Posts Tagged ‘S Sales’
For General Motors, 2008 Put Automaker in Second Place
November 30th, 2009 | 
Author: 
General Motors has a long and illustrious history, one that began in 1908 with the merger of several auto companies into one entity. For the past 77 years, GM has enjoyed the title of world’s largest automaker, but that crown passed to Toyota Motor Corporation last year.
Toyota had been gaining on GM for years as the American automaker’s sales numbers stagnated or, as was the case last year, actually fell by several hundred thousand units. Despite selling more cars in China and in the United States than any other car maker, GM couldn’t keep their momentum going and actually sold approximately 600,000 fewer units than Toyota in 2008.
Credit should be given to Toyota who has persistently chipped at GM’s lead, making bold statements a few year’s back that they were poised to overtake GM when they were only selling two-thirds the number of cars as the old number one was then selling. Small, fuel efficient cars are the hallmark of Toyota, but the company has also taken a leadership role in the luxury car segment thanks to its Lexus line. For good measure, Toyota rolled out its youthful Scion division six years ago, another way that the company has been able to increase its visibility which has led to improved sales.
GM has also contributed to Toyota’s ascendancy as the company has rarely broken past its record selling pace of 9.5 million vehicles set some thirty years ago. Declining market share at home has led to most of that drop while its inability to conquer established European markets has also taken its toll. Without its strong presence in China, GM’s overall fortunes would have been much worse, likely spelling the end of the automaker.
Going forward, GM could rebound and see a sales increase beginning this year. Dogging the company, however, is its precarious financial position, one that could scuttle its recovery effort. Recently, GM announced that they would be consolidating operations and closing down or selling off excess brands, a move that could allow a trimmer GM to become profitable and grab more sales.
Lest anyone think that Toyota is moving forward trouble free, think again. In 2008, Toyota’s sales actually dropped, but not as severely as GM’s. In addition, the company is poised to report its first operating loss in its 70 year history, not a big drop but enough of a loss to concern Toyota management. Indeed, the Japanese car make recently replaced its CEO with the grandson of the founder of Toyota in a bid to reinvigorate sales.
Though the company is now #2, GM could borrow a phrase from rental car operator, Avis, and tell its customers, “we try harder.” That might work!
Posted in Automotive | 
Tags: Ascendancy, Auto Companies, Bold Statements, Declining Market, Financial Position, Fuel Efficient Cars, Luxury Car, S Sales, Sales Numbers, Toyota Motor | 
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Suzuki Earns New Sales Record in June
Evander Klum asked:
In July 3, American Suzuki Motor Corporation announced sales of 10,325 automobiles for June, marking an increase of nine percent over the same month last year and the highest June sales volume in the history of the company. Year-to-date sales for 2007 are now at 57,488 vehicles, a figure depicting a one percent lead of mid-year 2006. For the entire year of 2006, Suzuki sold 100,990 vehicles and that was the first time in its 22-year history that the automaker enjoyed automobile sales of more than 100,000.
The sales growth of its all-new midsize crossover SUV, the XL7, spurred Suzuki Auto’s record of June sales volume as the XL7 sold 2,076 units, showing an impressive 121 percent increase over last year’s sales of the outgoing model. Sales of the SX4 compact crossover also helped push the company’s strong June results, which are poised to pursue well into the summer driving season and beyond. Its growth story was revealed earlier this spring, when Suzuki launched the next addition to its expanding product line, the all-new 2008 SX4 sedan that goes on sale in Suzuki dealerships nationwide this fall.
Mark Harano, president of American Suzuki’s Automotive Operations, said that Suzuki’s record-setting first-half sales performance, matched with the eagerly anticipated arrival of the SX4 sedan later this year, puts us on track to sustain their company’s growth throughout this year. Furthermore, he said that Suzuki has been able to surpass the hurdle with its lineup of affordable and value-packed vehicles, despite the fact that the auto industry sales have been tempered this year by so many factors such as the rising cost of fuel.
The product line of American Suzuki includes the all-new XL7 midsize crossover SUV, the all-wheel drive SX4 compact sport crossover, the media favorite Grand Vitara, the well-known Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon, the five-door Reno and the Aerio sedan.
Other than this strong vehicle offering, Suzuki features America’s #1 Warranty with an industry-leading 100,000-mile/seven-year, zero deductible, fully-transferable powertrain limited warranty.
If you may want to differently accessorize your Suzuki car, you may purchase other import car accessories.
Information about Suzuki XL7
The all-new XL 7 is the first Suzuki car that is exclusively designed for the North American market. It blends traditional Suzuki reliability, safety and value with the added luxury and performance that Americans desire. A 252 horsepower V6 engine is a standard feature. It has available seating for 7 and all-wheel drive. The list of premium features includes an available DVD entertainment system or touch screen navigation.
Caffeinated Content
Posted in Automotive |
Tags: Automaker, Crossover Suv, Model Sales, Reno, S Sales, Sales Performance, Sales Volume, Suzuki Auto, Suzuki Motor, Xl7 |
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