GM takes top spot in pickup sales
03-02-2007, 08:40 PM
#1
SORE MEMBER
Platinum MemberThread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: 29°50'49.74"N 95° 5'17.55"W.......TEXAS
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
GM takes top spot in pickup sales
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/4595527.html
From the Houston Chronicle and AP, I haven't checked their math yet
Some good news, maybe Ford can pick up (no pun) the pace, Toyota pickup sales down
March 1, 2007, 11:17PM
GM takes top spot in pickup sales
By TOM KRISHER
Associated Press
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.'s claim to having the nation's top-selling pickup truck ended at least for February with the Chevrolet Silverado knocking it out of first place for the first time in 20 months.
The Silverado, with a mixture of redesigned and older models, led General Motors Corp. to a strong sales month in February, surprising the industry with a 3.7 percent year-over-year sales increase.
Toyota continued to clean up in February, posting a 12.2 percent gain primarily because of increased car sales. And sales woes continued for Ford and Chrysler Group.
Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with Global Insight, said the Silverado sales are a clear indication of how GM's resurgence is starting to take hold.
"It's a really good example of how, if you have a fresh product lineup, people will come in and look at it," she said.
GM's good month was led by a 29 percent increase in pickup truck sales and a 60 percent rise in sales of its almost all-new Saturn brand. New midsize car-based crossover models such as GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook drove GM's sales in that segment up 97 percent.
Despite its strong month, Toyota did not supplant Ford as No. 2 in U.S. sales. Toyota's pickup sales were down 8.5 percent for the month, despite the arrival of the new San Antonio-built Tundra.
From the Houston Chronicle and AP, I haven't checked their math yet
Some good news, maybe Ford can pick up (no pun) the pace, Toyota pickup sales down
March 1, 2007, 11:17PM
GM takes top spot in pickup sales
By TOM KRISHER
Associated Press
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.'s claim to having the nation's top-selling pickup truck ended at least for February with the Chevrolet Silverado knocking it out of first place for the first time in 20 months.
The Silverado, with a mixture of redesigned and older models, led General Motors Corp. to a strong sales month in February, surprising the industry with a 3.7 percent year-over-year sales increase.
Toyota continued to clean up in February, posting a 12.2 percent gain primarily because of increased car sales. And sales woes continued for Ford and Chrysler Group.
Rebecca Lindland, an industry analyst with Global Insight, said the Silverado sales are a clear indication of how GM's resurgence is starting to take hold.
"It's a really good example of how, if you have a fresh product lineup, people will come in and look at it," she said.
GM's good month was led by a 29 percent increase in pickup truck sales and a 60 percent rise in sales of its almost all-new Saturn brand. New midsize car-based crossover models such as GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook drove GM's sales in that segment up 97 percent.
Despite its strong month, Toyota did not supplant Ford as No. 2 in U.S. sales. Toyota's pickup sales were down 8.5 percent for the month, despite the arrival of the new San Antonio-built Tundra.
03-02-2007, 08:46 PM
#2
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wi/ Fl Keys
Posts: 3,231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe not
Ford-Navistar showdown could threaten truck production
Automaker won't say how long Super Duty pickups may be made if price issue isn't settled.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. said Monday that a decision by key supplier Navistar International Corp. to stop supplying diesel engines will not disrupt production of F-Series Super Duty pickups "in the near term."
However, the automaker would not say how long it could keep its truck lines running if the vendor holds out. Ford began producing its crucial redesigned F-Series Super Duty pickups in Louisville, Ky., late last year and the trucks are arriving in showrooms this month.
Navistar announced Monday that it has halted production of the PowerStroke diesel engine it makes for Ford because of an ongoing contract dispute. The Warrenville, Ill.-based engine manufacturer is the exclusive diesel engine supplier for Ford's heavy duty pickup trucks.
In a statement Monday, Navistar said it "pays its suppliers and employees under contract terms and that it expects Ford to honor the terms of its agreement."
But Ford said Navistar is the one violating that contract.
"Ford has always honored the agreement and will continue to do so in the future," said Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt. "We have been working very closely with Navistar for many months to resolve these contract issues."
