This month’s car sales will top 1.63 million units, a 14.8% increase over August 2004 (with the same number of selling days), according to analysts at Edmunds.com – US automakers are due to report the month’s results on September 1.
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The combined monthly US market share for General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler is estimated to drop to 55.5% in August, down from 61.0% in July.
Edmunds.com predicts that Chrysler will sell 214,000 units in August, up 20% compared with August 2004 but down 11% compared with July 2005. This would result in a new car market share of 13.1% for Chrysler in August, up from 12.5% in August 2004 but down from 13.3% in July.
Ford will sell 315,000 units in August, up 28% compared with August 2004 but down 7.4% compared with July 2005. This would push Ford’s market share to 19.3% of new car sales in August, up from 17.3% in August 2004 and 18.9% in July.
GM will sell 378,000 units in August, down 5% compared with August 2004 and down 27% compared with July 2005. GM’s market share is expected to shrink to 23.1% of new car sales in August, down from 27.9% in August 2004 and 28.7% in July.
Noticing that its employee discount promotion was no longer as effective as it was when it was originally introduced, GM has extended the programme to include some 2006 full-size trucks and SUV models, Edmunds noted.
“This is a clever way for GM to draw consumers’ attention back to its brand, and particularly to its less fuel-efficient vehicles,” said the automotive information provider’s senior analyst Jesse Toprak. “It is likely that Chrysler and Ford will follow suit once again.“
This month, Honda is predicted to sell 162,000 units, up 28% compared with August 2004 and up 13% compared with July 2005. Its market share is expected to increase from 8.0% in July to 9.9% in August – a record high.
Nissan is predicted to sell more than 107,000 units in August, up 33% compared to August 2004 and unchanged from July 2005. Nissan’s market share is expected to reach 6.6%, up from 6.0% in July 2005.
Toyota is expected to sell 240,000 units, up 33% compared with August 2004 and up 11% compared with July 2005, resulting in a change in market share from 12.0% in July to 14.7% in August – also a record high.
