch in their surveys of vehicles and the folks who sell 'em.
Consumer Reports focused on the autos themselves, using three evaluation criteria: road tests, reliability, and safety. Winners in the New Car category included the Chevrolet Avalanche (best pickup truck), the Toyota Rav4 (best small SUV), and the Honda Accord (best family sedan). The Lexus LS 460 took top honors, ranking as the best overall vehicle.
Looking at vehicles as a whole, beyond category restrictions, Consumer Reports' top five vehicles were:
- Lexus LS 460L
- Infiniti M35 X (AWD)
- BMW 135i (manual)
- Porsche 911 Carrera S (manual)
- Infiniti M35 (RWD)
And at the bottom of the list (with "1" being the worst):
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
- Hummer H2
- Hummer H3
- Jeep Liberty Sport
- Smart ForTwo Passion
Anyone surprised yet?
J.D. Power's rankings, on the other hand, focused on customer satisfaction, ranking dealerships based on service quality, service initiation, the service advisor, the service facility, and vehicle pickup. Again, Lexus came in at the top of the heap, followed by Jaguar, BMW, Cadillac, and Acura. In the gutter lay Suzuki, with Mazda, Nissan, Kia, and Volkswagen piled only slightly higher.
So: are these guys in the ballpark? Or did they really muck it up? What's been your experience? Drop us an email or feel free to weigh in below.
[sources: ConsumerReports, JDPower]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
