Auto Sales on the Rise

By

Kellie J. Lala 

The “Cash for Clunkers” program in 2009 helped the auto industry crawl out from a slump.  However, it really hurt the sales months that followed as consumers had spent their dough $.  But November 2011 looks to be their best month since 2009!  GM is using the jolly old man himself-Santa Claus in its “Chevy’s Giving More” campaign, while Honda is wishing buyers “Happy Honda Days”.  I don’t know about you, but I must not be in the right family as I have never gotten a car for Christmas.  You? 

According to the New York based research group, The Consumer Board, consumer confidence surged in November by its biggest margin in 8 years.  That is good news for the struggling car industry.  Toyota and Honda had both been reporting year-to-year declines in every month this year since April.  The big domestic winner so far this year appears to be Chrysler with a 37% surge in sales over 2010. I think they have done a fab job with their Detroit commercials using popular music from Eminem.  Ford has a 10% climb and is launching a new Escape SUV in the first half of 2012.  According to VP of U.S. sales for GM, Don Johnson,  GM is looking at a 7% increase and will be poised to replace Toyota as the world’s largest automaker by vehicle sales.  When you think about where the U.S. Automakers were a while back, this is a great comeback story. 

What will be your next vehicle purchase and when?