In January, Ford sued Navistar, saying the engine maker was not complying with warranty cost-sharing agreements and that it had unjustifiably raised prices on its products. The suit said at the time that Navistar had threatened to cut off shipment if Ford did not pay the new prices for its engines.
Navistar said it will stop making the 6.4-liter PowerStroke at its Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala. factories, but added that the Huntsville plant will continue production for other customers.
Any disruption of Super Duty production would be disastrous for Ford. After losing a record $12.7 billion last year, Ford is counting on the new Super Duty to boost sales of F-Series trucks.
"Ford and Navistar are tied at the hip for diesel engines for the F-250 and F-350," Peter Nesvold, a New York-based Bear Stearns analyst, said in a research note. "While we don't currently expect an extended outage, 30-plus days would be material to both Navistar and Ford."
About 40 percent of the nearly 800,000 F-Series trucks sold by Ford last year were diesel-powered.
"It's impossible to quickly swap out the engine and put another manufacturer's diesel in place," Nesvold said.
One analyst said the companies are likely to reach an agreement before long. "This is likely a short-term negotiation squabble," Andrew Casey, an analyst with Wachovia Capital Markets LLC in Boston, said in a research note
It is not the first time problems with a supplier have threatened an important new vehicle. Last fall, bankrupt Collins & Aikman Corp. briefly suspended parts shipments to Ford's factory in Hermosillo, Mexico, halting production of the Ford Fusion.
With a horde of suppliers either in bankruptcy or close to filing, Ford is working with a consultant to identify troubled suppliers and move proactively to prevent interruptions in parts shipments.
Ford-Navistar showdown could threaten truck production
Automaker won't say how long Super Duty pickups may be made if price issue isn't settled.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. said Monday that a decision by key supplier Navistar International Corp. to stop supplying diesel engines will not disrupt production of F-Series Super Duty pickups "in the near term."
However, the automaker would not say how long it could keep its truck lines running if the vendor holds out. Ford began producing its crucial redesigned F-Series Super Duty pickups in Louisville, Ky., late last year and the trucks are arriving in showrooms this month.
Navistar announced Monday that it has halted production of the PowerStroke diesel engine it makes for Ford because of an ongoing contract dispute. The Warrenville, Ill.-based engine manufacturer is the exclusive diesel engine supplier for Ford's heavy duty pickup trucks.
In a statement Monday, Navistar said it "pays its suppliers and employees under contract terms and that it expects Ford to honor the terms of its agreement."
But Ford said Navistar is the one violating that contract.
"Ford has always honored the agreement and will continue to do so in the future," said Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt. "We have been working very closely with Navistar for many months to resolve these contract issues."
In January, Ford sued Navistar, saying the engine maker was not complying with warranty cost-sharing agreements and that it had unjustifiably raised prices on its products. The suit said at the time that Navistar had threatened to cut off shipment if Ford did not pay the new prices for its engines.
Navistar said it will stop making the 6.4-liter PowerStroke at its Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala. factories, but added that the Huntsville plant will continue production for other customers.
Any disruption of Super Duty production would be disastrous for Ford. After losing a record $12.7 billion last year, Ford is counting on the new Super Duty to boost sales of F-Series trucks.
"Ford and Navistar are tied at the hip for diesel engines for the F-250 and F-350," Peter Nesvold, a New York-based Bear Stearns analyst, said in a research note. "While we don't currently expect an extended outage, 30-plus days would be material to both Navistar and Ford."
About 40 percent of the nearly 800,000 F-Series trucks sold by Ford last year were diesel-powered.
"It's impossible to quickly swap out the engine and put another manufacturer's diesel in place," Nesvold said.
One analyst said the companies are likely to reach an agreement before long. "This is likely a short-term negotiation squabble," Andrew Casey, an analyst with Wachovia Capital Markets LLC in Boston, said in a research note
It is not the first time problems with a supplier have threatened an important new vehicle. Last fall, bankrupt Collins & Aikman Corp. briefly suspended parts shipments to Ford's factory in Hermosillo, Mexico, halting production of the Ford Fusion.
With a horde of suppliers either in bankruptcy or close to filing, Ford is working with a consultant to identify troubled suppliers and move proactively to prevent interruptions in parts shipments.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
29scarab
General Boating Discussion
11
06-13-2005 12:50 PM
